IHCL ties up with CG Hospitality to run 25 hotels by 2025

Tata group’s Indian Hotels Co. Ltd (IHCL) that operates the Taj, Vivanta and Ginger brands of hotels has tied up with CG Hospitality to launch Ekyam, a platform that will take over the marketing operations of 25 properties with 2,500 rooms by next year, the company said. 

Ekyam will primarily market destinations that offer adventure experiences across the Indian Ocean and Greater Himalayan regions and wildlife escapes.

‘The platform (Ekyam) will commence with the current portfolio of 11 operating hotels. CG Hospitality has invested over ₹1,250 crore in the operational and upcoming hotels thus far, and is committed to onboard 14 more hotels under this partnership,” Rahul Chaudhary, managing director at CG Hospitality.

CG Hospitality is run by CG Corp Global, Nepal’s only multinational conglomerate.

CG Corp Global chairman Binod Chaudhary said: “We are proud of CG Hospitality’s partnership with Tata group’s IHCL, spanning 25 years. This expansion underscores the confidence and trust we place in IHCL’s century old legacy, which is globally recognized as the benchmark in Indian hospitality.”

Ram Maheshwari, vice-president for commercial at CG Corp, will lead operations at the platform, the company statement said.

“IHCL has a long-standing association with CG Hospitality, a member of the renowned CG Corp Global, for over two decades. This collaboration under Ekyam will explore opportunities to manage hotels across regions around the Himalayas as well as Indian ocean, and strengthen the wildlife sector,” IHCL managing director and chief executive officer Puneet Chhatwal said.

CG Hospitality began by investing in IHCL’s Taj properties in the Maldives and Sri Lanka, expanding to 11 iconic properties across five countries, including Taj Safaris in India and Nepal, and Taj JLT in Dubai. With seven additional properties underway, including in Bhutan, the partnership continues to grow, the company said.

CG Hospitality has also formed joint ventures with leading global brands such as Fern Hotels in India, Jetwing Hotels and Ceylon Hotels Group in Sri Lanka, Radisson in NYC, and Fairmont Hotels in Kenya.

It also owns brands like The Farm in the Philippines, and Zinc, Fern, and Beacon.

Currently, CG Hospitality operates over 178 hotels and resorts in 12 countries, spanning 114 destinations with more than 10,000 keys. Under its ‘Vision 2025’, the company aims to expand to over 200 hotels worldwide.

Incorporated by Tata group founder Jamsetji Tata, IHCL opened its first hotel – The Taj Mahal Palace – in Bombay in 1903 and today has a portfolio of 311 hotels, including 91 under development across four continents, 13 countries and at over 100 locations.

IHCL’s presence in the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent includes properties like Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, Taj Coral Reef Resort and Spa in the Maldives, Taj Samudra in Colombo, Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers in Dubai, and the Taj Safaris in India and Nepal.

IHCL said it will identify seven hotels from its portfolio that will form a part of the Ekyam platform over the next 12 months.