SAMHI Hotels Approves Majority Stake in RARE India

SAMHI Hotels Approves Majority Stake in RARE India

SAMHI Hotels Limited has announced that its board has approved the acquisition of a 70% majority stake in RARE India, a platform focused on heritage hotels, retreats and experiential stays. The company expects to sign definitive agreements by May 2026, marking SAMHI’s entry into the experiential leisure segment through an asset-light investment model.

Alongside the investment, SAMHI and RARE India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Marriott International to explore an affiliation aimed at leveraging Marriott’s global distribution network and loyalty ecosystem. Under the proposed arrangement, RARE would receive exclusive rights to operate its portfolio under the Outdoor Collection brand by Marriott Bonvoy across India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Definitive agreements with Marriott are expected after completion of the acquisition.

Founded in 2003 by Shobha Rudra, RARE India is an experiential hospitality platform representing 67 hotels with approximately 990 rooms across more than 15 states in India, as well as in Nepal and Bhutan. The platform focuses on curated heritage palaces, wildlife lodges, retreats and boutique properties, with an emphasis on responsible tourism and local engagement.

SAMHI’s total commitment is expected to be around INR 470 million, including a primary capital infusion into RARE India and partial share purchases from existing shareholders. The funds are intended to support management capabilities, technology and distribution upgrades, and marketing initiatives to expand the platform’s reach.

The investment represents SAMHI’s first asset-light platform investment in leisure hospitality, complementing its core strategy of scaling branded business hotels in key office and gateway markets across India.

Ashish Jakhanwala, Chairman & Managing Director, SAMHI Hotels Ltd., said, “This investment in RARE India is a strategic adjacency that strengthens our platform without distracting from our core focus on business and gateway markets. RARE represents a combination of legacy, credibility and scalable asset-light potential. With a strong proven founding team, an irreplaceable community of owners and the proposed affiliation with Marriott, we believe RARE can emerge as a leading B2C brand in experience-led tourism. Importantly, this is a small financial investment but with asymmetrical return potential – consistent with our philosophy of discovering value in underappreciated opportunities.”

Shobha Rudra, Founder, RARE India, added, “RARE India has always been built on relationships, trust and a shared commitment to responsible tourism. This partnership with SAMHI allows us to remain true to our philosophy and continue to preserve and build the RARE community of hotel owners and discerning travellers. Together, we aim to strengthen the foundation of the RARE community and scale our impact.”

Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International added, “India’s experiential and heritage-led hospitality segment represents a significant long-term opportunity. RARE has built a distinctive portfolio rooted in authenticity and responsible tourism. Through this collaboration, we look forward to extending our global distribution platform and Marriott Bonvoy ecosystem to a highly curated collection of unique stays. Together with SAMHI and RARE, we aim to unlock incremental demand and broaden access to immersive travel experiences across India and the region.”