Brands
Company
Investors
Development
Memberships
Sustainability
Careers
Pressroom
Contact us
PRESSROOM
IHCL enters into a strategic Partnership for 150+ Hotels in India
~ IHCL PORTFOLIO REACHES 550+ HOTELS AND ~ 55,000 ROOMS
~ DOUBLES ITS MID SCALE PRESENCE TO 240+ HOTELS
~ EXPANDS BRANDSCAPE WITH BRIJ HOTELS IN THE BOUTIQUE LEISURE SEGMENT
August 12, 2025|||
3 min
|
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, today entered into a strategic partnership, signing definitive agreements to acquirecontrolling stakein ANK Hotels Pvt Ltd and Pride Hospitality Pvt Ltd andsigned a distribution agreement with Brij Hospitality Pvt Ltd. With many decades of hospitality experience, the promoters of these companies belong to the illustrious Clarks hotels family. This takes IHCL’s portfolio to over 550 hotels.
Speaking on the milestone occasion, Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, IHCL said, “India’s hospitality sector has witnessed sustained demand momentum over last three consecutive fiscal years, reflective of the country’s growing economic prominence and rising discretionary spends. The outlook for the sector remains buoyant as demand outpaces supply and India continues to be an under-served hospitality market especially in the mid-market segment. Our partnership with ANK, Pride and Brij Hospitality is a multi-pronged approach addressing India’s heterogenous market landscape and is in line with IHCL’s five-year road map ‘Accelerate 2030’ of unlocking India’s tourism potential.”
He added, “Furthering IHCL’s leading presence in the midscale segment with the successful transformation of Ginger, this partnership doubles our portfolio with 240+ hotels addressing the growing needs of the aspirational traveller. Expanding our brandscape, the strong brand equity of Brij hotels in India’s cultural and historical centres extends our offering in the experiential boutique luxury segment. With their rich legacy and hospitality expertise, the key managerial personnel of ANK, Pride and Brij Hospitality will continue to oversee the running of the respective companies, thereby providing business continuity and also enabling future growth of the companies.”
ANK Hotels Pvt Ltd and Pride Hospitality Pvt Ltd have a portfolio of 135 hotels in the midscale segment spread across 110 locations and are presently operated under The Clarks Hotels & Resorts, which over the next few months will be integrated operationally and migrated to IHCL’s brandscape predominantly under the Ginger brand among others.These hotels are a on a capital light arrangement of management contracts and select operating leases. Brij Hospitality has a portfolio of 19 hotels in the experiential leisure segment in India’s unique destinations.
August 12, 2025|||
3 min
|
Mr. 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.
Mr. 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.”
Mr. 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.”
Mr. 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.”
About ANK Hotels Pvt Ltd& Pride Hospitality Pvt. Ltd
The Clarks Hotels & Resorts stepped into the Midscale Segment in 2006, with their brand Clarks Inn, which filled an important gap between luxury and economy hotels. With the objective of achieving industry-leading net room growth over the medium term, driven by an asset-light strategy under the companies ANK Hotels Pvt Ltd & Pride Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. Together it is a portfolio of 135 hotels in India.
About Brij Hospitality Pvt. Ltd
Brij is a collection of boutique hotels that curates soulful journeys into India’s heart—where heritage, nature, and mindful luxury intertwine. From restored palaces to hidden forest sanctuaries, every stay is an invitation to slow down, savour local flavours, and connect with timeless traditions. We work hand-in-hand with communities, source sustainably, and celebrate the stories of each land. Here, sunsets linger longer, welcomes are handwritten, and experiences are deeply personal—leaving you with more than memories, but a renewed sense of belonging. The company has a portfolio of 19 hotels of which 10 are operational and 9 are in development.
About Horwath HTL (Transaction Advisors)
At Horwath HTL, a global brand with 52 offices in 38 countries is a part of the Crowe Global network, a top 10 accounting and financial services network. Horwath HTL is the global leader in hospitality, tourism and leisure consulting. Mr. Vijay Thacker, FCA, is the Managing Director of Horwath HTL India and Partner & CEO of Crowe Advisory India. With an illustrious career spanning nearly four decades, he has been a pivotal figure in the evolution of the Indian hospitality industry since 1986.
About The Indian Hotels Company Limited
The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries bring together a group of brands and businesses that offer a fusion of warm Indian hospitality and world-class service. These include Taj – the iconic brand for the most discerning travellers and ranked as World’s Strongest Hotel Brand 2025 and India’s Strongest Brand 2025 as per Brand Finance; Claridges Collection, a curated set of boutique luxury hotels merging elegance with historical charm; SeleQtions, a named collection of hotels; Tree of Life, private escapes in tranquil settings; Vivanta, sophisticated upscale hotels; Gateway, full-service hotels designed to be your gateway to exceptional destinations and Ginger, which is revolutionising the lean luxe segment.
Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata, the Company opened its first hotel – The Taj Mahal Palace, in Bombay in 1903. IHCL has a portfolio of over 550 hotels including 215 under development globally across 4 continents, 14 countries and in over 150+ locations. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is India’s largest hospitality company by market capitalization. It is listed on the BSE and NSE.
Please visit: IHCL; Taj; Claridges Collection; SeleQtions; Tree of Life; Vivanta; Gateway; Ginger The Clarks Hotels & Resorts; Brij Hotels
Development
Our Brands
© 2025 The Indian Hotels Company Limited. All Rights Reserved.