Wednesday, April 22, 2026
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Insillion partners with Profinch to deliver AI-powered insurance tech solutions

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Insillion, a provider of insurance technology solutions for carriers and MGAs, has entered into a strategic partnership with Profinch, a global BFSI technology leader and implementation partner for Oracle Insurance Policy Administration. Through this collaboration, the companies aim to deliver an integrated solution that combines Insillion’s insurance platform with Oracle’s advanced policy administration capabilities.

Moreover, the partnership leverages Profinch’s expertise in OIPA implementation and system integration, enabling insurers to achieve core modernization while incorporating AI-powered functionalities. As a result, carriers can enhance operational efficiency and accelerate digital transformation.

Currently, Insillion serves more than 45 carriers and MGAs globally and is known for its product builder, distribution APIs, AI-driven workflows, and middleware that supports rapid product launches. At the same time, Oracle’s policy administration system offers a comprehensive, rules-based framework that manages the entire policy lifecycle. Additionally, Profinch operates in over 60 countries and brings deep domain expertise, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems while helping insurers reduce total cost of ownership (TCO).

Importantly, this partnership addresses a major industry challenge—managing multiple systems, integrations, and vendors. Therefore, it enables both greenfield and established carriers to modernize legacy infrastructure, speed up product deployment, and introduce AI-driven capabilities without replacing their existing core systems.

“Carriers need to innovate without disrupting their core operations. This partnership makes that possible,” said Mahavir, co-founder of Insillion. “By connecting Insillion’s APIs and AI features with OIPA through Profinch’s implementation, we give carriers a faster way to launch insurance products.”

Furthermore, Arun Mallavarapu highlighted the strategic value of the collaboration. “Our clients want the reliability of Oracle’s policy administration combined with robust, front-end capabilities,” he said. “By combining Insillion’s API-led capabilities with OIPA and Profinch’s accelerator-led implementation, we enable insurers to innovate while maintaining core system stability.”

The Insillion–Profinch partnership represents a significant step toward simplifying insurance technology ecosystems. By integrating AI-driven platforms with proven policy administration systems, the collaboration empowers insurers to innovate faster, reduce complexity, and remain competitive in an increasingly digital-first market.

Exotel acqui-hires Dubverse team to strengthen AI and voice intelligence capabilities

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Anuja Dhawan and Varshul Gupta, co-founders, Dubverse

Cloud telephony firm Exotel has acqui-hired the core team of voice AI startup Dubverse, including cofounders Anuja Dhawan and Varshul Gupta, as it strengthens its capabilities in conversational AI, voice intelligence, and enterprise customer experience solutions.

As part of the strategic move, Dhawan will lead Exotel’s Conversation Quality Analytics (CQA) solution, while Gupta will head the company’s AI division, according to founder Shivakumar Ganesan. Meanwhile, Dubverse will continue to operate as an independent platform. The startup, backed by Kalaari Capital, had raised $800,000 in June 2022.

Notably, Exotel—supported by investors such as A91 Partners, Blume Ventures, and CX Partners—serves over 7,000 enterprises, including Apollo 24/7, Shiprocket, HDFC Securities, Truecaller, and MG Motor. Furthermore, the platform handles more than 20 billion interactions annually across sectors such as financial services, healthcare, and e-commerce.

This acqui-hire aligns with Exotel’s broader transition into an AI-first customer engagement platform. Consequently, the company is ramping up investments in voice AI, automation, and conversation intelligence. In total, it has onboarded five to six senior hires from Dubverse to accelerate this transformation.

“Customers started asking us to derive insights from call recordings, train models on their own data, and improve performance for their use cases. We needed a team that had experience with GPUs, training, and fine-tuning models. That’s the context in which we brought in the Dubverse team,” Ganesan said.

Founded in 2021, Dubverse has developed multilingual voice AI systems, including text-to-speech and speech synthesis technologies. As a result, the platform has served over 3 million users across more than 70 languages.

