by Vijaylakshmi 
Espire Hospitality Group, with ambitious plans to open 20 hotels and resorts in the next few years, is set for a major expansion. Their strategy caters to a diverse range of travellers by offering both luxury and mid-market experiences through their ZANA Resorts and Country Inn Hotels & Resorts brands. As a part of their expansion strategy the brand is now targeting not just the popular leisure destinations but also key business hubs, through a mix of owned and partnered properties, as the aim is to reach a broad market. In a conversation with Asmita Mukherjee, Akhil Arora, CEO & MD of Espire Hospitality Group, shared insights into their future endeavours.
Shedding light on their expansion strategy Arora explained, “Our expansion strategy is multifaceted, aiming to offer new options for different travellers and market segments. Our forthcoming properties will span across both ends of the spectrum, with ‘ZANA Resorts’ offering luxury boutique experience for the premium travellers, and ‘Country Inn Hotels & Resorts’ offering mid-segment resorts for the savvy traveller.”
Expanding beyond leisure destinations, the group is targeting key business hubs such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. He also informed that their expansion strategy will leverage a mix of owned, leased, and franchised properties, “In terms of market focus, while we have a strong presence in India’s leisure market, we are now setting our sights on key business hubs such as Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Bangalore.
The brand’s strategy includes transitioning to an asset-light model, stating their plans for business model Arora said, “While ZANA Vrindavan will be our flagship property, most of our expansion will involve management, lease, and franchise models.”
Highlighting their expansion destination, he said, “Our expansion strategy encompasses a majority of hotels under management, lease and franchise models. While ZANA Vrindavan, set to debut in early 2026, will be a flagship property owned by Espire Hospitality Group. This diversified approach allows us to leverage our expertise and resources efficiently while simultaneously expanding our footprint across a broader spectrum of markets.”
The growing popularity of Jim Corbett as a tourist destination, and its capacity of drawing visitors from India and across the globe has inspired Esipre Group to introduce their very own Zana brand to the destination as there was limited presence of upper upscale, luxury hotels, said Arora. “ With the location witnessing consistent business growth year on year, we identified a significant opportunity to introduce a premium luxury experience that caters to the discerning traveller segment.”Elaborating on his plans for the brand ZANA Arora said, “We are targeting destinations such as Goa, Vrindavan, and Rishikesh, renowned for their cultural significance, natural beauty, and growing tourism appeal. These locations offer a conducive environment for upscale hospitality offerings, aligning perfectly with ZANA’s commitment to delivering immersive and luxurious guest experiences. Additionally, we are focusing on metropolitan hubs like Delhi NCR, Bangalore and Mumbai, where there is a high demand for premium accommodations and a thriving corporate and leisure traveller base.”
Currently, Espire Group’s occupancy rates are on par with industry benchmarks. Their revenue comes primarily from rooms, followed by food and beverage informed Arora, “The average occupancy rate for our ‘ZANA Luxury Resorts’ has been 60% at an ARR of INR 14,000 while for ‘Country Inn Hotels & Resorts’, the occupancy has been 50% with an ARR of INR 6,000. Both, the occupancy and ARR are similar to the other hotels in comparable space, in the locations where we operate. “
“Our segment-wise revenue breakdown shows rooms contributing 70%, F&B 25%, and others 5%,” he added.
While describing their guest profiles, Arora explained, “Our luxury boutique resort brand ZANA Luxury Resorts is an ideal fit for modern, avid travellers seeking fresh and meaningful experiences. The brand is synonymous with opulence, exclusivity, and personalized experiences. On the other hand ‘Country Inn Hotel and Resorts’ is our mid-segment resort brand that caters to slightly budget-conscious travellers seeking friendly experiences.
Our hotels in Jim Corbett, Bhimtal, Udaipur, Ranthambore and Goa are located at a convenient driving distance from our key feeder markets including Delhi NCR, Gujarat, Jaipur, Bareilly and Mumbai. Our travellers are mostly leisure travellers and weddings remain an important segment for us.”
