How Minor Hotels is Identifying Emerging Destinations

Key Points

Expansion Plans and Market Strategy: Minor Hotels aims to open 50 hotels in India within the next 10 years, focusing on quality over quantity and emphasizing strategic partnerships and sustainable development. They plan to penetrate untapped markets, particularly in South India, and establish a significant presence in emerging destinations.

Focus on Experiential and Luxury Tourism: The company is targeting the upscale and luxury segments with brands like Anantara, Avani, and NH Collection, aiming to create unique experiential tourism offerings. This includes multi-generational travel, wellness tourism, adventure tourism, and promoting local cultural heritage.

Sustainability and Community Integration: Minor Hotels is committed to sustainable tourism, supporting local communities, and enhancing destinations. Their strategy includes promoting indigenous craftsmanship, integrating local businesses, and ensuring that new developments provide long-term economic and social benefits to the areas they enter.

Episode Summary

In the Skift India Travel Podcast, Peden Doma Bhutia, the Skift Asia editor, interviews Amir Golbarg, Senior Vice President for Minor Hotels in the Middle East, Africa, and India. Golbarg discusses Minor Hotels’ ambitious expansion plans in India, aiming to open 50 hotels in 10 years. This plan is driven by India’s economic growth, increasing infrastructure investments, and rising domestic purchasing power. Minor Hotels plans to establish a strategic footprint by building strong partnerships and focusing on quality over quantity.

Golbarg highlights the underpenetrated Indian hospitality market and the unique opportunities it offers. Unlike other hotel operators, Minor Hotels is taking a conservative approach, emphasizing strategic partnerships and sustainable development. They plan to set up an office in Bangalore, aiming to penetrate the South Indian market, which includes key tourist destinations like Kerala and Goa.

The discussion also touches on Minor Hotels’ commitment to creating new destinations and supporting local communities. Golbarg emphasizes the importance of sustainable tourism and the company’s focus on enhancing the destinations they enter, rather than just building hotels. This includes promoting indigenous craftsmanship and local businesses.

Furthermore, Minor Hotels aims to cater to the upscale and luxury segments with brands like Anantara, Avani, and NH Collection, focusing on experiential tourism and multi-generational travel. It sees significant growth potential in wellness tourism, particularly Ayurvedic retreats and wellness hubs, and plan to integrate these into their properties.

Golbarg also notes the growing trend of bleisure travel and the increasing demand for villas and branded residences that cater to families and long-term stays. He mentions the company’s interest in adventure tourism and culinary experiences, aiming to offer unique and comprehensive hospitality experiences.