Hilton Worldwide firms up expansion plans for India

Over a year after its joint venture with DLF ended, Hilton Worldwide has firmed up its expansion plans for India, with 21 hotels planned in the next five years across five brands. The hospitality chain is also planning to bring its luxury brand Waldorf Astoria to India.

“We are very keen to bring the brand to at least one of India’s key cities. We are yet to find the right location or partner,” said Guy Hutchinson, Vice President, Operations-India, Hilton Worldwide.

There are 15 Waldorf Astoria hotels globally, with another 20 in the pipeline.

In December 2011, Hilton Worldwide’s entities sold their entire 26 per cent shareholding in the Hilton-DLF joint venture company — DLF Hotels and Hospitality Ltd. to DLF Hotel Holdings Limited (DLF). The move was part of DLF’s strategy to exit non-core business.

“I don’t see it as a negative experience. We have got it right now. We have to find a product fit both from the customer’s and the developer’s perspective. Today, we have one of the largest pipelines in India compared to our competitors here,” Hutchinson added.

Hilton will open five hotels in India this year. The company has tied up with real estate players including Embassy group, Prestige Developers, Albany and Muthoot Hotels and Infrastructure ventures, Mantri Developers and Panchshil hotels among others. The hotel company operates across brands ranging from mid-market to premium hotels including Conrad, Hilton, Double Tree, Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton by Hilton.

Hilton Worldwide is the second largest global hospitality company in the world, next to Intercontinental Hotel Group, with a portfolio of 10 brands spread across 3,900 hotels.

In India, the company will push its mid-market brands including Hampton and Hilton Garden Inn, given the paucity of supply in the particular segment. The company is also banking heavily on driving demand into its hotels on the back of its loyalty programme and global distribution network. “These are some things that give us an edge over others, especially in times of economic slowdown,” Hutchinson said.