Radisson Focuses on Tier 2 and Tier 3 Markets in India Expansion

Radisson Hotel Group has continued to expand its global portfolio during the first half of 2026, with India emerging as one of its key growth markets. The company strengthened its presence through hotel signings, openings and market expansion across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, while advancing its long-term development strategy in India.

During the first half of the year, the group signed 18 hotels representing 2,082 rooms in India and opened 4 hotels, adding 394 keys to its operational portfolio. This increased its development pipeline from 87 hotels at the end of 2025 to 98 hotels.

Radisson Hotel Group currently operates 142 hotels with more than 15,500 keys across 86 cities in India. The company recently unveiled its India Vision 2030 strategy, which aims to expand its portfolio from approximately 240 hotels in operation and under development to 500 hotels over the next five years.

Elie Younes, Executive Vice President and Global Chief Development Officer at Radisson Hotel Group, said, "India is one of the most compelling hotel development markets in the world today. Demand continues to outpace supply, infrastructure is improving rapidly, and owner confidence remains high. Combined with the strength of our brands and the exceptional teams on the ground, these fundamentals continue to create significant opportunities for long-term growth."

The company said India continues to witness strong branded hotel development, with more than 900 projects currently under construction. Expansion is increasingly moving beyond major metropolitan cities, with 10 new market entries announced during 2026, including Kishangarh, Meerut, Roorkee, Coorg and Kalimpong, alongside leisure and spiritual destinations such as Puri and Prayagraj.

The upscale segment remains its strongest development category, while premium projects such as Radisson Collection Hotel Navi Mumbai, Radisson Collection Hotel, Mysore, and Radisson RED Mumbai International Airport reflect growing investor interest in luxury and lifestyle hospitality.

Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Radisson Hotel Group South Asia, said, "India's hospitality sector is entering a new phase of growth, characterized by expanding travel demand, improving infrastructure and increasing investor confidence in branded hospitality. We see opportunities emerge across metros, leisure destinations and fast-growing regional markets, creating a much broader development landscape than ever before. Our focus is on building a balanced portfolio that reflects how travelers are evolving, while partnering with owners to bring the right brands to the right destinations. With strong market fundamentals and a robust pipeline, we remain confident about the long-term growth potential of the Indian hospitality sector."

The company also highlighted that 62 percent of its hotel signings during the first half of 2026 were conversion and brownfield projects, reflecting increasing owner interest in faster development models. Mixed-use developments, branded residences, serviced apartments and destination resorts are also becoming a larger part of its expansion strategy.

Davashish Srivastava, Vice President, Development, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group, said, "We are seeing a clear evolution in the way hospitality assets are being developed across India. Owners today are increasingly focused on development efficiency, speed to market and long-term value creation, which is driving growing interest in conversion opportunities, mixed-use developments and branded hospitality solutions. At the same time, demand is expanding well beyond traditional gateway cities, creating opportunities across leisure destinations, spiritual tourism hubs and high-growth regional markets. With a diversified brand portfolio and flexible development models, we are well positioned to partner with owners across a wide range of asset classes and market segments."

Globally, Radisson Hotel Group expanded its footprint through new signings and openings across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. The company stated that, excluding China, it has remained the most-signed hotel brand within its segment across EMEA and Asia Pacific since 2019, supported by continued owner demand and a diversified portfolio spanning luxury, lifestyle, upscale and resort brands.

Elie Younes said, "Successful development is not measured by the number of hotels we sign, but by the long-term value we create for owners, guests, and communities. In India, we have taken a bold view of the future through our Vision 2030 plan and are building the partnerships, capabilities, and development platform needed to support that ambition. Looking ahead, we remain focused on quality growth, expanding our presence in high-potential destinations, and helping owners unlock the full potential of their assets."