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OYO Plans Major Expansion with 500 Hotels in Key Religious Cities Across India


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Skift Take

OYO plans to add 500 hotels in key religious hubs across India this year, focusing on high-quality accommodations for pilgrims and visitors.

STR reported on China hotel data for the week ended January 18. Hotel RevPAR in China was up 0.8% year over year. The rise occurred even though it was up against a tough +56.6% comp in the year ago. Comps are going to get a lot easier in the coming months. ADR for the week ending January 18th was up 1%, while occupancy was down -0.2%.

The Guangdong Department of Transport said around 206 million people traveled across Guangdong province between January 14 to January 20, up 4.96% year on year. This is considered the initial week of the Lunar New Year travel rush. The expectation for the entire 40 day period they consider the Lunar New Year Travel period is for 9 billion trips across mainland China.

CapitaLand Investment's Ascott Limited unit said it signed 16 new Oakwood brand properties in 2024, up 30% over 2023. The expansion spree includes four additions to the Oakwood Premier portfolio, following the refresh to the brand, aimed at boosting its appeal among "bleisure" travelers. Oakwood's expansion leverages Ascott's flex-hybrid hotel-in-residence model, which merges the home-like amenities of a fully serviced apartment with the opulence of a traditional hotel experience. Oakwood has nearly 100 properties currently operational or in development with its presence extending across 14 countries, including 50 cities featuring gateway cities like TokyoJakartaBeijing and Manila.

OYO said they are planning to add 500 hotels in religious hubs in India, including AyodhyaVaranasiPrayagrajPuriHaridwarMathuraVrindavanAmritsarUjjainAjmerNasik and Tirupati this year. OYO said they would add over 150 hotels in Ayodhya, 100 in Varanasi, and 50 each in Praygraj, Haridwar, and Puri. Their focus is on launching strategically located hotels, particularly in key religious centers, to cater to the growing demand for high-quality accommodations among pilgrims and visitors.

Royal Orchid Hotels announced ramping up the room inventory of Regenta Suites Gurgaon, described as one of the oldest hotels in Gurugram, in the Indian state of Haryana. The property plans to add an additional 48 suites to the existing property, taking the total room count to 115. The existing property is located near the Golf Course Extension and Good Earth City Mall and is among the first all-suite full-service hotels in Gurgaon. The property includes a rooftop pool and an all-day dining restaurant. Regenta Suites is located in a mixed-use complex that also features a retail mall, entertainment venues, wellness centers and more. The property includes a pillarless banquet hall which can host between 200 and 300 people.

Lemon Tree Hotels announced its latest signings are Keys Select by Lemon Tree HotelsG S RoadGuwahati and the Keys Select by Lemon Tree Hotels, Dishpur, Guwahati. Carnation Hotels Private Limited, a unit of Lemon Tree Hotels Limited, will manage the properties. The Keys Select by Lemon Tree Hotels, GS Road will have 55 rooms, a restaurant, rooftop bar, banquet, meeting rooms, fitness center and other public areas, expected to open in FY26. The Keys Select by Lemon Tree Hotels, Dishpur will open in FY27 with 60 rooms, a restaurant, a rooftop bar, banquet and meeting rooms, a fitness center and other public areas.

Preferred Hotels & Resorts announced the appointment of three new strategic team members, as part of their plan to expand its hotel portfolio in India. Bharat Ratanpal joined as Director of Business Development, Mayank Tuteja was named Director of Sales – South Asia and Shakun Khandelwal is Senior Sales Manager – South Asia. The office they will work out of is based in New Delhi. Preferred Hotels & Resorts is up to 26 member hotels spread across various collections in India. Among its premier properties are 11 establishments from The Leela Palaces, Hotels & ResortsThe Claridges New DelhiClaridges Nabha Residence in MussooriTHE Park Kolkata and Aalia Jungle Retreat & Spa in the Himalayan foothills.

Lucky Cloud 9 Resort Inc and its property management company, Discovery Hospitality Corp., are making their mark in the surfing capital of the Philippines as they recently broke ground on the Kip&Kin Siargao. The brand has a dual concept of hotel rooms and hostel stays. The development will be built on 7,000 square meters in Siargao, a teardrop-shaped island. That is part of the company's 2.6-hectare lot area in General LunaSurigao del Norte, near Cloud 9, which is one of the island's most famous tourist sites. Kip&Kin Siargao will house 34 hotels rooms, 48 hostel beds, and retail spaces. The rest of the property is being planned for future expansion phases of additional rooms and retail spaces. The opening is expected in 2027. The brand is also planning openings of other Kip&Kins in Vanilla Beach El Nido and San VicentePalawan.

South Australian developer Citify received planning consent for a $200 million mixed-use precinct behind the former Buckingham Arms Hotel on GilbertonAdelaide. The Buckingham will occupy a 6,290 square meter site, located 3 kilometers from Adelaide's central business district. The expansive precinct will feature a 10-story apartment complex with 130 residential and 56 short-stay apartments. It will also house 1,230 square meters of ground-floor retail space on the corners of Northcote and Walkerville Terraces. One of the aspects will be 14 split-level SoHo (small office/home office) apartments. Amenities at The Buckingham will include a swimming pool, golf simulator, sauna, steam room and a gym. Access to a private function room and wine room will make it an ideal location for social gatherings and private events. The Buckingham Arms Hotel will be restored and reintegrated into the precinct as a food and beverage destination.

Personnel Moves

PPP specialist, investment banker and Chairman and Owner of TWC HoldingsThilan Wijesinghe, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Ventive Hospitality Ltd. The company successfully completed a $200 million IPO in India. Ventive Hospitality is a joint venture between Blackstone India and Panchsil Realty, among the largest real estate developers in India, based in Pune. Ventive has 13 operating hotels and four office and retail properties in India.

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