ITC Hotels has strengthened its midscale-to-upscale portfolio with the signing of two new Welcomhotel properties in Shirdi and Bhubaneswar, taking the brand past the 50-hotel milestone—a significant marker in its expansion journey.
Strategic Signings in Pilgrimage & Emerging Markets
The two new signings reinforce ITC Hotels’ strategy of expanding into high-growth pilgrimage and cultural destinations, aligning with evolving domestic travel patterns. The Shirdi property, a key religious destination, will feature around 73 rooms, while the Bhubaneswar hotel is planned with approximately 84 rooms, catering to both religious and business travel demand.
Both projects are being developed in partnership with Sandy Resort Private Limited, under management agreements, highlighting the company’s continued focus on an asset-light growth model.
Welcomhotel Brand Scales to 50+ Properties
With these additions, the Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels portfolio has expanded to 51 hotels with over 5,500 keys, including 30 operational properties and 21 in the pipeline.
This milestone underscores the brand’s rapid scale-up across diverse geographies—spanning business hubs, leisure destinations, and spiritually significant locations.
Strong Pipeline Across India
Over the past year, ITC Hotels has aggressively expanded the Welcomhotel footprint across 16 locations, including Ayodhya, Vrindavan, Bodh Gaya, Jaipur, Rajkot, Mysuru, Nellore, Dehradun, and Mohali, among others.
Looking ahead, the brand is also targeting upcoming destinations such as Gangtok, Bhopal, and Gwalior, further strengthening its presence in emerging tourism circuits.
Leadership Perspective
Anil Chadha, Managing Director of ITC Hotels, described the milestone as a reflection of the brand’s consistent growth across business and leisure markets, noting that Welcomhotel continues to deliver immersive and enriching guest experiences across varied destinations.
Hospitality POV: Growth Aligned with Demand Trends
From a hospitality standpoint, this expansion reflects three key industry trends:
- Rise of pilgrimage tourism: Destinations like Shirdi, Ayodhya, and Bodh Gaya are witnessing sustained demand, driving branded hotel development
- Shift beyond metros: Growth is increasingly concentrated in Tier II/III cities and cultural hubs
- Asset-light expansion: Partnerships and management contracts are enabling faster, capital-efficient scaling
Welcomhotel’s positioning—blending heritage-inspired experiences with modern hospitality—makes it well-suited for these markets, where travellers seek both comfort and local immersion.
As India’s travel ecosystem continues to diversify, ITC Hotels’ focused expansion of the Welcomhotel brand positions it strongly in the midscale and upper-upscale segment, bridging the gap between luxury and accessible premium hospitality.
