Summit Hotels & Resorts has signed a 24-key property in Samthar, an emerging mountain destination in West Bengal, as the hospitality company continues to expand across lesser-explored destinations in the Eastern Himalayas. Scheduled to open in October-November 2026, Summit Samthar – The OtiEat Collection will become part of the company’s recently introduced OtiEat portfolio, which focuses on destinations beyond established tourist circuits.

Located around 30 km from Siliguri, Samthar is surrounded by forests, tea gardens and Himalayan landscapes. Unlike the region’s more established hill stations, the destination remains relatively underexplored and offers opportunities for nature-led and slow travel, hiking and birdwatching.

The upcoming property will feature 24 Kanchenjunga-facing rooms, each with a private balcony. It will also include an in-house restaurant, private lawn, tea garden, children’s play area, common sitting spaces and extensive outdoor areas.

“Samthar represents exactly the kind of destination we believe has considerable potential for the next phase of leisure travel in the region. Our experience in the Eastern Himalayas has shown us that when hospitality reaches a lesser-known destination, its impact goes beyond the hotel itself. It creates local employment, generates demand for transport and other services, and allows us to source produce and everyday requirements from local shops and suppliers. We have seen this around properties such as Summit Bougainvillea Tea Resort in Tindharia, Summit Tashi Ghang Heritage Resort in Pelling and Summit Enigma Resort & Spa in Lamahata. Our aim in Samthar is to become part of the local economy while introducing more travellers to the destination without taking away the character that makes it worth discovering,” said Sumit Mitruka, Founder & CEO, Summit Hotels & Resorts.

The signing builds on Summit’s strategy of expanding beyond established tourism centres into smaller destinations across the Eastern Himalayas. Destination development is a key part of the OtiEat Collection, with hospitality investment expected to support local employment, tourism services and longer visitor stays. For Samthar, Summit expects the new property to introduce the destination to a wider leisure audience while encouraging travellers to extend their North Bengal itineraries into lesser-known parts of the region.

The development is part of Summit Hotels & Resorts’ broader portfolio strategy through three propositions: OtiEat, focused on emerging destinations; Signature, offering premium destination hospitality; and Mandir, centred on spiritual tourism.