In a bold push to expand its global footprint, the parent company of Indian luxury hospitality chain Oberoi Hotels, EIH Limited is gearing up for the nine international openings by 2028.
EIH’s expansion plan includes nine international projects with 288 keys, including cruise ships. Two luxury boats will debut next year, including a Nile cruiser in 2026, along with assets in Nepal and Saudi Arabia.
Leading the charge in 2026 are The Oberoi Bardia in Nepal and The Oberoi Diriyah in Saudi Arabia with The Oberoi Kathmandu scheduled to open in 2027.
In 2028, Oberoi London will debut in the UK, marking an important milestone for the brand. Alongside this, Bhutan and Saudi Arabia will see the opening of The Oberoi Bhutan and a property-centric property, Nature by The Oberoi Diriyah, further diversifying the group’s luxury offerings.
The opening of Saudi Arabia coincides with the push the kingdom for high-end tourism.
Why London?
Set for a 2028 opening, the London hotel will have 21 keys with a mix of rooms and suites, with a strong focus on suites. Situated in a prime location in Mayfair, the property aims to compete with the best.
“Rates in London today for the first half of the year, based on STR data are almost – just under GBP 1,200 ($1,500), and that’s for rooms and suites. Given that we’ll have a large number of suites we expect rates to be considerably higher, given the growth that is also anticipated in the market,” said MD, CEO and Executive Director Vikramjit Singh Oberoi on Friday’s earnings call.
The company’s top three source markets for hotels in India are India, the US, and the UK “We don’t have a footprint in the US or the UK And given the large number of people traveling from the US to the UK, and UK. Visitors coming to our properties, with a UK flag will really enhance our brand presence while making people more familiar with the Oberoi brand,” said Oberoi.
Home Expansion
Domestically, EIH also plans to open 11 properties, adding 1,000 keys to its portfolio by 2029. Key highlights include the opening of Bandhavgarh and Khajuraho in 2025.
The coastal destination of Goa will host two Oberoi properties by 2028. Meanwhile, untapped markets such as Visakhapatnam and Tirupati will see Oberoi’s first forays in 2027, underscoring the group’s intention to acquire the city’s tier-2 needs.
The grand finale of this expansion will be Rajasthan’s Jawai in 2028 and four hotels, including two Tridents in Hebbal and Pune, in 2029, along with a mixed-use development that integrates commercial, retail, and food and beverage spaces.
The group currently operates 3,772 keys in India.
What’s Driving EIH’s Historic Quarterly Performance?
EIH Limited posted its best performance in the second quarter, with consolidated revenue reaching INR 6230 million, marking a 13% year-on-year growth. EBITDA increased by 26% to INR 2080 million, and profit after tax increased by an impressive 41% to INR 1330 million. These results reflect strong domestic demand and a gradual recovery in international travel.
The company’s RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room) growth has outpaced competitors, maintaining its premium positioning, said Samidh Das, senior vice president and chief financial officer of EIH.
Weddings also remain an important revenue driver which often includes full property purchases of flagship hotels such as The Oberoi Udaivilas, Trident Udaipur, The Oberoi New Delhi and Gurugram. CEO Oberoi highlighted the strength of the weddings and MICE segments, noting their contribution to the group’s success. “Our MICE numbers, including weddings, highlight the importance of this business to many of our properties,” he said.
Oberoi added that he remains optimistic about India’s tourism market. “We are positive about growth across leisure, business, and MICE, and expect rates to remain stable, especially in the winter months,” he said.
Luxury hotels, in particular, show potential for rate hikes. “There is enough opportunity for luxury hotels, for the city and entertainment, to increase the rates in fact it is greater in the city hotel,” he added. “Winter rates reach $1,000 for some of our hotels, and luxury hotels provide even more opportunity for growth.”