The HICSA Hospitality Real Estate Capital Markets panel discussion brought together some of the most influential voices in the industry to explore the opportunities and challenges in the evolving hospitality sector. Moderated by Amit Nayak, Vice President and Executive Board Member at Hospitality Asset Managers Association MEA, the session featured Arun K. Saraf, Chairman and Managing Director of Juniper Hotels, Mohit Arora, Managing Director of the Real Estate Group at Blackstone, Priya Paul, Chairperson of Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, and Viren Jairath, Managing Director of Equity Capital Markets at Kotak Investment Banking.
The panel highlighted India’s strong growth story and the immense untapped potential in branded hotel supply, which remains significantly lower than major global cities. With dynamic pricing models, diverse demand generators such as MICE, spiritual tourism, and commercial tourism, and geopolitical stability driving investor confidence, hospitality real estate has emerged as a top choice for real estate investors.
The discussion delved into opportunities in inbound tourism, fueled by infrastructure advancements and new airport openings, and the institutionalization of smaller unbranded hotels into the branded space. However, challenges such as regulatory bottlenecks, overcrowded destinations, and the need for smart destination management were also brought to light.
The session underscored how hospitality real estate remains a lucrative yet evolving sector, with ample opportunities for growth, innovation, and collaboration between stakeholders to address existing challenges.
