Radisson Hotel Group is strengthening its long-term growth strategy in India, with plans to reach 500 hotels by 2030 by expanding across emerging urban centres, regional towns, leisure destinations and religious tourism hubs. The company believes India's growing domestic travel market and rising investor confidence will continue to drive its next phase of expansion.

Speaking about the group's growth plans, Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director & COO, South Asia, said India has become one of Radisson Hotel Group's key global growth markets.

"Without question. India has evolved from being an important market to becoming one of Radisson Hotel Group's strategic growth engines globally."

Highlighting the company's progress, Sharma said Radisson signed 18 hotels and opened four new properties during the first half of 2026. This has taken its development pipeline to 98 hotels, while its operational portfolio now stands at 142 hotels across 86 cities.

Over the next two years, the company will focus on three major priorities—accelerating the conversion of its existing hotel pipeline into operational properties, expanding further into Tier II, III and IV markets, and diversifying its portfolio across business destinations, leisure locations and religious tourism centres.

Sharma said Radisson's expansion strategy now extends well beyond India's traditional metro cities. The group is strengthening its presence in emerging commercial and industrial centres such as Rajkot and Jamshedpur, gateway destinations like Siliguri, leisure markets including Kasauli and Gopalpur, and fast-growing spiritual destinations such as Nathdwara and Prayagraj.

According to Sharma, more than half of Radisson's portfolio in India is already located in Tier II and III cities, giving the company a strong position as travel demand continues to grow beyond major metropolitan markets such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

On the company's development strategy, Sharma said Radisson will continue with its asset-light model, with management contracts remaining its preferred approach. He added that hotel conversions are becoming an increasingly important part of the group's expansion strategy.

"Conversions allow us to bring quality inventory to market much faster while creating value for owners." Alongside conversions, Radisson will continue to pursue greenfield developments in destinations where branded hotel supply is still developing, evaluating each project based on long-term demand, owner capability and its strategic value to the network.

Addressing concerns around geopolitical tensions in West Asia and rising aviation costs, Sharma said the company has not seen any significant impact on bookings across its portfolio.

"At this stage, we are closely monitoring the situation, but we have not seen any significant impact on overall booking trends across our portfolio." He noted that India's hospitality sector remains well supported by strong domestic travel demand.

Sharma also reiterated the industry's call for policy reforms to support hotel development, including wider implementation of infrastructure status across states and streamlined single-window clearance systems to improve project viability and reduce approval timelines.

He identified Odisha, Jharkhand, Assam, Meghalaya, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh as key growth markets, driven by better air connectivity, expanding highway infrastructure and increasing government investment.

"The next phase of hospitality growth will increasingly be driven by these emerging destinations rather than the traditional gateway metros." On the overall market outlook, Sharma described the current performance of India's hospitality sector as a healthy correction following the exceptional post-pandemic period.

"We would describe it as a healthy normalisation rather than a slowdown." He also dismissed concerns over a structural decline in corporate travel, stating that businesses are becoming more focused on value and productivity rather than reducing travel altogether.

"Companies are certainly becoming more disciplined in how they travel, but they are not travelling less. What has changed is that travel decisions today are more outcome-driven, with greater emphasis on productivity, flexibility and value."

Looking ahead, Sharma believes the biggest growth opportunities for the hospitality sector lie in the convergence of MICE, destination weddings and religious tourism, which continue to drive demand across emerging destinations in India.

Lemon Tree Hotels Limited has announced the opening of Keys Prima by Lemon Tree Hotels, Kempty Road, Mussoorie, marking the group's second operational property in the popular hill station. With this launch, the company has expanded its operational portfolio in Uttarakhand to 10 hotels, while 11 additional properties remain under development across the state.

The hotel is managed by Carnation Hotels Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lemon Tree Hotels Limited. Nestled along Kempty Road against the scenic backdrop of the Garhwal Himalayas, the property features 47 thoughtfully designed rooms and suites across Superior, Deluxe, Executive and Studio Suite categories. Designed to cater to both leisure and social travellers, the hotel offers an upper midscale hospitality experience with a range of modern amenities.

Guests can enjoy all-day dining at Keys Café or relax with beverages at Unlock Bar. The property also features a swimming pool, fitness centre, spa, and a dedicated kids' zone. For meetings, conferences, weddings and social gatherings, the hotel offers Grand Chamber, a well-equipped banquet and conference venue.

Commenting on the opening, Vishvapreet Singh Cheema, President, Lemon Tree Hotels Ltd., said, "Uttarakhand continues to be one of the most prominent tourism markets in the country, with sustained demand across leisure, pilgrimage and MICE travel through the year. Mussoorie, in particular, is one of those rare destinations whose appeal has endured across generations, retaining its place as one of India's most loved hill stations. The opening of our second hotel here allows us to be part of the destination's timeless appeal while responding to the growing demand for trusted hospitality. With its location on Kempty Road and a product designed to bring together leisure, wellness, dining and celebrations, the hotel is well placed to appeal to the many ways in which guests experience Mussoorie."

The hotel offers convenient connectivity for travellers, located approximately 71 km from Dehradun's Jolly Grant Airport, 44 km from Dehradun Railway Station, and around 10 km from Mussoorie Library Bus Station.

The opening further strengthens Lemon Tree Hotels' multi-brand presence in Uttarakhand, a key market for the company's growth strategy. With 10 operational hotels and 11 more in the pipeline, the hospitality group continues to expand across the state's major leisure and pilgrimage destinations, catering to the rising demand for quality accommodation in one of India's leading tourism markets.

International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus, has reported a 16% decline in second-quarter operating profit, citing higher fuel costs and weaker travel demand resulting from the ongoing Middle East conflict. The airline group also expects its overall capacity to remain flat for the rest of the year.

For the second quarter, IAG posted an operating profit before exceptional items of €1.41 billion, down from €1.68 billion during the same period last year. Despite the decline, the result slightly exceeded analysts' expectations of €1.37 billion.

The airline group said rising fuel prices and emissions-related expenses significantly impacted performance. During the second quarter, fuel costs and emissions charges increased by nearly 23% to €2.22 billion, affecting all of IAG's airlines from March onwards.

Although the company has slightly lowered its full-year fuel cost forecast to between €8.3 billion and €8.6 billion, compared with the approximately €9 billion projected in May, fuel remains one of its biggest financial challenges.

IAG stated that the prolonged conflict in the Middle East has weakened travel demand across several markets, adding pressure on airlines already facing elevated operating costs. The company had previously issued a profit and capacity warning in May as geopolitical uncertainty began affecting bookings.

The group's traditionally strong transatlantic business has also experienced pressure as changing travel patterns impact one of its most profitable markets.

Looking ahead, IAG said it is around 57% booked for the second half of the year, with booked revenue currently in line with the same period last year. The airline expects to offset approximately 60% of its higher fuel expenses through increased ticket prices and ongoing cost-efficiency initiatives.

The latest results reflect the broader challenges facing the aviation industry, with several European carriers reporting similar pressures from rising operating costs, geopolitical tensions, and softer travel demand in recent months.