Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, has entered into definitive agreements to acquire a 51% controlling stake in Brij Hospitality, the owner of the boutique leisure brand Brij Hotels. The transaction gives IHCL ownership of the Brij brand and marks a strategic move to scale the boutique and experiential leisure segment in partnership with the founding promoters.
Commenting on the development, Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, said the acquisition aligns with rising demand for experiential travel driven by higher discretionary spending and evolving consumer preferences. He added that strengthening the partnership with the Clarks Group through a majority stake in Brij Hotels reinforces IHCL’s leadership in India’s leisure tourism landscape.
With Brij’s presence in offbeat and culturally rich destinations such as Jaipur, Varanasi, Ranthambore, the northern hills, the Northeast and Goa, the acquisition adds diversity to IHCL’s multi-brand portfolio across heritage, spiritual, wildlife and leisure locations. Post-acquisition, IHCL’s portfolio expands to 610 hotels, with 253 properties under development, keeping the company on track to achieve its target of 700 hotels under its Accelerate 2030 strategy.
Brij Hotels operates a collection of boutique luxury hotels and resorts known for immersive, locally rooted experiences, including landmark properties such as the heritage BrijRama Palace in Varanasi. The brand currently has 22 operational hotels and 11 in the pipeline.
Udit Kumar and Anant Apurv Kumar, Co-Founders of Brij Hospitality, said the partnership with IHCL brings together Brij’s design-led, experiential approach with IHCL’s legacy of showcasing Indian hospitality globally, with the shared ambition of building a globally recognised Indian boutique hotel brand.
