Tata-owned hospitality player Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) sub-brand called ‘Ama Stays & Trails’ is a branded product in the homestay market. Of the 61 operational properties which are all managed assets, around 21 properties are Tata company homes or bungalows.
Ama looks to expand to 500 properties by the financial year 2025-26, and the overarching strategy is to develop properties within driving distance of existing hotels to share management, resources, and costs. The hub hotel offers key supervisory resources that could include a horticulturist, chief security, housekeeper, and chief engineer who oversee the spoke hotel from time to time, free of cost. Internally there is also a structure that allows the hub hotel to have a share of the 18 percent license fees.
Ama is one of several business engines that IHCL has been pushing for growth. By providing a platform for house owners to open up their homes to travelers, ama offers an opportunity to monetise an idle asset and convert it into a profit-making business managed by IHCL.