At the same time, Exotel continues to operate predominantly in the business-to-customer (B2C) segment. Shivakumar Ganesan stated that AI could automate nearly 60% of customer experience operations. However, he added that companies may reduce the total number of human agents by around 60%, while transitioning the remaining workforce from on-premise setups to cloud-based systems.

“Exotel is one of the few Contact Centre-as-a-Service (CCaaS) players offering the full stack—software, network, and infrastructure. So we are actually seeing growth in contact centre seats as well, even as automation increases,” Ganesan explained.

Financially, Exotel reported operating revenue of Rs 490.5 crore in FY25, up from Rs 444 crore in the previous year, reflecting steady growth.

Geographically, around 80% of Exotel’s revenue currently comes from India. However, the company is witnessing faster growth in international markets, particularly in the Middle East and Africa. That said, geopolitical uncertainties in the Middle East could impact approximately 10% of its growth projections.

“The situation in the Middle East is expected to impact about 10% of our growth plans. One large deal has already been delayed, with customers preferring to hold off on new decisions for now,” Ganesan said.

Looking ahead, Exotel is actively exploring expansion into newer markets such as Japan, Latin America, and Australia. Additionally, the company has a track record of strategic acquisitions, including Ameyo and Cogno AI in 2021 and Croak.it in 2015.

Exotel’s acqui-hire of the Dubverse team marks a significant step in its AI-driven transformation strategy. By strengthening its voice AI and conversational intelligence stack, the company is positioning itself to lead the next phase of customer engagement innovation while expanding its global footprint.

KreditBee enters unicorn club with $280 Mn pre-IPO funding at $1.5 Bn valuation

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Vivek Veda, Madhusudan Ekambaram & Karthikeyan K, Co-founders, KreditBee

Bengaluru-based fintech KreditBee has entered the unicorn club after raising $280 million in a pre-IPO funding round, which values the consumer lending startup at $1.5 billion. The round was led by Motilal Oswal Alternates, along with Hornbill Capital and Dragon Funds. Moreover, existing investors such as Premji Invest and Advent International participated in the round, while WhiteOak Capital and A.P. Moller Holding also joined the investment.

With this latest infusion, KreditBee’s total funding has reached approximately $540 million. Notably, this funding round stands as the second-largest deal of 2026, following Neysa, which raised $1.2 billion earlier this year.

Importantly, the round includes $80 million in secondary transactions. The company plans to utilize the fresh capital to scale its credit business, particularly focusing on newer verticals such as secured lending and MSME financing.

“Our risk management has been very stable even during big events like COVID or the down cycles like the MFI (Micro Finance Institutions) crisis in 2024. That is what got rewarded, and we got good interest from investors, almost 3x the demand,” co-founder and CEO Madhusudan E said on April 7.

Founded in 2018 by Madhusudan E, Vivek Veda, and Karthikeyan Krishnaswamy, the company had earlier raised $145 million and $100 million in 2021 and 2023, respectively.

Financially, KreditBee reported a revenue of Rs 2,700 crore and a net profit of Rs 473 crore in FY25, highlighting its strong growth trajectory. Meanwhile, the fintech is currently merging its technology entity with its non-banking financial company (NBFC) arm as it prepares for an initial public offering (IPO) within the current financial year.

“This is the last private round before the IPO. The listing was always for us a function of the merger process, which we are doing now. We expect to complete the process in the next couple of months,” Madhusudan said.

Operationally, the company has facilitated more than 60 million loans and reported assets under management (AUM) of around Rs 15,000 crore in FY26. This reflects a growth of 43–44 percent compared to Rs 10,100 crore AUM recorded in FY25.

Over the past few years, KreditBee has significantly diversified its portfolio. It has expanded into secured lending, including loans against property, two-wheeler financing, and MSME loans. As a result, its secured lending AUM has already reached Rs 1,000 crore, while MSME lending stands at Rs 500 crore.

