Radisson Hotel Group has made some strategic announcements regarding its expansion in India. The group debuted its luxury lifestyle brand, Radisson Collection, in India with the opening of Radisson Collection Hotel & Spa, Riverfront Srinagar. The brand aims to open multiple hotels under the Radisson Collection brand in the country over the next five years, with plans to launch a Radisson Collection Hotel in Hyderabad expected to open by the second quarter of 2026. The group intends to have 15 Radisson Collection hotels in India within the next 5-7 years, targeting luxury resorts and hotels in top gateway markets in the country.
With over 165 hotels in operation and development in India, Radisson Hotel Group remains one of the largest international hotel operators in the country. The group’s strong portfolio in India has been further bolstered by 21 new signings in 2023 alone. Radisson is focusing its expansion plans for 2024 on major metropolitan cities as well as Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns to cater to the growing demand in these markets. More than 50% of Radisson’s portfolio is in tier-2 and 3 markets, giving the group a first-mover advantage in these areas. The brand continues to be the fastest-growing upscale brand in the country with 10 new properties signed in 2023, targeting strategic expansion in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
Radisson has also been tapping into the religious tourism surge in India, with plans to expand its presence in spiritual destinations across the country. The group announced the first Park Inn by Radisson in Ayodhya and aims to become the region’s first branded hotel in Ujjain and Vrindavan. Religious tourism is a significant segment of India’s tourism industry, attracting annual tourist traffic of 10-30 million to religious centers in the country. Radisson has recorded an uptick in demand for its hotels in pilgrim destinations, with openings such as Park Inn by Radisson Ayodhya and the signing of Radisson Blu Hotel, Ayodhya demonstrating its commitment to tapping into this growing market.
The Radisson Collection Hotel in Srinagar is the group’s eighth operational hotel in the Jammu and Kashmir region. Radisson’s Managing Director and Senior Area Vice President, South Asia, Zubin Saxena, moved to Hilton, and Nikhil Sharma has been appointed in his place. Sharma joins Radisson Hotel Group from Wyndham Hotels & Resorts where he was market managing director Eurasia. Radisson’s growth in India is marked by a balanced approach, expanding across various market tiers while focusing on both major metropolitan cities and tier-2 and tier-3 towns. The group aims to reach a total of 300 hotels in India within another 5-7 years, with plans for further expansion in the luxury space and targeted growth in religious and pilgrimage destinations.
