Key Indian Metros Drive Marriott’s Growth in South Asia

Marriott International recorded strong growth in the South Asia region in 2024, with Indian metropolitan markets such as Hyderabad, Gurugram, Bengaluru, and Mumbai playing a key role in driving the growth of average daily rates (ADR). Growth in ADR and occupancy led to the company recording a revenue per available room (RevPAR) growth of 11% in the region, the company said on Monday.

Marriott also signed a record number of deals in South Asia last year: A total of 42 deals, contributing a total of 7,000 rooms to its pipeline. By the end of the year, Marriott’s pipeline of developing hotels in South Asia reached nearly 20,000 rooms, with the lion’s share being in India. 

“We had a record-breaking year in 2024 with unprecedented signings and strong business performance in South Asia, underscoring the region's immense growth potential,” said Marriott’s president and CEO Anthony Capuano.

New Brands: Marriott is expanding its brand footprint in the region. Last year, Marriott debuted the Moxy brand in the region with the opening of Moxy Bengaluru Airport Prestige Tech Cloud. More properties under the brand are expected to come in Chennai, Mumbai (Dadar), and Bengaluru, as well as Kathmandu in Nepal.

Its lifestyle brand EDITION Hotels is also set to make its South Asia debut with the opening of The Mumbai EDITION in 2029.

“The luxury segment is driving demand in South Asia as affluent travelers seek tailored experiences, with a focus on premium amenities, experiences rooted in the destination, and exceptional service. Growing Marriott’s presence across both established and emerging destinations, 75% of the rooms signed in 2024 in South Asia were in the luxury and upper upscale segments,” the company said in a statement. 

Accordingly, its luxury brand The Ritz-Carlton is expected to open in Jaipur, Udaipur, and Chennai. W Hotels and St. Regis brands are set to make their debuts in Hyderabad in 2028 and 2031, respectively. 

“Marriott’s premium brands strengthened their foothold in India with the milestone opening of the country’s 150th property, Katra Marriott Resort & Spa, in 2024. Meanwhile, expansion into Tier-2 and 3 cities continues to gain momentum, with upcoming properties in Jaipur, Surat, Shimla, Jalandhar, and Coorg,” it added.

Air India Expands Codeshare Agreement With All Nippon Airways

Air India is expanding its codeshare agreement with All Nippon Airways. Under the expansion, All Nippon Airways will connect Air India passengers to 6 other major destinations in Japan. 

This has come as Air India has announced that it is moving its operations from Narita International Airport to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. Starting March 31, Air India will operate its flights from Delhi to Haneda instead of Narita. The move is made due to Haneda’s proximity to downtown Tokyo as compared to Narita, said Air India chief commercial officer Nipun Aggarwal. 

With Air India’s operational shift, All Nippon Airways’ flights from Haneda to Fukuoka, Hiroshima, Nagoya, Okinawa, Osaka, and Sapporo will be included in the codeshare agreement. Additionally, Air India’s flights from Tokyo Haneda to Delhi and then further to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Pune will be included under the agreement.

India Second Most Sustainability-Conscious Market in Asia

India is the second most sustainability-conscious travel market in Asia, according to a new survey by online travel platform Agoda. The survey found that over 80% Indian travelers are factoring sustainability in their travel plans this year as compared to the overall Asian average of 68%. 

Over 20% of Indians are also making the decision to travel in the off-peak season to reduce overcrowding, while over 15% each choose accommodations with sustainability certifications, use public transport or walk instead of driving, and pack reusable items to minimize waste, like water bottles.

Fly91 Partners With Paytm to Expand Ticketing Network

Regional Indian airline Fly91 has partnered with financial services platform Paytm to expand its ticketing network. Under the partnership, the airline’s ticketing inventory will be made available to travelers on Paytm. With its focus on Tier-2 and 3 cities, Fly91 is looking to leverage Paytm’s strong presence in these regions and its growing focus on the travel division.

The Goa-based airline currently connects regional destinations such as Jalgaon, Sindhudurg and Agatti in the Lakshadweep islands to major cities such as Goa, Pune , Hyderabad and Bangalore. Over the next five years, the airline plans to expand its network to 50 destinations and its fleet to 30 aircraft. 

IHG Opens Holiday Inn in Gurgaon

IHG Hotels & Resorts has opened a Holiday Inn-branded hotel in Gurgaon. The 137-key Holiday Inn Gurgaon NH8 aims to attract business and leisure travelers with its proximity to the Delhi airport. 

IHG is planning to double its operational portfolio to 100 properties in India by 2029. It has been focusing on midscale and upper midscale segment to drive its expansion in India, and has been looking at smaller markets to bolster its presence.