Hyatt Hotels is exploring acquisitions of local hospitality brands in India and weighing a homegrown brand built specifically for Indian travelers. The company aims to grow its India footprint nearly fivefold over the next five years. Vikas Chawla, Hyatt’s president for India and Southwest Asia, said the company is actively evaluating acquisitions of Indian hospitality brands. “I wouldn’t focus on either small or large (companies) at this stage, but the fact is that there are opportunities in the market for adding on other brands from the Indian market into our portfolio and we are looking at it in a considered way,” Chawla said. The next growth phase leans into leisure, wellness via Alila, spiritual and religious tourism, and Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, with continued investment in gateway metros. Chawla described India as a multi-decade opportunity and noted the country receives roughly 10 million foreign visitors annually. Rivals Marriott, Accor, and Hilton are scaling operations in India’s branded-hotel market.
