(Photo : IHCL Website)

The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), part of Tata Group, has announced its acquisition of a 55% stake in Rajscape Hotels, which operates the boutique Tree of Life Resorts brand, for a maximum of ₹18 crore. With this acquisition IHCL aims to deepen its footprint in India's growing experiential leisure sector that offer unique, destination-driven travel experiences.

According to the deal, IHCL gains control of Tree of Life Resorts' existing 19 properties in 15 distinctive locations across India, from Dehradun and Varanasi to Binsar and Udaipurwati. These properties offer smaller, boutique-style accommodations which typically feature fewer rooms and an intimate setting, cater to travellers seeking unique, immersive experiences away from traditional hospitality.

The experiential leisure segment caters to travelers who increasingly prioritize authentic, off-the-beaten-path accommodations. This deal cements IHCL's existing partnership with the Ambuja Neotia Group, a Kolkata-based conglomerate active in real estate, healthcare, and hospitality.

"Currently, we are in partnership with Ambuja Neotia Group for seven hotels and resorts featuring properties such as the Taj Chia Kutir and Taj Guras Kutir in Darjeeling and Gangtok," IHCL Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Puneet Chhatwal said in a news release. IHCL's vision includes expanding the Tree of Life brand to a portfolio of 100 properties by 2030. 

"We are delighted to welcome IHCL to our newest venture taking our collaboration to the next level.  With a proven track record of successfully scaling brands across various formats, we are confident of growing the Tree of Life portfolio with their expertise in developing and operating boutique leisure offerings," Harshavardhan Neotia, Chairman, Ambuja Neotia Group added in a joint news release. 

The acquisition is as part of IHCL's broader expansion plan, which has seen the company increase its property count significantly over the past year. Founded by Jamsetji Tata, IHCL opened its first property, The Taj Mahal Palace, in Bombay in 1903. The company has been consistantly expanding its footprint inthe hospitality segment. The company, earlier this year had announced that it will increase its total portfolio to 326 hotels, including a pipeline of 102 hotels across four continents, 13 countries, and more than 130 locations by early 2025.  In addition to Tree of Life, IHCL manages other lifestyle and experiential brands such as Ama Stays & Trails, focusing on unique homestay experiences.  

This partnership will consolidate IHCL's position in the premium boutique segment while the move also reflecting an industry-wide shift toward personalized and intimate travel experiences to meet these changing consumer preferences.