The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts has announced the signing of a management agreement with The Godwin Group for The Leela Jaisalmer, marking its debut in Rajasthan’s famed desert capital, the Golden City. Spread across 30 acres of scenic desert landscape, this 80-room luxury Desert Resort and Spa is slated to open in 2026, enhancing The Leela’s growing presence across India’s leading leisure and cultural destinations.

The signing represents a key milestone in The Leela’s strategic growth, reinforcing its vision to expand through a balanced portfolio of owned and managed assets while maintaining its hallmark of service excellence and luxury.

Located near the historic Jaisalmer Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Leela Jaisalmer is designed to be an oasis of calm in the Thar Desert. The resort will feature elegantly designed rooms and tented villas, an expansive spa, a salon, a dedicated kids’ club, a swimming pool, multiple dining venues, a man-made lake, a pillarless ballroom, and outdoor spaces ideal for weddings and celebrations.

With this signing, The Leela strengthens its footprint across Rajasthan’s high-demand leisure circuit, creating new synergies with The Leela Palace Udaipur and The Leela Palace Jaipur.

Mr. Anuraag Bhatnagar, Whole-time Director and Chief Executive Officer, The Leela Palaces Hotels and Resorts Limited, said, “We are delighted to announce our foray into Jaisalmer with our first Desert Resort and Spa. Rajasthan continues to hold immense potential for luxury travel, with Jaisalmer emerging as a preferred destination for global travellers. This signing strategically expands our footprint in one of India’s most evocative landscapes and aligns with our vision to curate distinctive properties that celebrate the essence of India.”

Sharing his thoughts on the partnership, Mr. Chiranjeev Singh Bajwa, Director, Godwin Palace & Hotels Pvt Ltd, said, “We are excited to partner with The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts to bring their distinguished legacy of luxury hospitality to Jaisalmer. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to showcasing India’s rich heritage through experiences that blend world-class standards with a deep sense of place.”

Adding to this, Mr. Tanveer Singh Bajwa, Director, Godwin Palace & Hotels Pvt Ltd, said, “Jaisalmer has long enchanted travellers with its golden landscapes and living history. Together with The Leela, we look forward to creating a desert sanctuary that captures the Golden City’s timeless allure and reimagines luxury for today’s traveller.”

The resort will see the implementation of The Leela’s signature touchpoints and will be branded as The Leela Jaisalmer in 2026, ushering in a new chapter of luxury desert tourism in India. With its refined architecture, serene setting, and thoughtfully designed experiences, the resort will embody Rajasthan’s regal heritage blended with The Leela’s signature expression of luxury with purpose.

The Leela currently operates 13 properties with 3,544 keys across 11 cities in India. With 10 more hotels in the pipeline, including Agra, Ayodhya, Bandhavgarh, Mumbai, Ranthambore, Sikkim, Srinagar, Dubai, and now Jaisalmer, the brand is on track to reach 23 properties with over 5,000 keys in the coming years.