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By Nishang Narayan
Published on February 4, 2025
The Union Budget 2025 has set the stage for significant transformation in India's hospitality and tourism sector. With a strong emphasis on infrastructure, connectivity, and investment-driven growth, industry leaders believe these measures will bring long-term benefits, attracting both domestic and international travelers.
One of the key highlights is the modified Udaan scheme, which will introduce 120 new destinations, strengthening regional connectivity and boosting tourism in emerging hotspots. Hotels, resorts, and homestays in lesser-explored regions are expected to see an increase in footfall, fostering further development and investment.
Ambika Saxena, CEO of TWH Hospitality, emphasized how the expanded Udaan scheme will open doors for new destinations, benefiting hotels and resorts. She stated:
"This year, the government has presented a well-balanced and growth-oriented budget, specifically supporting the tourism and hospitality sectors. The modified Udaan scheme will open doors for the hospitality sector by bringing new tourist destinations into the spotlight. Hotels, resorts, and homestays in unexplored regions will see a surge in demand, encouraging further investment and development. With the government's push for connectivity and including new 120 destinations, we expect a stronger pipeline in the hospitality sector, catering to both business and leisure travelers in emerging tourism hotspots."
The expansion of tourism-friendly policies is another key highlight, with a focus on domestic and spiritual tourism. Measures such as streamlined e-visa facilities, visa fee waivers, and performance-linked incentives for states will improve tourist amenities and cleanliness, ultimately enhancing the travel experience.
Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director of Informa Markets in India, sees this as a landmark initiative for India's tourism industry:
"The Union Budget 2025 presented a progressive roadmap that prioritizes infrastructure, economic growth, and regional connectivity. The government's continued emphasis on regional development and tourism-friendly policies will have a far-reaching impact on multiple sectors, including travel and tourism. The modified Udaan scheme, in particular, is a landmark initiative that will strengthen India's position as a global tourism hub. The scheme has already benefited 1.5 crore middle-class travelers, and the expansion of the scheme to include 120 new destinations is a game-changer for regional connectivity. With increased accessibility, we anticipate a surge in domestic tourism and business travel, providing a major boost to the tourism industry."
The government has also placed a strong focus on homestays and small-scale tourism businesses by introducing Mudra loans to empower local entrepreneurs. This move is expected to encourage more people to invest in the hospitality space, promoting sustainable and community-driven tourism.
Pranav Dangi, Founder and CEO of The Hosteller, believes these steps will help India emerge as a top global destination:
"The Union Budget 2025 presents a robust vision for India's tourism sector. The emphasis on infrastructure development, support for homestays through Mudra loans, and the inclusion of hotels in the harmonized scheme will strengthen the industry's foundation. Additionally, developing 50 tourist destinations will definitely enhance India's position as a global travel hub. Being in the travel and hospitality space for more than a decade, I see these initiatives as the required push for accessibility, affordability, and innovation in travel, setting the stage for India to emerge as a top global destination."
Another critical aspect of the budget is skill development and workforce training in hospitality. The government aims to provide intensive training programs through Institutes of Hospitality Management, ensuring world-class education and better employment opportunities in the sector.
Saurabh Gahoi, Senior Vice President of Ramee Group of Hotels, sees this as a transformative step for the industry:
"The Union Budget announcement by FM Sitharaman marks a significant milestone, driving growth while empowering citizens, particularly the middle class. A notable highlight is the emphasis on the travel and hospitality industry, which promises transformative changes.Key measures include enhancing connectivity to major tourist destinations, offering performance-linked incentives to states for better destination management, and improving tourist amenities and cleanliness. Additionally, the introduction of streamlined e-visa facilities and visa-fee waivers for select groups is set to boost inbound travel.Domestic and spiritual tourism is set to flourish, supported by revised income tax reforms that encourage travel within the country. A major boost comes from intensive skill-development programs, particularly in Institutes of Hospitality Management, ensuring world-class training for the youth. By prioritizing individual growth, these initiatives will lead to superior customer experiences, elevating India's hospitality standards globally.This budget serves as a catalyst for long-term industry growth, creating new business opportunities and employment. With a focus on infrastructure, workforce development, and seamless travel experiences, FM Sitharaman's budget is a game-changer, strengthening India's position as a premier travel and hospitality hub."
