Group adds properties in Sasan Gir and Rajkot, taking its Gujarat portfolio with NILE Hospitality to five hotels
Radisson Hotel Group has expanded its footprint in Gujarat with two new properties in Sasan Gir and Rajkot, strengthening its presence across the state’s emerging leisure and business markets.
The group, in partnership with NILE Hospitality, has opened Radisson Resort & Spa Sasan Gir and Park Inn & Suites by Radisson Rajkot. The additions take the partnership’s Gujarat portfolio to five hotels across Kandla, Gandhinagar, Navsari, Sasan Gir and Rajkot.
The expansion gives Radisson a presence in two distinctly different demand markets. While Sasan Gir is being positioned around wildlife, leisure, weddings and experiential travel, Rajkot is a business-led market driven by manufacturing, engineering, trade and other commercial activity.
“India’s hospitality landscape is evolving rapidly, with growth increasingly emerging across a diverse mix of leisure destinations, emerging urban centres and high-potential Tier II and Tier III markets,” said Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group.
“At Radisson Hotel Group, our strategy is focused on expanding our presence in these markets with the right brands and propositions that respond to the distinct needs of each destination. The opening of Radisson Resort & Spa Sasan Gir and Park Inn & Suites by Radisson Rajkot reflects this approach,” Sharma added.
The 122-room Radisson Resort & Spa Sasan Gir is located near Gir National Park and overlooks Madhuvanti Dam. The property is aimed at leisure and family travellers, while also targeting weddings, corporate offsites and MICE business.
Sasan Gir, home to the world’s only natural population of Asiatic lions, has been building its profile as a wildlife and experiential tourism destination. The resort is also positioned to tap demand linked to nearby attractions including Somnath Temple, Girnar Ropeway and Kamleshwar Dam.
The resort offers guided safari experiences, birdwatching and local excursions, along with an outdoor swimming pool, jacuzzi and other recreational facilities.
Its event infrastructure is particularly large for a leisure property, with more than 1.64 lakh sq. ft. of indoor and outdoor event space. This includes the 6,250 sq. ft. Gir Ballroom, which can accommodate up to 600 guests, along with four lawns designed for weddings, social celebrations and corporate events.
In Rajkot, Radisson has entered the city with the 54-room Park Inn & Suites by Radisson Rajkot. Located on Kanak Road, the hotel is positioned to serve corporate travellers visiting the city’s commercial and industrial hubs, while also catering to leisure and social demand.
Rajkot is one of the major commercial centres in the Saurashtra region, with economic activity spanning manufacturing, engineering, automotive components, trade and small and medium-sized enterprises.
The hotel has a 72-cover all-day dining restaurant, The Golden Spice, while The Deli, a 25-cover tea lounge, provides beverages and light bites. Its event facilities include the 2,000 sq. ft. Virasat banquet hall and a 600 sq. ft. pre-function area.
Vikram Singh Chauhan, Founder & CEO, NILE Hospitality, said the two openings demonstrate how the partnership is targeting markets with different demand drivers.
“The addition of Radisson Resort & Spa Sasan Gir and Park Inn & Suites by Radisson Rajkot demonstrates the versatility of NILE Hospitality’s partnership with Radisson Hotel Group across Gujarat,” Chauhan said.
“These two properties cater to distinct demand landscapes, from the growing appeal of wildlife, experiential and destination-led travel in Sasan Gir to the strong business and commercial demand in Rajkot,” he added.
For NILE Hospitality, the expansion also marks an entry into two markets where branded hospitality supply is developing alongside changing travel patterns.
The Sasan Gir property’s owner, Nikhil Balvantrai Dhami, said the resort was conceived around the destination’s natural appeal as well as its potential for larger gatherings.
“Our vision has been to create a destination that celebrates the natural beauty of Gir while offering world-class hospitality and event infrastructure,” Dhami said.
In Rajkot, the hotel’s owner, Nileshbhai Dangar, described the opening as a milestone for the city’s hospitality market.
“We are proud to partner with Radisson Hotel Group to introduce Park Inn & Suites by Radisson Rajkot, marking an important milestone as the city’s first international branded hotel,” Dangar said.
The two openings are also consistent with Radisson’s wider India strategy of expanding beyond the country’s traditional gateway cities. The group has more than 225 hotels in operation and under development in India, with over half of its portfolio located in Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets.
For Gujarat, the latest additions underline the increasing relevance of smaller cities and destination markets in the country’s hotel expansion story. Sasan Gir brings a branded resort proposition into a wildlife-led leisure market, while Rajkot adds international branded supply to a major commercial centre.
Together, the two hotels expand Radisson’s reach across Gujarat while giving the group exposure to two different sources of demand — one driven by experiences and destination travel, and the other by business and commercial activity.
