ITC Hotels has reported its highest-ever Q2 revenue and profits for FY26, achieving ₹839 crore in consolidated revenue, up 8%, EBITDA of ₹246 crore, up 16%, and PAT of ₹133 crore, up 74% year-on-year. On a comparable basis, EBITDA grew 22%, reflecting the company’s robust operational and strategic execution.

The company continues to expand its growth pipeline, with over 5,900 keys across more than 60 hotels. A key highlight this quarter was the launch of its new premium brand, Epiq Collection – Member ITC Hotels’ Group, designed to accelerate growth in the premium segment. The initial projects under Epiq Collection are being developed in Puri and Tirupati, collectively adding approximately 1,000 keys over the medium term.

ITC Ratnadipa in Colombo sustained RevPAR leadership and achieved EBITDA positivity, while the company commissioned a 3.3 MW windmill facility in Gujarat, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable operations and net-zero carbon goals.

The quarter’s performance was achieved despite subdued travel and leisure activity, seasonal softness, heavy monsoon rains, and a lower number of auspicious wedding dates. ITC Hotels’ ‘Asset-Right’ strategy and focus on operational excellence helped drive room revenue growth, with ADR up 6% and occupancy rising by 254 bps, resulting in standalone RevPAR growth of 9% and consolidated RevPAR growth of 11%. The company commanded a 40% RevPAR premium over the industry, highlighting its superior product and service standards.

Food & Beverage (F&B) revenue grew 5%, with ITC outlets winning accolades such as Condé Nast Traveller Top 50 Restaurants, including Avartana at ITC Grand Chola Chennai, and Bukhara & Dum Pukht at ITC Maurya, New Delhi. The company also relaunched Edo at ITC Gardenia with refreshed concepts.

ITC Hotels’ portfolio now includes 207 hotels, with 146 operational and 61 in the pipeline. New signings during the quarter include properties in Patna, Hyderabad, Tirupati, Wayanad, Nellore, and Mantralayam, while four new openings added 281 operational keys. Notable launches include Fortune Kochi in Kerala and Welcomhotel Bodh Gaya in Bihar.

The company also enhanced its loyalty programme with the revamped Club ITC, featuring tier-based earning, milestone rewards, and an upgraded digital experience.

In line with its Responsible Luxury ethos, ITC Hotels continues to focus on sustainability and innovation, holding the largest number of LEED Platinum® certifications globally and achieving LEED Zero Carbon and Zero Water certifications across multiple properties.

The Board of Directors approved the financial results for Q2 and H1 ended 30th September 2025, reflecting ITC Hotels’ resilient growth trajectory, strong fundamentals, and continued leadership in India’s hospitality sector.

Once considered remote and hard to access, northeast India is quietly emerging as one of the country’s fastest-growing hospitality markets. According to a report by HVS Anarock, the region is expected to almost double its branded hotel supply by 2030, adding over 3,000 new rooms across Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Tripura, and Nagaland.

Assam is set to lead this growth, with nearly 2,000 new branded rooms expected between 2025 and 2030, driven by Guwahati and other emerging tourism hubs. Arunachal Pradesh follows with 660 rooms, reflecting rising investor confidence in destinations such as Tawang and Itanagar. Sikkim has over 250 rooms in the pipeline, while Tripura plans 80 rooms in 2026 and another 100 by 2030.

Commenting on the trend, Nikhil Sharma, MD and COO (South Asia) at Radisson Hotel Group, said, “Northeast India is undergoing a remarkable transformation. With enhanced infrastructure, sustainable tourism models, and strong public-private collaboration, the region is fast emerging as one of South Asia’s most promising hospitality frontiers.”

Radisson currently operates two hotels in Guwahati and Imphal, with an additional two hotels under development in Siliguri, comprising 254 keys.

Despite the anticipated growth, the region will still account for less than 3% of India’s total branded hotel supply, highlighting untapped potential especially in Mizoram, Nagaland, and Meghalaya, where no new branded hotel projects are currently underway. Investor attention remains heavily focused on Assam, and supply may lag in other high-potential areas without a more balanced regional investment approach.

As of June 2025, the Northeast had over 3,400 branded hotel keys, representing just 1.7% of India’s total 202,000 branded rooms. Sikkim and Assam account for nearly 68% of the region’s existing supply, with Gangtok and Guwahati contributing over half of the branded inventory.

Tourism indicators are encouraging: air traffic in the region hit a record 11.2 million passengers last year, and railway and highway projects are accelerating, improving connectivity. However, regulatory complexities continue to limit private investment. The report recommends establishing a harmonised tourism investment framework across all eight states and creating a single-window clearance system to facilitate hotel and tourism development.

With enhanced infrastructure, rising investor confidence, and growing domestic travel, northeast India is steadily emerging as a key frontier for branded hospitality in India.

Healthy snacking brand Wonderland Foods announced that it has raised ₹140 crore in its first institutional funding round, marking a significant step in its growth journey. The round was led by Asha Ventures and British International Investments (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor.

The funding will support Wonderland Foods in expanding its presence in India’s branded dry fruits and nuts market, establishing a green processing facility, and generating over 1,000 formal jobs, with a focus on women employment.

“We are proud to partner with the Government of Uttar Pradesh to set up a ₹250 crore greenfield nuts and dry fruits processing unit at Greater Noida,” said founders Rakesh Gupta and Anubhav Gupta. “This initiative will create employment opportunities for over 1,000 women and strengthen India’s food processing ecosystem.”

Over the past few years, Wonderland Foods has grown steadily, with its products now widely available across modern retail chains and leading e-commerce platforms, including Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy Instamart, Blinkit, and Zepto.

Commenting on the investment, Pramod Bhasin and Vikram Gandhi, founding partners at Asha Ventures, said, “The healthy snacking category is witnessing strong consumer demand. Wonderland is well-positioned to lead the shift from loose, unbranded products to trusted, hygienic formats in India.”

With this fresh capital infusion, Wonderland Foods aims to scale operations, strengthen its distribution network, and continue driving innovation in India’s healthy snacking segment, while creating meaningful employment opportunities for women.