IHG Hotels & Resorts is looking to expand its collaboration with Adani Airport Holdings (AAHL) beyond the recently signed five-hotel agreement, with the hospitality group indicating strong interest in developing more properties across airport hubs and adjacent commercial locations in India.
Sudeep Jain, Managing Director for Southwest Asia at IHG, said the company sees significant long-term alignment with AAHL, particularly as India continues to scale up airport-led infrastructure and surrounding real estate development.
The two sides had last month signed a managed hotel portfolio agreement to develop five hotels across key airport-linked and fast-growing urban destinations. The project is expected to add nearly 1,500 rooms and includes a Kimpton property in Jaipur, along with Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express hotels in upcoming mixed-use developments tied to Adani’s airport city plans. Locations under consideration include Navi Mumbai, Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram.
Strong pipeline for future expansion
Jain said discussions are underway to deepen the partnership further, pointing out that AAHL has ambitions to develop around 60 hotels across its airport network. While IHG has currently signed on for five, he suggested more deals are likely.
The group already operates hotels near major airports in cities such as Lucknow, Delhi and Mumbai, and sees airport ecosystems as a natural growth driver for its brands.
Drawing parallels with global markets, Jain noted that IHG properties are a common sight around major international airports such as Heathrow and Singapore’s Changi, reinforcing the group’s strategy of building strong airport-linked hospitality clusters.
Focus on emerging airport cities and new markets
IHG is also evaluating opportunities around upcoming airport developments, including Jewar, where land parcels are opening up and investor interest is rising. Jain said the company would like to be considered for future projects in such locations.
Beyond major metros, IHG is also exploring expansion into tier 2, tier 3 and even tier 4 markets, provided there is sustained demand to support operations.
Expanding brand presence in India
IHG currently operates 52 hotels across six brands in India and has a pipeline of 98 additional properties expected to open over the next three to five years.
As part of its expansion strategy, the company is introducing its luxury lifestyle brand Kimpton through the AAHL partnership and is also bringing the Vignette Collection to the Indian market. Jain added that the group is actively exploring opportunities for its ultra-luxury Regent brand, though selection criteria remain highly selective.
Strong domestic demand supports growth
Jain said IHG remains heavily focused on India’s domestic travel market, which has delivered double-digit growth in revenue per available room during the first five months of the year. He added that momentum is expected to continue, supported by strong demand and recent performance trends.
The company is targeting record signings over the coming years, backed by what Jain described as a strong multi-year growth cycle.
Key risks to outlook
Despite the positive outlook, Jain highlighted several factors that could slow growth, including regulatory uncertainty, capital availability, talent shortages and the pace of infrastructure development. He noted that while infrastructure expansion is currently benefiting the sector, sustained investment will be critical to maintaining momentum.
