Adani Airports and IHCL Team Up for Massive 8-Hotel Expansion
Adani Airport Holdings and IHCL partner to develop 8 hotels with 2,000+ rooms in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, and Guwahati.
In a move set to redefine the travel experience in India, Adani Airport Holdings Limited (AAHL) and The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) have signed a multi-hotel operating agreement. This strategic partnership will see the development of eight hotels, boasting more than 2,000 rooms, across four major Indian cities.
A Multi-Brand Hospitality Blitz
The collaboration leverages the diverse brand portfolio of IHCL to cater to different traveler segments. Under the agreement, Adani Airports will lead the development of the properties, while IHCL will take the helm of operations. The expansion includes a mix of luxury and mid-scale options:
- Taj: Three luxury hotels
- Vivanta: Two upscale properties
- Gateway: One hotel
- Ginger: Two lean-luxury hotels
Mapping the Expansion: Four Key Cities
The hospitality footprint will be spread across strategic airport hubs, ensuring that business and leisure travelers have world-class accommodation within reach:
- Mumbai: A prestigious Taj hotel will be established at Terminal 2 of the Mumbai airport.
- Ahmedabad: A Taj and a Vivanta are already in advanced stages of development.
- Lucknow: The city will welcome a Vivanta and a Ginger hotel.
- Guwahati: This location will feature a trio of brands—Taj, Gateway, and Ginger.
These properties are designed to be comprehensive hubs, offering not just rooms, but high-end dining, wellness centers, recreational facilities, and spaces for meetings and events.
The Vision: Creating 'Airport Cities'
Jeet Adani, Director of Adani Airport Holdings Limited, emphasized that modern airports are evolving into integrated destinations that drive commerce, tourism, and urban growth. He noted that the partnership with IHCL is a vital step in transforming airport locations into hospitality-led mixed-use destinations.
To support this vision, Adani Airports has established Adani Airport City Limited. This entity manages a land bank of over 655 acres across eight airports in seven states, including approximately 440 acres in the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai regions.
Investment and Scale
The ambition is massive. In its initial phase, Adani Airport City plans to invest over Rs 20,000 crore to develop roughly 22 million square feet. This development spans Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Guwahati, aiming to blend business, retail, leisure, and hospitality into a seamless visitor experience.
Strengthening India's Aviation Hubs
Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and CEO of IHCL, highlighted India's status as one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets. He stated that airport-centric developments are becoming critical commercial and hospitality hubs, and this partnership aligns two Indian leaders with a shared vision for the travel and tourism sector.
With this new agreement, IHCL will expand its presence to 25 hotels across key airports in India. For AAHL, this brings their total tie-ups to 15 properties across their airport locations, further integrating their airport districts with surrounding urban centers.