Anantara in India

IN CONVERSATION WITH DILLIP RAJAKARIER, CEO OF MINOR HOTELS AND GROUP CEO OF MINOR INTERNATIONAL.

- Vidhi Gupta

From opening of Anantara Jaipur Hotel to placing a greater emphasis on well-being, especially mindfulness, longevity and self improvement, Dillip Rajakarier shares Minor’s vision for India.

How fruitful has the Indian market been for Minor over the years?

Minor first established a Global Sales Office in India in 2012. Having a presence in India has helped Minor Hotels establish Anantara, our flagship luxury brand, as a leading luxury hospitality brand amongst Indian travellers. Today, India is one of the fastest-growing international source markets for Minor Hotels. In 2023, annual room nights from India-based guests at our Asia and Middle East properties grew 72% versus our 2022 performance.

What are your future plans for the country?

2024 marks a significant milestone for Minor Hotels in India with the opening of Anantara Jaipur Hotel, the debut of Anantara in the country. Anantara Jaipur Hotel will be our second property in India, after Oaks Boghdaya, which opened in 2017.

We believe there is untapped demand for upscale and luxury segments in India. We are bullish on India’s potential and target 50 new openings within the next decade, focusing on the upper-upscale and luxury hotel segments with our Anantara, Avani and NH Collection brands. We also see strong prospects for the upscale NH Hotels & Resorts brand in rapidly developing tier-two cities and airport locations.