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.

Abu Dhabi’s charm came alive in Mumbai as Tripadvisor and Experience Abu Dhabi wrapped up their three-day interactive showcase, “Abu Dhabi Is Calling,” at Jio World Plaza. The one-of-a-kind activation drew thousands of curious visitors who stepped into a world where innovation met imagination, exploring the culture and beauty of Abu Dhabi through cutting-edge technology and immersive storytelling.

From the moment guests entered, they were transported into a dynamic space filled with futuristic installations and creative displays. The highlight of the showcase was a pair of interactive domes, where visitors navigated Abu Dhabi’s landmarks in real time while being surrounded by motion visuals, 360° sound, and captivating stories. On the upper floor, an AI-powered itinerary pod curated customised travel plans for each guest, while a green-screen photo booth whisked participants away to Abu Dhabi’s iconic sights, complete with printed souvenirs to take home.

Adding a playful twist, attendees received themed “passports” to collect stamps from all four experience zones. Completing the journey earned them exclusive goodie bags and traditional dates flown in from Abu Dhabi, offering a personal touch to end the adventure on a sweet note.

Throughout the weekend, the activation buzzed with excitement as visitors shared their experiences online, sparking strong social engagement and word-of-mouth. Influencers, families, and high-net-worth visitors alike joined in, reflecting the event’s broad appeal.

Steve Paganelli, Global VP of Media & Partnerships at Tripadvisor, shared, “Continually evolving this particular element of our partnership with Abu Dhabi - now across four different countries and cultures - underscores that travel storytelling can break outside the screen to spark genuine connection. We’re proud of how this activation brought the essence of Abu Dhabi closer to one of the most dynamic markets in the world.”

Georgios Kalliamvakos, Planning, Strategy & Operations Department Director at DCT Abu Dhabi, added, “This project showcased the perfect intersection of culture, creativity, and technology. Bringing Abu Dhabi to Mumbai in such an engaging way not only celebrated our destinations but also deepened the connection with Indian audiences, a market that continues to be key to Abu Dhabi’s growth story.”

The “Abu Dhabi Is Calling” activation has already made its mark in London, Paris, and New York, and its strong reception in India reinforces the growing importance of experiential travel. By blending technology with emotion, Tripadvisor and Experience Abu Dhabi continue to reimagine how travellers connect with destinations, one story, and one experience, at a time.