IHG Hotels & Resorts announced on Monday that it has signed a management agreement with Discover Resorts Neral Pvt. Ltd. for a 200-key voco hotel in Karjat, Maharashtra. According to reports from Business Standard, the property will convert to IHG's premium brand by early 2028. This development expands IHG's presence in the Maharashtra market through its premium voco brand.
Sudeep Jain, IHG Hotels & Resorts Managing Director, South West Asia, stated that voco is well suited to destinations like Karjat where travellers are looking for a premium experience that feels distinctive, relaxed, and connected to the character of the place. As reported by Business Standard, this positioning aligns with the brand's focus on providing premium accommodations that reflect the local environment and culture. Karjat is emerging as an exciting leisure market in Maharashtra, with its proximity to Mumbai and Pune creating a strong opportunity to serve the growing demand for weekend travel, weddings, celebrations and MICE. The Karjat property is located in the foothills of the Sahyadri mountain range, approximately 62 km from Mumbai and 102 km from Pune, positioning it as an emerging leisure and weekend destination with strong demand across leisure travel, destination weddings, social celebrations and MICE retreats.
The voco Karjat will feature more than 200 rooms and three dining options, including a 200-seat all-day dining restaurant, a 50-seat pool bar and a 150-seat rooftop offering. Additional facilities will include a fitness centre, spa, parking, pet-friendly amenities, a kids' zone and salon. These comprehensive amenities are expected to cater to leisure travellers, families, groups, weddings and MICE requirements, supporting the destination's growing demand for premium accommodation and experience-led travel. The voco brand combines an individual hotel character with the operating and distribution infrastructure of IHG, including its global distribution network, loyalty platform and commercial capabilities.
IHG currently operates 53 open hotels across seven brands in India, with a strong pipeline of 110 hotels due to open in the next 3-5 years. According to Business Standard, this expansion demonstrates the company's commitment to growing its Indian hospitality footprint through both existing and new partnerships. The addition of the Maharashtra property contributes to this substantial development pipeline, with the company's strategy focusing on both new-build developments and conversion opportunities that allow owners to leverage IHG's enterprise platform, commercial expertise, distribution network and loyalty ecosystem. voco's growth has been supported by its conversion proposition, with the brand reaching 100 open hotels globally within seven years of its launch, adding to IHG's expansion across markets where leisure, weddings and MICE demand are supporting opportunities for branded hospitality.
