IHCL Eyes All-Inclusive Hospitality Model to Match India’s Travel Boom
Puneet Chhatwal, managing director and chief executive officer of the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), says India’s hospitality market is ripe for an all-inclusive homegrown brand — and he intends to make IHCL that brand.
IHCL, the Tata Group-owned company and the country’s largest hospitality chain, is in its fastest growth phase yet, with new signings, acquisitions, and a diversified portfolio spanning luxury, upscale, midscale, and budget segments. At the heart of this portfolio is the iconic Taj Hotels, but Chhatwal stresses that the company’s strategy extends well beyond its crown jewel.
“The future belongs to brands that can serve every traveller, at every price point, across every journey,” he notes.
The shift comes against a changing backdrop. Post-pandemic “revenge travel” has given way to a sustained appetite for leisure and business trips, both within India and abroad. With a buoyant economy and a surge in domestic mobility, demand for quality stays is now running ahead of supply — a gap IHCL aims to fill.