With infrastructure development, connectivity expansion, and workforce training at its core, the Union Budget 2025 is a major step forward for India's hospitality and tourism industry. By enhancing accessibility, supporting small businesses, and improving the ease of travel, the government has laid the foundation for a vibrant, competitive, and globally recognized tourism sector. These policies are expected to create new business opportunities, attract investments, and establish India as a premier travel destination in the years to come.
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By Hariharan U
Published on October 24, 2026
Ganpati Group has announced a planned investment of approximately ₹250 crore in a proposed 200-key hotel in Lucknow, in partnership with Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, marking a strategic move into branded hospitality for the diversified business group.
Located in Vibhuti Khand, the proposed development will combine Ganpati Group's real estate development capabilities with Sheraton's established international hospitality brand and management expertise. The project is part of the Group's broader strategy to expand its hospitality portfolio across key urban markets.
Ganpati Group is targeting the addition of approximately 800–1,000 hotel keys over the next three to five years. Hospitality is also a component of its upcoming development portfolio, valued at approximately ₹2,000 crore across residential, commercial and hospitality projects. Lucknow and Visakhapatnam are among its immediate focus markets.
Commenting on the announcement, Nikhil Agarwal, Managing Director, Ganpati Group, said, “Hospitality is an important pillar of our long-term growth strategy, and our planned ₹250 crore investment in Lucknow, in partnership with Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, reflects our conviction in the potential of India's evolving hospitality market. We believe markets that combine a growing business ecosystem, infrastructure development and tourism potential offer compelling opportunities for quality hospitality assets. Lucknow brings these fundamentals together, making it an important market for our expansion. By combining our real estate development capabilities with Sheraton Hotels and Resorts' established global hospitality expertise, we aim to contribute to the city's evolving hospitality infrastructure while building a stronger, more diversified portfolio for Ganpati Group.”
The partnership reflects the Group's approach of combining strategically positioned real estate investments with established international hospitality brands. Branded hotels are expected to play a growing role in diversifying its business and supporting long-term expansion across business and leisure destinations.
Lucknow's position as Uttar Pradesh's capital, along with its expanding business ecosystem, infrastructure development and tourism potential, underpins the investment. The proposed hotel is intended to contribute to the city's hospitality infrastructure as demand evolves across business, administrative and leisure travel segments.
The announcement also aligns with Ganpati Group's wider development plans across residential, commercial and hospitality real estate, with the Group looking to build a broader presence in markets offering opportunities for long-term growth.
Founded in 1972 as a family business, Ganpati Group is a diversified conglomerate headquartered in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, with interests in real estate, hospitality and healthcare. Its flagship real estate arm, Ganpati Infrastructure Development Company Limited, has delivered more than 20 residential and commercial projects across Agra, Vrindavan and other markets.
Its portfolio includes developments such as Ganpati Wonder City, Ganpati Classique and Ganpati World, alongside ongoing projects including Ganpati Smart City, Ganpati Upvana and Ganpati Capital Court in Lucknow. The Group is led by Chairman Anil Agrawal and Managing Director Nikhil Agarwal
By Manu Vardhan Kannan
GAP Group has commenced work on Hyatt Place Dholera, a proposed five-star hotel being developed in partnership with Hyatt in Gujarat's Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR). The upcoming property will feature 200 rooms, including 20 suites, bringing an internationally recognised hospitality brand to the developing industrial region.
The groundbreaking ceremony was performed by former Gujarat Cabinet Minister Bhupendra Singh Chudasama and Kalubhai Dabhi, MLA from Dhandhuka. Sonale Zagade, General Manager at Hyatt Group, unveiled the hotel's finalised design, offering the first look at the upcoming development. The occasion also included a tree plantation by the dignitaries.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel also visited GAP Group's Akhilam Township, where he explored the Hyatt Place Dholera site and other developments, including Avant, the coworking space and the food court. He was accompanied by Gujarat Chief Secretary M. K. Das, Chief Minister's Advisors Hasmukh Adhia and S. S. Rathore, Dholera Industrial City Development Limited (DICDL) Managing Director Kuldeep Arya, and other senior state government officials.
The hotel will spread across approximately 2.6 lakh sq. ft. of built-up area, including two basement levels, and will rise to approximately 65 metres. Its facilities will include a restaurant, banquet hall, pre-function area, business meeting facilities, swimming pool, gym, café and lounge.
The banquet and pre-function spaces, along with an outdoor lawn, will accommodate approximately 500 people. These facilities are expected to position the hotel for business meetings, conferences and social events, complementing its accommodation and leisure offerings.
