Image (L-R): Christian Charnaux, Hilton’s executive vice president and chief development officer; Alan Watts, Hilton’s president for Asia Pacific; Arjun Baljee, president of Royal Orchid Hotels, and Keshav Baljee, executive director of Royal Orchid Hotels. Hilton has signed a strategic agreement with Regenta Hotels Private Limited, a subsidiary of Royal Orchid Hotels Limited, to develop and launch 125 Hampton by Hilton hotels across India. The partnership speeds up Hilton’s expansion in India’s upper midscale segment, fueled by surging domestic travel and increasing demand from the nation’s burgeoning middle class, which is creating robust opportunities in the mid-market. Franchised hotels will mainly be developed in western and southern markets, including Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, joining over 3,100 Hampton by Hilton properties operating worldwide. Alan Watts, president of Asia Pacific at Hilton, stated, “India’s economic growth, expanding middle class, and rapid infrastructure development are transforming the country’s travel landscape, creating substantial opportunities for our brands.” Our new strategic partnership with Regenta Hotels Group underscores our dedication to collaborating with proven local operators, allowing us to quickly expand our franchise presence while upholding the strength and uniformity of Hilton’s brands. Strategic partnerships are now a primary catalyst for Hilton’s growth strategy in India, allowing the company to combine robust local operational know-how with its worldwide brands and business capabilities. This partnership is Hilton’s third of its kind in India, capitalizing on the success of prior deals that are speeding up expansion by establishing franchise terms for a broad slate of new projects simultaneously. India’s western and southern regions together contribute a major portion of the nation’s GDP and encompass some of its most vibrant business and leisure travel hubs. With infrastructure enhancements boosting connectivity and domestic travel on the rise, the need for dependable, branded lodging is growing beyond the nation’s biggest urban hubs.
