Eight Continents Hotels & Resorts charts roadmap to 50 hotels by 2030

Eight Continents Hotels & Resorts has unveiled a long-term expansion roadmap that will see its portfolio scale to 50 hotels by 2030. The growth strategy is structured around India’s high-momentum pilgrimage, leisure, wildlife and business travel markets, supported by strong domestic tourism fundamentals and a phased market-entry approach.

Boutique brands rooted in local culture and design

The group operates a diversified portfolio of boutique hospitality brands including Ocho Homes, Hanric, Treetop and Stamps. Each brand is positioned around design-led experiences that draw from local heritage while delivering contemporary comfort and consistent service standards. With an existing presence across India, the UK and East Africa, Eight Continents focuses on creating immersive, experience-driven stays tailored to evolving traveller expectations.

Focus on high-growth pilgrimage and leisure destinations

A significant share of the expansion will be directed towards India’s fast-growing spiritual tourism hubs. Planned destinations include Vrindavan, Ayodhya, Shirdi and Ujjain, reflecting the sustained rise in domestic pilgrimage travel.

Leisure and nature-led markets also form a core pillar of the strategy. Locations such as Udaipur, Gir, Corbett, Varkala and Jaisalmer have been identified for their strong experiential appeal, year-round demand potential and alignment with boutique hospitality formats.

Entry into business hubs and tier-two cities

Alongside leisure and pilgrimage destinations, Eight Continents will strengthen its footprint in major metropolitan and commercial centres including Gurgaon, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Select tier-two cities will also be targeted, driven by improving infrastructure, enhanced connectivity and the decentralisation of business and travel demand beyond traditional metros.

Domestic travel trends underpin expansion strategy

The group’s growth outlook is anchored in robust domestic travel trends. Pilgrimage tourism has recorded an estimated 19 percent increase in bookings, while tier-two cities are emerging as structurally important hospitality markets. Rising disposable incomes, infrastructure investments and increased regional mobility continue to support sustained demand across segments.

Phased expansion through 2030

The expansion will be executed in clearly defined phases aligned with demand maturity, return potential and brand fit:

• By 2028: Consolidation across key pilgrimage markets with approximately 10 hotels

• By 2029: Expansion into leisure and wildlife destinations with an additional 10 properties

• By 2030: Scaling up to a 50-hotel portfolio through targeted entry into metropolitan and business hubs

Leadership perspective on balanced growth

Commenting on the announcement, Richa Adhia, Managing Director, Eight Continents Hotels & Resorts, said the group remains focused on building a resilient national platform. She emphasised that the phased strategy balances emotion-led luxury with disciplined execution, positioning Eight Continents as a future-ready hospitality brand aligned with India’s evolving travel landscape.