In terms of customer behavior, KreditBee’s average loan ticket size is around Rs 60,000, whereas first-time borrowers typically begin with loans of Rs 20,000. Furthermore, the platform receives nearly 70,000 new loan applications daily, although it approves only about 10 percent of them. Alongside lending, the company also offers value-added services such as credit report solutions and UPI-based products.

Additionally, KreditBee has built strong traction not only in metropolitan cities but also across Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets, underscoring the rising adoption of digital lending solutions across India.

KreditBee’s latest funding round reinforces investor confidence in India’s digital lending ecosystem. As the company moves closer to its IPO and continues expanding into secured and MSME lending, it is well-positioned to capture a larger share of the rapidly evolving fintech market.

Savills acquires majority stake in Hotelivate to strengthen hospitality advisory business

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Savills has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in Hotelivate, a leading hospitality advisory platform across South Asia. Through this strategic investment, the two firms will combine their strengths to create an institutional-grade advisory platform under the unified brand, Hotelivate-Savills.

Importantly, this move comes at a pivotal time for hospitality markets across the Asia-Pacific region. Strong operating performance, expanding branded supply, and rising cross-border capital flows have repositioned hotel and branded residence assets as core institutional real estate. As a result, owners and investors increasingly seek integrated advisory platforms that can deliver sector expertise, capital structuring, and transaction execution within a single framework.

Over the past decade, Hotelivate has built one of the region’s most respected specialist hospitality advisory platforms, serving owners, developers, operators, and institutional investors. The firm provides services across strategy, feasibility, operator selection, asset management, and transactions. Notably, its offices in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangkok, Dubai, Jakarta, and Singapore will continue operations while gaining enhanced access to Savills’ broader regional network.

The newly formed Hotelivate-Savills platform will combine deep hospitality sector expertise with Savills’ full-service real estate capabilities spanning capital markets, valuations, transactions, project management, and cross-border advisory across more than 70 countries. Consequently, the integrated model aligns strategy, capital advisory, and execution from the outset, offering a seamless client experience.

Commenting on the development, Martin Fidden, CEO of Savills Asia Pacific (ex-Greater China), said, “South Asia is a priority market for Savills in APAC, and this acquisition reflects our strong commitment to its long-term growth. Our continued investments position us well to expand into specialist areas like hospitality advisory.”

Meanwhile, Anurag Mathur, CEO of Savills India, added, “This marks an important step in the evolution of Savills in India. Eight years into our journey, we have reached the scale and organizational maturity to invest selectively in specialist capabilities aligned with market opportunities. We are delighted to welcome Hotelivate to Savills. With strong tailwinds across South Asia’s hospitality sector, this investment strengthens our offer and enables us to deliver deeper, more integrated advisory services to clients across the region.”

Sharing his perspective, Manav Thadani, Founder and Chairman of Hotelivate, said, “We have built Hotelivate as a sector-focused advisory platform grounded in relationships, market insight, and deep specialization. This investment by Savills enables us to scale that platform in a more institutional manner, enhancing our ability to serve increasingly sophisticated investors while preserving the sector depth that defines our firm.”

Savills’ acquisition of a majority stake in Hotelivate marks a strategic expansion into the high-growth hospitality advisory segment. By combining global reach with specialized expertise, Hotelivate-Savills is poised to redefine advisory standards in South Asia, catering to increasingly complex investment and development needs in the evolving hospitality landscape.

Clean energy startup Ecoil raises $2.5 Mn in funding to expand its operations & strengthen its technology platform

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ECOIL, a clean energy platform specializing in the collection and disposal of used cooking oil, has raised around $2.5 million in a Series A funding round led by Fundalogical Ventures.

In addition, the round attracted participation from Caspian Impact Investment, Momentum Capital, and existing backer The Chennai Angels. Earlier, global energy major Shell had supported the company as a seed investor, highlighting continued investor confidence in  Clean energy startup’s sustainability-driven model.

The company plans to deploy the fresh capital to scale its operations, strengthen its technology platform, and expand its presence into additional markets across India. As demand for sustainable solutions grows, this strategic investment is expected to accelerate ECOIL’s nationwide footprint.

