Hotel conglomerate IHCL secures Clark Hotels & Resorts for approximately 204 crores in a business transaction.
On Monday, August 11, 2025, Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) announced a significant move in the Indian hospitality industry with the acquisition of Clarks Hotels and Resorts. The deal, worth ₹204 crores, involves the acquisition of a 51% stake in ANK Hotels Private Ltd and Pride Hospitality Private Ltd, the companies that manage the Clarks brand's 135 hotels across India.
With this acquisition, IHCL aims to increase its presence in the midscale hotel sector, targeting a broader market landscape in India. The company's current strategy emphasises expanding its presence in the midscale hospitality segment, primarily under its Ginger brand, while also diversifying into the boutique and experiential luxury segment through the addition of Brij Hotels.
IHCL's strategy post-acquisition includes doubling its midscale portfolio, capital expenditure and expansion goals, asset-light strategy, growth in the boutique and experiential segment, maintaining a focused international presence, and ensuring strong leadership continuity.
The integration of Clarks Hotels’ 135 midscale properties into IHCL’s portfolio nearly doubles its midscale presence to over 240 hotels. IHCL plans significant investment with capital expenditure of over Rs 1,200 crore for FY26 and a total investment of Rs 5,000-7,000 crore over the next 4-5 years to fuel growth across these segments. The company has a broader roadmap titled ‘Accelerate 2030’ aimed at unlocking India's tourism potential by expanding hotel counts from the current 550+ (after acquisition) toward its target of 700 hotels by 2030.
Consistent with its past approach, IHCL mostly operates under management contracts or operating leases rather than owning properties outright. This approach provides flexibility and capital efficiency, enabling faster scaling without heavy real estate ownership. Alongside Ginger, the acquisition includes Brij Hospitality’s 19 boutique and experiential properties located in India's cultural and historical centers, which broadens IHCL’s brandscape and caters to luxury travelers seeking unique and authentic stays.
IHCL’s international expansion continues to focus narrowly on luxury Taj hotels at gateway locations, while the midscale expansion is primarily domestic. New hotel openings in Bhutan and plans for locations in West Bengal, Sikkim, and Himachal Pradesh complement this domestic focus.
To ensure continuity and smooth integration, IHCL has retained the key management teams from ANK Hotels, Pride Hospitality, and Brij Hospitality. In summary, IHCL’s strategic focus post-August 2025 is on aggressively expanding and dominating the midscale segment in India via the Ginger brand, leveraging asset-light partnerships, and enriching its portfolio with boutique luxury experiences through Brij Hotels, all while maintaining Taj’s luxury legacy and selective international operations.
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