Minor expands Anantara brand in India

INTERNATIONAL REPORT — Bangkok, Thailand-based Minor Hotels has signed its first projects in India under its luxury Anantara Hotels & Resorts hotel brand for 2026, with the Anantara Zanti Coorg Resort and Anantara Kolkata Hotel. Both properties represent firsts for the brand in India: its first resort and its first urban hotel.

The 69-key Anantara Zanti Coorg Resort is scheduled to open in 2028 and is set within a forested enclave near Madikeri in Coorg. The property facilities will feature four F&B venues, a swimming pool, a lobby lounge and library and an Anantara Spa and wellness center. The resort is owned by Bangalore, India-based Zanti Hospitality.

“Our partnership with Minor Hotels brings a renowned brand to one of India’s most captivating destinations,” said Bimal Desai, chairman of Zanti Hospitality. “Through this greenfield development, we aim to deliver authentic experiences that immerse guests in Coorg’s rich culture and pristine landscapes, setting a new benchmark for luxury hospitality in the region.”

“Coorg’s natural beauty exemplifies India’s potential for experiential luxury and is ideal for the Anantara brand,” said William Heinecke, founder and chairman of Minor International, parent company of Minor Hotels. “The upcoming Anantara Zanti Coorg Resort will showcase our vision of creating distinctive stays that honor local culture, immersing guests in the destination’s vibrant nature and tradition.”

The 170-key Anantara Kolkata Hotel is scheduled to open in 2032 and will anchor the upcoming World Trade Center Salt Lake Kolkata mixed-use development. The hotel will feature two restaurants, a lobby lounge, flexible meeting and event spaces, an Anantara Spa and wellness center, a gym and a swimming pool. The World Trade Centre Salt Lake is a joint venture between Gurugram, India-based Aryan Realty and Kolkata, India-based Merlin Group.

“The World Trade Center Kolkata is a landmark development for Kolkata and West Bengal, strengthening the city’s standing as a regional business and cultural center,” said Sanjay Saraf, co-chairman of Aryan Realty. “Partnering with Minor Hotels to introduce Anantara to Kolkata reflects our commitment to create a destination that will support the city’s long‑term commercial growth and raise its hospitality offering.”

“Our partnership with Minor Hotels and the introduction of Anantara at WTC marks a significant step in shaping a destination that not only meets international benchmarks but also redefines how business and hospitality converge in Eastern India,” said Sushil Mohta, chairman of Merlin Group.

“Signing Anantara Kolkata as our first urban Anantara in India represents an important step in our growth in the country and reflects the brand’s versatility across both city and resort settings,” said Heinecke. “We look forward to partnering with Aryan Realty and Merlin Group to deliver a hotel that fits the scale and ambition of the World Trade Center development.”

Minor’s expansion in India

The Anantara Zanti Coorg Resort and Anantara Kolkata Hotel are the latest additions to Minor Hotels’ growing portfolio in India and build on the strong performance of Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur, which introduced the Anantara brand to India in 2025, and follows the first signing of an Avani‑branded property, Avani+ Sunray Beach Visakhapatnam Resort. Minor has a growing pipeline in India, steadily progressing towards its target of 50 properties within the next decade.

Minor’s India strategy focuses on both introducing its brands in leisure destinations and key cities and is led through its luxury and premium brands, including Anantara, Avani and NH Collection. Minor Hotels will also introduce its select-service brands (NH, Oaks and iStay) to India, supporting expansion into tier two and tier three cities as well as airport locations. Minor also plans to expand its conversion-friendly collection brands, Minor Reserve Collection and Colbert Collection, into the country.