Hilton Worldwide plans to significantly expand its footprint in India, aiming to quadruple the number of hotel rooms in its pipeline within the next five years. Currently operating 29 hotels in the country, Hilton lags behind competitors like Marriott (150 hotels), Hyatt (50), and InterContinental (45). With India witnessing a surge in domestic travel demand, especially from middle-income consumers seeking affordable accommodations, global hotel operators are focusing on diversifying their property portfolios.
As part of its strategy, Hilton recently signed a licensing agreement with India’s Embassy Group to open 150 Spark brand hotels. This marks a departure from Hilton’s decade-long “China-first” approach, as Spark is launching in India before expanding to other Asian markets. The decision reflects the growing potential of the Indian market, particularly in light of China’s economic challenges.
Experts, including Jaideep Dang of JLL’s Hotels and Hospitality Group in India, attribute this move to India’s robust domestic travel industry, which is attracting significant interest from foreign hospitality investors.
