Strategic development perspectives

The eighth edition of the prestigious BW Hotelier Indian Hospitality Summit & Awards (IHA 2024) hosted the BW Leadership Dialogue: Strategic Development Perspective including industry veterans and experts, Mandeep S Lamba, President and CEO - South Asia, HVS Anarock hosted the dialogue session. Rajeev Menon, President - Asia Pacific excluding China, Marriott International and Dimitris Manikis, President EMEA, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts provided insights on Strategic development: Expanding footprints in India.

Manikis stated, “Partnerships are beyond people, partnerships are beyond brand, they are about how the market can deliver for us. The Indian market for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is very important both domestically and internationally. We want to make sure that we capture a big percentage of the Indian consumers worldwide. That to me is more important than the development pipeline ongoing in the nation.”

He further added, “Microtel is the fastest growing brand in China and the US, it is the perfect brand for the Indian consumers, it is tailor-made for the Indian market. Luxury is only afforded by 15 per cent in the world, we make our money in the other 85 per cent such as economy and midscale brands.”

Menon explained further about Marriott’s development and brand strategy in the future, “Luxury is growing strongly year after year however, in the Asia-Pacific middle-class become more aspirational, the upper middle-class is travelling more frequently and aspiring to stay in luxury. This year 80 per cent of the deals we have signed in India is in the premium and luxury space.”

He added, “In the first nine months, We have signed about 9,000 rooms in India, it has been a record year and we believe, there is still more to go before the end of the year. There is a growth opportunity in every segment in India.”

The two-day BW Hotelier Indian Hospitality Summit & Awards (IHA 2024) encompassed over 20 sessions where hospitality veterans and experts across the nation gathered in order to provide diverse knowledge and insights. The Summit & Awards is a testament to BW Hotelier’s commitment towards revolutionising Indian hospitality by honouring the Crème de la crème of the industry.