IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with Vrindam Developers Private Limited for the development of voco Vrindavan, a 130-key hotel set to open in Q1 2031. The signing marks IHG’s expansion into Vrindavan, one of Uttar Pradesh’s prominent pilgrimage destinations, while also marking Vrindam Developers Private Limited’s entry into the hospitality sector.

Located in the Braj region, Vrindavan and neighbouring Mathura welcomed more than 90 million visitors in 2024, compared with 79 million in 2023. Visitor arrivals are expected to reach 110 to 140 million annually over the next decade. Connectivity to Delhi NCR, Agra and Mathura, along with infrastructure development including the Banke Bihari Corridor and improved expressway links, is expected to support the destination’s growth.

voco offers a premium experience that combines the informality and charm of an individual hotel with the quality and reassurance of a global brand. The brand is known for its thoughtful, unstuffy approach, distinctive character and premium guest experiences, centred around its hallmarks of ‘Come on in’, ‘Me time’ and ‘voco life’.

voco Vrindavan will be part of a larger mixed-use development featuring hotel guestrooms and serviced apartments with shared amenities. The hotel will offer 130 guestrooms, including 13 suites, along with three dining venues comprising an all-day dining restaurant, a restaurant and lobby lounge.

The property will also feature more than 2,340 sqm of meeting and event space across six venues, including a 1,400 sqm ballroom, as well as a swimming pool and fitness centre. The facilities will cater to pilgrimage and leisure stays, meetings and social celebrations.

Commenting on the signing, Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “Vrindavan holds a unique place within India’s tourism landscape, with its deep cultural and spiritual significance attracting visitors from across the country and around the world. As the destination continues to evolve, there is an opportunity to bring more quality branded hospitality to meet the needs of its growing visitor base. The signing of voco Vrindavan reflects our focus on bringing the right brand to the right destination, with voco’s distinctive character and thoughtfully relaxed hospitality well suited to the evolving expectations of today’s traveler. We are delighted to partner with Vrindam Developers Private Limited on their first hospitality venture and look forward to bringing the voco experience to Vrindavan.”

Ankush Kadyan, Director, Vrindam Developers Private Limited, added: “We are pleased to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts for our first venture into the hospitality sector with voco Vrindavan. Vrindavan’s significance as a pilgrimage destination, coupled with its growing visitor base and improving connectivity, presents an exciting opportunity for a quality international hospitality offering. We look forward to working with IHG to bring voco’s distinctive hospitality experience to the destination and create a hotel that responds to the evolving needs of travelers visiting Vrindavan and the wider Braj region.”

The development will add to IHG’s growing presence in the region, alongside an upcoming Holiday Inn Express in nearby Mathura, strengthening its presence across the Braj tourism circuit.

The signing reflects IHG’s focus on expanding its premium portfolio in high-potential destinations, bringing voco’s distinctive character and thoughtfully relaxed hospitality to one of Uttar Pradesh’s prominent pilgrimage destinations.

IHG currently has 53 open hotels operating across seven brands in India, including Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts, Vignette Collection, Crowne Plaza, voco Hotels, Holiday Inn Resort and Holiday Inn Express. The company also has a strong pipeline of 110 hotels due to open in the next 3-5 years.