Indian Hotels Poised for Revenue Growth and ARR Surge in FY2025: ICRA Forecast

Indian Hotels Poised for Revenue Growth and ARR Surge in FY2025: ICRA Forecast

By Author

Published on February 23, 2024

The Indian hotel industry is on the brink of significant growth, with ICRA forecasting a revenue increase of 7-9% in FY2025, building on the robust 14-16% growth anticipated in FY2024. This optimistic outlook is fueled by a combination of factors, including sustained domestic travel momentum, an uptick in meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) demand, a resurgence in weddings and business travel, and the burgeoning interest in spiritual tourism and tier-II city destinations.

ICRA's analysis points to a sustained period of high occupancy for pan-India premium hotels, expected to maintain decadal highs of 70-72% in both FY2024 and FY2025, after a recovery to 68-70% in FY2023. Concurrently, Average Room Rates (ARRs) are on an upward trajectory, predicted to increase from INR 7,200-7,400 in FY2024 to INR 7,800-8,000 in FY2025. This rise in ARRs is bringing the industry closer to the FY2008 peak levels, albeit at an 8-12% discount in FY2024, with a convergence expected in FY2025.

Despite the general trend, certain hotels and locations have already surpassed the FY2008 peak ARR figures in FY2024, indicating a spike beyond the average increases. This surge is supported by a healthy demand outlook, driven by improvements in infrastructure, air connectivity, demographic factors, and the growth of large-scale MICE events facilitated by new convention centers.

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The Indian hotel sector's recovery and growth are bolstered by several ongoing and upcoming renovations, refurbishments, and upgrades across the industry, further enhancing ARRs. The sustained interest in domestic leisure travel and the slow but steady recovery of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) – contingent on the global macroeconomic climate – are additional factors contributing to the industry's positive trajectory.

Vinutaa S, Vice President and Sector Head – Corporate Ratings, ICRA Limited, highlighted the critical role of domestic tourism as the primary demand driver in FY2024 and its expected continuation in the near term. Despite the wane of the revenge travel phenomenon, leisure travel remains a steadfast contributor to the industry's recovery path. However, the industry's full potential is somewhat hampered by the lingering challenges in the supply chain.

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Looking ahead, the Indian hotel industry's revenue growth is expected to be complemented by a favorable supply situation, healthy demand in the MICE segment, and the strategic expansion of larger players through management contracts and operating leases. This confluence of factors, coupled with the uptick in earnings and cash flows, is poised to support a stronger capital structure and improved debt metrics beyond pre-Covid levels in FY2024 and FY2025.

As the Indian hotel industry navigates through this period of recovery and growth, the focus on enhancing guest experiences, leveraging domestic tourism, and capitalizing on the strategic expansion opportunities will be key to sustaining the positive momentum.

For more detailed insights and analysis on the Indian hotel industry's outlook, visit ICRA's official website.


Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Rs 13 Crore Net Profit in Q1 FY26

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Rs 13 Crore Net Profit in Q1 FY26

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 18, 2025

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) announced its financial results for Q1 FY26, recording a net profit of Rs 13 crore. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 154 crore, a 14% increase year-on-year, while operating EBITDA grew 16% YoY to Rs 45 crore. The company maintained an industry-leading occupancy of 92%, reaffirming its leadership in the hospitality sector.

ASPHL’s growth is fueled by expansion into Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. The company recently signed an MoU to acquire and manage four leisure properties in Goa, Manali, Shimla, and Dharamshala, adding 138 rooms under its brand. These steps align with ASPHL’s strategy to broaden its presence in high-potential tourism destinations and double its key count to 5,750 over the next five years.

Flurys, ASPHL’s iconic bakery and confectionery brand, now operates 102 outlets nationwide, reflecting the company’s focus on expanding its market presence while integrating modern amenities with rich cultural heritage.

Commenting on the performance, Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, said,

"We have delivered an extraordinary and best-ever Q1, setting a strong momentum for the year ahead. With topline growth of 14% and EBITDA growth of 16%, we recorded India’s highest occupancy of 92% and maintained leadership in RevPAR in the upper-upscale segment. ARR improved by 13% and RevPAR increased by 12%. With nearly 600 new rooms added, including a 41% rise in our asset-light model, and nationwide Flurys rollout, we are poised to scale faster, enhance margins, and deliver exceptional shareholder value."

ASPHL’s strong performance in Q1 FY26 underscores its strategic focus on market expansion, operational excellence, and premium guest experiences.


Marriott Announces Dividend and Expands Share Buyback Plan

Marriott Announces Dividend and Expands Share Buyback Plan

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 10, 2025

Marriott International, Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 67 cents per share on its common stock, reaffirming its commitment to delivering shareholder value. The dividend will be paid on September 30, 2025, to shareholders who are on record as of August 21, 2025.

Alongside the dividend announcement, the hospitality giant also revealed an expansion of its share repurchase program. The board of directors has authorized the repurchase of an additional 25 million shares of its Class A common stock. This comes in addition to the approximately 7.4 million shares that were still available under previous authorizations as of July 30, 2025.

Marriott has already bought back 6.4 million shares this year, amounting to $1.7 billion. These moves reflect the company’s continued confidence in its financial stability and long-term performance, aiming to strengthen shareholder value through strategic capital allocation.


Chennai Postal Services Still Disrupted: Experts Call for Alternative Systems Amid Software Transition

Chennai Postal Services Still Disrupted: Experts Call for Alternative Systems Amid Software Transition

By Author

Published on August 4, 2025

In what was intended to be a smooth digital transformation, postal services across the Chennai Circle continue to remain disrupted even days after a scheduled upgrade to India Post's new IT 2.0 system. The software transition—part of a broader effort to modernize the nation’s postal network—was implemented on August 2nd and 4th across Chennai North and South divisions. However, officials have now confirmed that technical issues still persist, leaving customers and businesses grappling with delayed or inaccessible services.

Key services such as Speed Post, registered mail, parcel bookings, and money orders have either been significantly slowed or paused altogether in many branches. Despite expectations that systems would normalize post-upgrade, the rollout of the Advanced Postal Technology (APT) system has proven more complex than anticipated.

“We are still working on stabilizing the system. There have been unforeseen glitches post-upgrade, and our teams are actively resolving them,” said a senior postal official who requested anonymity.

The disruption has raised concerns across industries—including the hospitality sector—where timely document dispatch, license renewals, vendor payments, and customer correspondence are crucial to daily operations.

Experts and industry stakeholders are now calling on India Post to introduce alternative operational strategies or backup mechanisms during such large-scale transitions.

“In a digital age where seamless service is non-negotiable, a complete blackout due to a software update is avoidable. A fallback process, whether manual or cloud-based, should be in place to ensure continuity,” said a Chennai-based hospitality consultant.

The hospitality industry relies heavily on postal services for legal documentation, international communication, and procurement logistics. The ongoing delays have caused bottlenecks not just in operations but also in customer experience delivery.

As authorities continue to work toward a resolution, the broader question remains: Should India’s essential public infrastructure be this vulnerable to a single system upgrade? The answer may lie in future-proofing core services with hybrid digital models that include disaster recovery plans and parallel systems.


Hospitalitynews.in will continue to track updates as the situation evolves.

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