Dharampal Satyapal (DS) Group has entered into a strategic partnership with Marriott International to launch its W Hotels brand in India, marking a significant milestone in the company's hospitality expansion strategy. The partnership centers on the redevelopment of the former Uppal's Orchid hotel near Delhi's Aerocity into a 200-room W Hotels property, where DS Group is investing about ₹400 crore including land costs. According to Business Standard, Vice-Chairman Rajiv Kumar emphasized that "New Delhi remains the indispensable gateway to the high-value diplomatic and corporate echelons that ultimately establish a brand's equity and authority in the subcontinent." The hotel is expected to debut in September 2027 and will be the first W Hotel in Delhi-NCR and only the second property in India under Marriott International's luxury W Hotels brand, following the existing W Goa property.
The partnership forms part of DS Group's massive expansion strategy to add up to 12 hotels by FY29 with investments of around ₹1,000 crore across luxury and mid-scale segments. As per Business Standard, Nathan Andrews, Business Head of Hospitality at DS Group, revealed that about 10-12 hotels will be added by FY29, with the company targeting a 15% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in the hospitality business over the next two to three years, significantly higher than the industry growth rate of 8-9%. The expansion strategy targets tier-I and tier-II cities, leisure destinations and religious tourism markets, with the Northeast emerging as a priority investment region. DS Group currently operates about 1,000 rooms across six hotels and expects hospitality revenue to double by 2028, though it currently contributes only 3-4% of DS Group's overall revenue of roughly ₹10,000 crore as of FY25.
Beyond the W Hotels partnership, DS Group is pursuing a mixed growth strategy comprising both organic and inorganic expansion in high-growth Tier-I and Tier-II cities. The company is investing in the Renaissance Bengaluru hotel, which it acquired through the insolvency process for about ₹300 crore in 2023, with renovations scheduled for completion by October 2026. DS Group is adding 85 rooms at Radisson Blu Guwahati and 65 rooms at Holiday Inn Express Kolkata, while maintaining a portfolio that includes Namah Nainital, Namah Jim Corbett, Radisson Blu Guwahati, InterContinental Jaipur, Renaissance Bengaluru and Holiday Inn Express Kolkata. Three of the new properties will be located primarily in North and East India, with expansion projects ongoing at Holiday Inn Express Kolkata, Radisson Blu Guwahati and Namah Jim Corbett.
The expansion comes amid a surge in domestic travel and significant demand-supply mismatch in the premium segment. According to Business Standard, India has only 0.27 hotel keys per 1,000 people compared to the global average of 2.2, with India's hotel penetration rate being roughly one-tenth of the global standard. The planned expansion comes as India's hotel industry enjoys one of its strongest cycles in recent years, with nationwide occupancy standing at 63-65% in 2025, while average room rates rose to ₹8,500-8,700 and revenue per available room (RevPAR) climbed to ₹5,400-5,600. The sector recorded more than 64,000 hotel keys signed in 2025, up 35.7% from the previous year, with India's organized hotel inventory exceeding 200,000 rooms and projected to approach 350,000 rooms by FY30. Kiran Andicot, Senior Vice President, South Asia, Marriott International, noted that "the signing of our first W Hotels in Delhi NCR is set to introduce a bold new expression of luxury to this dynamic, high-energy market."
