Hilton Plots Big Leap in India, Aims 10X Growth in Just 10 Years

Hilton positions itself as a global hospitality leader dedicated to doubling its brand franchises throughout India within a five-year timeframe.

The upcoming development includes expanding Hilton's Indian operations ten times larger by the end of the decade. Hilton is planning an extensive market expansion because research indicates India's travel industry will ascend to become the world's third-biggest segment by 2022 to 2032, according to Christopher Nassetta, president and chief executive officer for Hilton during the company's First Immersive brand showcase session in Bengaluru. The executive identified the Indian market as a prime segment for all business levels from high-end to economy.

"We are super focused and investing in significant ways to expand our business (in India). We have signed and announced a bunch of different deals lately, including Spark and Hampton. And we are doing more in the luxury space for Astoria, Conrad and other brands. We believe in the next five years, we will double the number of brands that we have represented in the (India) market. Over the next decade, we will increase our representation 10-fold in the Indian market or 300 plus hotels. That will bring us to hundreds of hotels. Our ambitions over the long term are for thousands of hotels," he said.

The 24 brands Hilton operates worldwide include five active hotel brands in India: Conrad Hotels & Resorts together with Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton by Hilton. Hilton launched Spark by Hilton in November 2018 to meet India's growing premium economy lodging needs through their establishment of 150 hotels priced between ₹4,000 and ₹6,000.

Indian hotel development represents a giant commercial expansion possibility for Hilton despite its current limited physical presence. Hilton's Strategic Licensing Agreement (SLA) partners will build the company's current hotel count tenfold in India. The hospitality major entered into a Strategic Licensing Agreement with Nile Hospitality to launch 75 Hampton by Hilton hotels throughout India this year along with a November 2021 agreement to develop 150 Spark by Hilton hotels with Olive by Embassy.