India in recent years has drawn the eye of the world's largest hotel chains. Marriott International launched Series, a new collection brand that includes dozens of properties in India. IHG Hotels & Resorts plans to launch its Garner midprice brand in India next year. Hyatt Hotels Corp. plans to double its footprint in India to 100 properties in India by 2030. Wyndham International is bringing its Microtel brand there.
And why not? The Global Business Travel Association projected 2025 business travel spending in India to increase 15 percent year over year, the largest percentage increase among the world's top 15 spending countries, according to its Business Travel Index. Deloitte projects India's corporate travel sector market to double by 2030 from 2024 levels.
But perhaps the most dramatic lodging industry move in 2025 in the subcontinent belongs to Accor. The French hospitality giant agreed to form an autonomous joint venturewith InterGlobe Enterprises, an Indian conglomerate that is the largest shareholder of beleaguered low-cost carrier IndiGo, to manage both companies' hotel holdings in India and invest in Indian budget hotel franchisor Treebo, becoming that company's largest shareholder.
If approved by regulators, the move will help Accor develop "a network of 300 hotels under Accor brands by 2030," up from 71 in 2025.
Accor further cemented its intentions in India with the appointment of a longtime hospitality executive, Ranju Alex, as Accor's first CEO in its South Asia region, which is comprised by India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Alex's appointment and the additional level of management underscores Accor's intentions for the region, providing the possibility of increased reliability of execution.
A broader geographic base offered through Accor's footprint in India combined with a new structure for additional local control could allow corporate travel buyers enhanced ability to negotiate hotel programs throughout the country, beyond the largest cities. At a time when demand and competition each are on the rise, CEO Sébastien Bazin is making the moves to ensure Accor's place in India's next frontier.