The Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has entered into a strategic partnership, signing definitive agreements to acquire a controlling stake in ANK Hotels and Pride Hospitality for a combined consideration of up to Rs 204 crore. The company has also signed a distribution and marketing agreement with Brij Hospitality.
The investment will focus on unlocking value in existing assets while fuelling future growth opportunities. Current promoters will continue to lead operations, with Anoop Kumar guiding the companies. With decades of hospitality experience, the promoters hail from the illustrious Clarks Hotels family. This acquisition takes IHCL’s portfolio to over 550 hotels, 55,000 rooms across 250 locations.
Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, said the move aligns with the company’s five-year “Accelerate 2030” roadmap, aiming to unlock India’s tourism potential. “Our partnership with ANK, Pride, and Brij Hospitality is a multi-pronged approach addressing India’s heterogeneous market landscape. This doubles our midscale portfolio to 240+ hotels, strengthens the Ginger brand, and extends our offering in the experiential boutique luxury segment with Brij Hotels,” he said.
ANK Hotels and Pride Hospitality have a combined portfolio of 135 midscale hotels across 110 locations, currently operated under The Clarks Hotels and Resorts. These will be integrated into IHCL’s brandscape, predominantly under the Ginger brand, over the coming months through management contracts and select operating leases. Brij Hospitality operates 19 experiential leisure hotels in unique Indian destinations.
Ankur Dalwani, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, IHCL, said, “IHCL will fund this investment through internal accruals given our strong cash flows. The primary investment in the companies will be used for unlocking value in the existing assets and for fueling future growth opportunities.
Anoop Kumar, Founder of ANK Hotels said, “It is with great enthusiasm that we move forward towards new vistas with India’s largest hotel group. Our forefathers, who sowed the seeds of the hospitality sector in India in 1947, will be proud.”
Aryavir Kumar, Promoter of ANK Hotels Pvt Ltd, said, “Combining over 200 years of collective hospitality legacy, we come together with IHCL, part of the iconic Tata Group. Together, we are a powerhouse of energy with a shared vision for growth and transformation. This is more than a partnership, it is a union of legacies, ready to inspire the future.”
Anant Apurv Kumar and Udit Kumar, Founders of Brij Hotels and Promoters of Clarks Group of Hotels, jointly said, “Together with IHCL, we carry forward the shared vision of our respective founders, Jamshed Ji Tata and Babu Brijpal Das Ji, in shaping and propelling India’s tourism journey. IHCL’s legacy of showcasing Indian hospitality to the world resonates deeply with our core objective at Brij Hotels – to immerse travellers in the authentic spirit of India’s most storied destinations. Together, we will blend IHCL’s century-old tradition of excellence with our experiential approach, creating journeys that honour our shared heritage, nurture local communities, and reveal to the world the India that we love in its most beautiful and timeless form. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Vijay Thacker from Horwath HTL for helping facilitate this strategic alliance.”
 has entered into a strategic partnership, signing definitive agreements to acquire a controlling stake in ANK Hotels and Pride Hospitality for a combined consideration of up to Rs 204 crore. The company has also signed a distribution and marketing agreement with Brij Hospitality.){kind=link}