Radisson Hotel Group has announced a massive expansion plan. The hospitality firm said that it is aiming for a portfolio of 157-160 operational hotels by December this year. In total, the group wants 19,000-19,500 keys.

According to Nikhil Sharma, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group remains "very much on track" to achieve its target of 500 hotels in India by 2030.

"We are at 17,000 keys in operation currently. With 18 more hotels set to open this year, we are adding between 2,000 and 2,500 keys," Sharma said.

The global hospitality chain operates 142 hotels in India and has 84 more under development, reflecting a strong pipeline towards medium-term visibility.

On the demand environment, Sharma pointed to a mixed impact from the ongoing West Asia crisis, particularly across key urban markets in the country.

"We saw a slowdown in some metro cities, but tier-2 and tier-3 cities did not witness a large slowdown," he said.

However, March saw pressure in select markets. "There was a 27-28 per cent decline in RevPAR in a few metro cities, not across India," Sharma noted, adding that April trends will be critical in assessing recovery momentum.

Industry trends indicate that while international and corporate travel may face intermittent disruptions, domestic demand -- especially from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities -- continues to be resilient, providing a cushion to the hospitality sector.

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