Skift Take
Move over, China. The world's hotel giants have a new favorite: India.
Early Check-In
Editor’s Note: Skift Senior Hospitality Editor Sean O’Neill brings readers exclusive reporting and insights into hotel deals and development, and how those trends are making an impact across the travel industry.
The world's biggest hotel chains are doubling down on India, betting that the country's rising affluence will fuel a surge in travel demand for years to come.
In the past six weeks, all the global hotel groups — including Marriott International and Hilton Worldwide — have unveiled ambitious expansion plans in India. They see a golden opportunity to establish a bigger foothold on the subcontinent in what may become the world's third-largest economy as soon as 2027.
"I have such incredible respect for entrepreneurs who have elected to get into the development and ownership here in India," said Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian at the HICSA hotel investment conference in India this month. "It's not easy."
"If you're willing to put up with that difficulty — the barrier to entry is very high — your returns can be very high," Hoplamazian said. "Thank