Hilton Returns to India with Ambitious Expansion Plans
After the dissolution of its partnership with The Oberoi Group, Hilton Hotels Corporation is aggressively pursuing a comeback in the Indian market. The company, currently without a single property in India due to the failed tie-up, is actively seeking new opportunities in the rapidly expanding hospitality sector.
A Multi-Pronged Approach
Hilton's strategy involves not only introducing its entire portfolio of hotel brands, known as "The Hilton Family of Hotels," but also establishing partnerships with multiple real estate players. A source close to the developments confirmed, “We are in negotiations with real estate players in the country.”
Previous Partnership and Current Venture
A key factor in the breakdown of the four-year alliance between Hilton and The Oberoi Group, which officially ended on April 1, 2008, was Hilton's existing joint venture with DLF Limited. Known as DLF-Hilton Hotels, this venture concentrates on hotel development within India. This preexisting commitment to DLF ultimately contributed to the termination of the Oberoi-Hilton relationship, leaving Hilton to chart its own course. Now, the company has reinforced its singular focus on independently expanding its footprint across the country, undeterred by the previous setback. This new aggressive pursuit of expansion demonstrates Hilton's clear commitment to the substantial potential of the Indian market.