Sayaji Hotels is deepening its presence across India’s fast-growing regional markets, signing six new properties in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Gujarat. The move marks a decisive step in the company’s strategy to expand beyond metros and position itself in the country’s evolving tier II and III hospitality landscape.
The new hotels—coming up in Mandav and Kanha (Madhya Pradesh), Baramati (Maharashtra), Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh), and Bhavnagar and Junagadh (Gujarat)—reflect a carefully calibrated plan to tap into destinations where domestic travel is surging. These cities, each with a distinct blend of heritage, industry, and local enterprise, represent the shifting contours of India’s hospitality demand.
“For a long time, hospitality in India was centred around metro cities and established tourist destinations, while Tier 2 and 3 markets were often seen as secondary,” said Sumera Dhanani, Corporate Head, Business Development, Sayaji Hotels. “That perception is changing rapidly. With better connectivity, growing local economies, and evolving traveller expectations, these cities are now becoming vibrant hospitality hubs.”
Dhanani added that Sayaji expects to add more than 2,000 new keys over the next six months as part of its wider growth plan. The company’s focus on smaller but high-potential markets is aligned with India’s broader travel patterns, where domestic tourism, spiritual travel, and regional business mobility are driving fresh demand for quality midscale and upscale stays.
Regional focus and market shift
Improved road and air connectivity, expanding industrial clusters, and a growing appetite for short leisure breaks have made smaller cities increasingly attractive to hotel developers. Sayaji’s choice of locations captures this emerging diversity. Mandav and Kanha are being positioned as experiential destinations rooted in nature and heritage, while Baramati, Bhavnagar, and Junagadh are expected to serve business and industrial travellers from western India’s expanding commercial belt. Tirupati, one of India’s busiest pilgrimage destinations, adds a steady flow of year-round visitors, ensuring consistent occupancy.
The company’s development strategy hinges on a dual proposition: offering contemporary comfort paired with the regional authenticity that has long been part of the Sayaji brand identity. “Travellers today are seeking hotels that feel personal and rooted,” Dhanani said. “We are bringing together modern design, strong service standards, and a local touch that reflects the character of each destination.”
A model built on scale and culture
Sayaji Hotels’ renewed growth push comes at a time when India’s hospitality sector is seeing a broader rebalancing. As metros approach saturation, hotel chains are discovering value in expanding into second- and third-tier markets, where land availability, construction costs, and operating models are more favourable.
Sayaji’s expansion is not merely about increasing its footprint, it’s also about creating operational efficiency and brand consistency across multiple geographies. The company is simultaneously upgrading its design standards, digital infrastructure, and guest experience model to deliver uniform quality while retaining local flavour. The approach allows the brand to scale without losing its core ethos of warmth and personalised service.
Under Dhanani’s leadership, the group has built a development pipeline that balances business viability with experiential value. The hotels will feature contemporary architecture, curated local cuisine, and service programs tailored to both corporate and leisure guests. This blend of scalability and regional authenticity is central to Sayaji’s vision of redefining Indian hospitality for the modern traveller.
Looking ahead
As India’s hospitality demand continues to decentralise, Sayaji Hotels aims to remain ahead of the curve by identifying under-served but promising micro-markets. The company’s focus on midscale and upper-midscale segments aligns with changing consumer preferences, where travellers seek dependability, good design, and comfort without the premium price tag of luxury chains.
“Our aim is to make high-quality hospitality accessible across India’s new travel map,” Dhanani said. “Every new property we sign is a step towards building a stronger, more connected network of destinations that reflect the diversity of modern India.”
With six new signings and a robust expansion pipeline, Sayaji Hotels is charting a confident course through the next phase of India’s hospitality growth, one that looks beyond the metros and embraces the full breadth of the country’s evolving travel story.
