🏨 Chalet Hotels to Continue Partnerships with Global Chains Despite Launching In-House Brand ‘Athiva’

Real estate group K Raheja Corp-owned Chalet Hotels plans to continue working with major global hospitality chains to manage its hotel portfolio, even as it launches its first in-house brand — Athiva Hotels and Resorts. The company aims to evaluate each property based on returns on investment (ROI) before deciding whether to operate it under the Athiva brand or with an international chain. “We are not in the business of flags; we are in the business of getting returns on investment,” said Sanjay Sethi, Managing Director & CEO of Chalet Hotels, in an interaction with Moneycontrol. “If we see a property where a global brand can add more value, we’ll partner accordingly. Each asset will be assessed on its own merit.” Chalet currently owns 11 hotels, resorts, and serviced apartments across India — with about 3,300 keys — managed under global brands such as Westin, Marriott, and Four Points by Sheraton. The Khandala property, earlier branded as The Duke’s Retreat, was acquired by Chalet in 2023. Other Athiva hotels will be located at Aksa Beach and Vashi (Mumbai), two in Goa, and one in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Sethi noted that while India faces a shortage of branded hotel rooms, expansion in the sector remains slow due to capital intensity, back-ended returns, and high interest rates. “Many non-professional hotel investors burnt their fingers in the 2007–08 cycle. Since then, supply growth has slowed to just 3–4% annually,” he said. Targeted at millennial and Gen Z travellers, Athiva will cater to the upscale or upper-upscale segment, positioned just below luxury brands. Sethi added that this segment remains relatively resilient compared to budget and high-end luxury categories during economic or geopolitical turbulence. Hashtags: #ChaletHotels #Athiva #HospitalityNews #KRahejaCorp #SanjaySethi #HotelIndustry #RealEstateIndia #TourismIndia #LuxuryHotels #TravelNews #HotelExpansion #Khandala #Marriott #Westin #FourPoints