IHCL Set for Growth: 550+ Hotels and 55,000 Rooms After Acquisitions

IHCL to Cross 550 Hotels, 55,000 Rooms Following New Acquisitions

Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) has announced that its portfolio will exceed 550 properties and 55,000 rooms. This follows the agreements to acquire a controlling stake in ANK Hotels and Pride Hospitality. Additionally, the company has signed a distribution agreement with Brij Hospitality Pvt Ltd.

IHCL CEO Puneet Chhatwal said the acquisitions position its midscale brand Ginger with a portfolio of nearly 250 hotels and are on track to expand to 500 in the next 5–7 years.

“They also extend our presence to 250 cities in India,” Chhatwal said.

On Monday, IHCL informed in a regulatory filing that a board-constituted committee approved agreements to acquire about 51 per cent stake each in ANK Hotels and Pride Hospitality, which together operate 135 hotels under ‘The Clarks Hotels & Resorts’ brand. The transactions, valued at up to ₹204 crore, will be completed via cash consideration and are expected to close by November 15, 2025.

Ankur Dalwani, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, IHCL, said, “IHCL will fund this investment through internal accruals given our strong cash flows. The primary investment in the companies will be used for unlocking value in the existing assets and for fuelling future growth opportunities.”

Anoop Kumar, Founder of ANK Hotels Pvt Ltd said, “It is with great enthusiasm, that we move forward towards new vistas with India’s largest hotel group. Our forefathers, who sowed the seeds of the hospitality sector in India in 1947, will be proud.”

Aryavir Kumar, Promoter of ANK Hotels Pvt Ltd, said, “Combining over 200 years of collective hospitality legacy, we come together with IHCL, part of the iconic Tata Group. Together, we are a powerhouse of energy with a shared vision for growth and transformation. This is more than a partnership — it is a union of legacies, ready to inspire the future.”

Anant Apurv Kumar and Udit Kumar Founders of Brij Hotels and Promoters of Clarks Group of Hotels, jointly said, “Together with IHCL, we carry forward the shared vision of our respective founders, Jamshed Ji Tata and Babu Brijpal Das Ji, in shaping and propelling India’s tourism journey. IHCL’s legacy of showcasing Indian hospitality to the world resonates deeply with our core objective at Brij Hotels – to immerse travellers in the authentic spirit of India’s most storied destinations.

Together, we will blend IHCL’s century-old tradition of excellence with our experiential approach, creating journeys that honour our shared heritage, nurture local communities, and reveal to the world the India that we love in its most beautiful and timeless form. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Vijay Thacker from Horwath HTL for helping facilitate this strategic alliance.”

The acquisitions involve ₹110 crore for the ANK Hotels stake and ₹94 crore for the Pride Hospitality stake. IHCL noted that the promoters of these companies have longstanding experience in the hospitality sector.

According to Chhatwal, the mid-market hotel segment in India presents strong opportunities as demand continues to outpace supply. He added that the partnerships with ANK, Pride, and Brij Hospitality align with IHCL’s ‘Accelerate 2030’ roadmap to develop tourism infrastructure across diverse market segments.

The 135 midscale hotels across 110 locations operated by ANK and Pride will be integrated into IHCL’s brand portfolio, predominantly under the Ginger brand. These properties operate on management contracts and select operating leases. Brij Hospitality’s 19 properties in leisure destinations will also be part of the extended network.