Accor makes big deals in India

INDIA – Major hotel companies continue to look at India as a major growth opportunity with the latest news coming from Accor, who announced a new partnership with InterGlobe, bringing together their currently owned assets, development and management businesses in the country to form one autonomous, integrated platform.

This new entity will become the exclusive vehicle for growing all Accor brands in India, including luxury and lifestyle brands from Ennismore, Accor’s fast-growing hospitality portfolio. Accor said the objective is to create India’s fastest-growing hospitality business with an ambitious network target of 300 hotels under Accor’s brands by 2030.

Accor will continue to lead operations and brand management and provide full access to its brands and services.

The company also announced a deal with Treebo, one of India’s leading branded budget hotel platforms, manages 800 hotels across 120 cities. Accor and InterGlobe will jointly invest in and become the largest shareholder in Treebo. Treebo will take the lead to develop the Ibis and Mercure brands in India through a master license agreement.

Under this partnership, Treebo reached an agreement with various property owners to sign 10 new Mercures.

Accor’s brands will leverage Treebo’s technology to tap into India’s unbranded hotel market and accelerate growth. The combined Accor and Treebo portfolio will create India’s third-largest hospitality player with over 30,000 rooms.

Accor currently operates 71 hotels in the country with 40 more in development, spanning from economy to luxury brands. Through this alliance with InterGlobe, Accor will significantly expand its footprint and streamline operations, deepening its commitment to solid growth in the Indian market across all segments from economy to lifestyle and luxury.

Indian conglomerate InterGlobe brings its expertise in travel and hospitality, coupled with an aviation business (IndiGo), hotels (in India and Internationally), airline management, logistics, travel and AI enabled technology. InterGlobe is the largest stakeholder of IndiGo, India’s largest airline with over 400 aircraft serving over 130 destinations with more than 2,200 daily flights, carrying over 118 million passengers in FY 25.

This news comes after Hyatt Hotels Corp. announced plans to open six hotels in India in 2025, which would bring it more than halfway to its goal of 100 open properties in the country by 2030.

Meanwhile, IHG Hotels & Resorts on Tuesday announced plans to launch its Garner mid-price brand in India next year with a 40-room Garner property in Etawah and in 2027 a 45-room Garner property in Kathua. IHG currently has 47 properties open in India and another 60 set to open in the next five years, according to the company.

With an economy growing at an estimated ~7 % GDP rate and a population of 1.4 billion, India is on track to become the world’s fifth-largest outbound travel market and third-largest domestic travel market by 2027. A rapidly emerging middle class, improved infrastructure, and increased air connectivity have fueled an unprecedented boom in domestic tourism and international travel, notably into the Middle East and Asia Pacific, where Accor is the leading hotel operator.

India’s hotel industry remains highly fragmented, presenting a major opportunity for organized, branded players.

By strengthening its long-lasting strategic partnership with InterGlobe, Accor aims to unlock India’s full hospitality potential, leading the transformation of the sector while catering to Indian travelers both domestically and globally.

“This landmark partnership marks a transformative moment for Accor and its brands in India,” said Accor Chairman and CEO Sébastien Bazin. “By aligning with our long-term successful and trusted partner InterGlobe and bringing together the best of hospitality, tech and entrepreneurship in India, we are unlocking unprecedented growth potential in one of the world’s most exciting travel markets.”