Speaking on the occasion, Gopal Goswami, Chairman of GAP Group, said, “Dholera is entering an important phase of development, with several ongoing and upcoming industrial projects creating new opportunities. As business activity grows, there will be a greater need for hospitality facilities to serve investors, business travellers and other visitors. Hyatt Place Dholera is an important step in meeting this need, and we believe it will support the region’s growth in the years ahead.”
Ambrish Parajiya, Managing Director of GAP Group, said, “GAP Group has been part of Dholera’s development journey since commencing operations in 2014. As the first private developer to begin development in the Dholera Activation Zone, we have witnessed the region’s progress over the past decade. We believe that Dholera’s next phase of growth will require infrastructure that supports not only industry and commerce but also the people who will live, work and do business here. Hyatt Place Dholera is an important step in that direction. We remain confident in the region’s potential and plan to invest ₹2,500 crore in Dholera by 2030 across residential, commercial and industrial developments.”
Located along the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Dholera SIR is being developed as a smart industrial city with planned infrastructure and multimodal connectivity. The Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway and the proposed international airport are expected to improve access to the region as industrial and commercial activity expands.
As Dholera continues to develop, the demand for hospitality facilities is expected to grow alongside its industrial and commercial infrastructure. Hyatt Place Dholera aims to address this demand by bringing together accommodation, meeting spaces, dining and leisure facilities under one roof.
For GAP Group, the project forms part of its wider development plans for Dholera, complementing its residential, commercial and industrial investments. The hotel is expected to support the region's growing business travel needs while offering facilities for visitors attending meetings, conferences and social events.
Published on October 23, 2026
The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) has reported its 18th consecutive record quarter, with consolidated revenue rising 21% year-on-year to ₹2,566 crore in Q2 FY2027. The company has also upgraded its full-year revenue growth guidance to 15–17%, supported by strong hotel performance, higher management fees and portfolio expansion.
For the quarter ended 30 September 2026, IHCL recorded EBITDA of ₹788 crore, with a margin of 30.7%, while profit after tax (PAT) increased 23% to ₹349 crore. Operating revenue grew 22%, while operating EBITDA rose 24%, accompanied by a 50-basis-point expansion in operating EBITDA margin.
The performance reflects growth across IHCL's operating portfolio, supported by higher revenue per available room (RevPAR), new hotel openings and contributions from recent acquisitions.
Domestic same-store hotels recorded 25% growth in RevPAR, while management fee income also increased 25%, supported by the momentum of new hotel openings. IHCL's Select Service business reported 25% revenue growth, while recent acquisitions, including Brij and Atmantan, added to the quarter's performance.
Demand from social celebrations and meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) also remains an important growth driver for the hospitality sector. With seasonally stronger quarters ahead, IHCL expects continued support from domestic travel demand, events and business generated by newly opened properties.
Building on its first-half performance, IHCL has raised its consolidated revenue growth guidance for FY2027 from 12–14% to 15–17%. The company expects its hotel segment revenue to grow by 17–19%, supported by demand trends and non-like-for-like growth from new properties and portfolio additions.
The upgraded guidance signals management's confidence in sustaining growth through the remainder of the financial year. It also reflects the contribution expected from hotels added to the portfolio, alongside continued performance from existing properties.
IHCL signed 47 hotel deals during the first half of FY2027 across its brand portfolio, taking its overall portfolio to 670 hotels. The company said it is now positioned to achieve its Accelerate 2030 target of a 700-hotel portfolio well ahead of schedule.
The expansion reflects IHCL's strategy of growing through a diversified brandscape and a mix of operating models. New signings and openings can strengthen its geographic reach and management fee income, while the performance of existing hotels remains central to revenue and margin delivery.
IHCL's latest results underline the importance of combining same-store hotel growth with expansion across brands and markets. With its full-year guidance upgraded and the portfolio nearing the 700-hotel milestone, the company is entering the second half of FY2027 with a stronger growth outlook.
Consolidated revenue: ₹2,566 crore, up 21%
EBITDA: ₹788 crore, up 21%
EBITDA margin: 30.7%
Profit after tax: ₹349 crore, up 23%
Operating revenue growth: 22%
Operating EBITDA growth: 24%
Domestic same-store RevPAR growth: 25%
First-half signings: 47 hotels
Total portfolio: 670 hotels
Revised FY2027 consolidated revenue growth guidance: 15–17%
FY2027 hotel segment revenue growth guidance: 17–19%
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