HBI Staff | Mumbai 
Juniper Hotels, co-owned by Saraf Hotels and Hyatt affiliate Two Seas Holdings, is set to launch an Initial Public Offering (IPO) later this Month or early February. The strategic focus of this move is on the development of large-scale luxury hotels in key metro cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. This shift from the mid-market segment is a response to perceived lower profitability and increasing competition. Arun K. Saraf, Chairman and Managing Director of Juniper Hotels, emphasized the company’s intention to meet the growing demand for upper-upscale and luxury hotels, citing a consistent annual demand increase of around 10% since the early 2000s in these categories. According to media reports, the company is optimistic about robust growth prospects, particularly due to the projected minimal increase in the supply of new luxury hotels over the next five years.
Alongside its plans for the metro cities, Juniper Hotels is also targeting additional development in Goa and Hyderabad, specifically with an emphasis on facilities catering to large conventions. This expansion aligns with the company’s overarching objective of optimizing returns in a competitive market. Saraf highlighted Juniper Hotels’ strategic departure from mid-market inventory hotels since 2014, concentrating exclusively on asset ownership and development. This strategic shift positions the company to capitalize on opportunities in the Indian hospitality market, underscoring the importance of swift growth and infusion of fresh capital.
The upcoming IPO is set to generate fresh capital of Rs1,800 crore, with Rs 1,500 crore earmarked for deleveraging and future growth, and Rs 300 crore allocated for general corporate purposes. Saraf underscored the plentiful opportunities in the Indian hospitality market, emphasizing the imperative for rapid growth and the infusion of fresh capital. Juniper Hotels’ diversified business model extends to the development of commercial areas within its hotels, serviced apartments, and office spaces when feasible, leveraging its land holdings to optimize potential revenue streams. Presently, Juniper Hotels boasts approximately 1,950 keys across its portfolio, with plans to add an additional 1,000 keys from other businesses by 2027.
Juniper intends to secure fresh capital through the IPO while keeping its ownership structures unchanged. The partnership between Saraf Hotels and Two Seas Holdings, established in 1998 during their collaboration on the Grand Hyatt Mumbai hotel project, remains intact. Juniper Hotels, directly affiliated with the global hospitality giant Hyatt Hotels, plans to uphold brand agnosticism and welcomes collaborations with any Indian or international hotel management firms, not confined to Hyatt alone. The company’s overarching objective is to possess profitable large hotel assets in every market it operates in, with a strong emphasis on EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) and capital appreciation.
Approaching the IPO date, Juniper Hotels seems well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for luxury accommodations in key Indian cities, marking the initiation of a new chapter in its expansion strategy.