Founded in 2019 by Sushil Vaishnav and Kirti Vaishnav, ECOIL collaborates with restaurants, hotels, and food businesses to collect used cooking oil and channel it toward the production of biofuel and sustainable aviation fuel. This approach not only addresses waste management challenges but also contributes to cleaner energy generation.

Furthermore, the clean energy startup is building a technology-driven collection and logistics network aimed at improving traceability, compliance, and aggregation of used cooking oil. This raw material plays a critical role in producing biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel, making efficient supply chain management essential.

At the same time, ECOIL is working to organize what remains a highly fragmented supply chain in India. By integrating informal collectors into a more structured ecosystem, the company aims to enhance operational efficiency, ensure regulatory compliance, and create more stable income opportunities for stakeholders across the value chain.

Moreover, its expansion strategy aligns with the growing demand for traceable and compliant feedstock in both the biofuel and aviation fuel sectors.

ECOIL’s latest funding round underscores strong investor interest in sustainable waste-to-energy solutions. By leveraging technology, expanding its network, and formalizing the supply chain, the company aims to become a key enabler in India’s clean energy transition while addressing critical environmental challenges.

Suba Hotels expands footprint with seven new openings across India

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Mansur Mehta, founder and Managing Director of Suba Hotels

Suba Hotels announced the launch of seven new properties across India on the occasion of its Founder’s Day on April 7, marking a significant milestone in its expansion strategy within the hospitality sector.

The newly opened hotels, introduced under multiple brands, include Comfort Inn Metropolis in Mumbai (34 rooms), Clarion Inn Greywall in Amritsar (48 rooms), Comfort Inn Kishore in Azamgarh (34 rooms), Click Collection Aster in Jaipur (42 rooms), Click Hotel in Hyderabad (48 rooms), Click Hotel in Chakan (32 rooms), and Quality Inn in Gurgaon (58 rooms).

Commenting on the development, Managing Director Mansur Mehta said, “The simultaneous launch reflects the organization’s continued expansion and commitment to strengthening its presence in the hospitality sector. This moment is not only a celebration of expansion but also a tribute to the vision, perseverance, and values of our founder that have shaped the organization over the years.”

Reflecting on the company’s journey, Mansur Mehta added, “My father started with a ten-room guest house in Mumbai, and today we have over 100 properties across more than 70 destinations.” This progression highlights the brand’s steady growth and deep-rooted legacy since its inception in 1994.

Meanwhile, CEO Mubeen Mehta emphasized the significance of the milestone, stating, “This is the first time in the history of the hospitality industry that a company has opened seven hotels in a single day across seven different cities. This reflects the company’s vision for growth, which has been made possible due to the foresight of our founder.”

In addition, the company continues to adopt a diversified operational strategy through five models—owned, leased, revenue sharing, managed, and franchise. The newly launched properties align with this approach, with Gurgaon, Mumbai, and Jaipur operating on management and revenue-sharing models, Hyderabad under a pure management contract, Amritsar and Azamgarh under franchise agreements, and Chakan positioned as an owned asset.

Furthermore, Mubeen Mehta noted that these openings reinforce the company’s ongoing commitment to expansion. He reiterated that Suba Hotels aims to build on its founder’s legacy while pursuing new growth milestones in the coming years.

Suba Hotels Limited has established itself as one of India’s fastest-growing domestic hotel chains in the mid-market segment. By offering a diverse portfolio spanning upscale to economy brands, the company continues to strengthen its presence, particularly across Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Its strategic focus on asset-light growth models, combined with an emphasis on delivering quality guest experiences at accessible price points, has positioned the brand competitively in the evolving hospitality landscape.

Suba Hotels’ simultaneous launch of seven properties underscores its aggressive expansion strategy and operational agility. With a strong legacy, diversified business models, and a clear focus on scalable growth, the company looks forward to further consolidate its footprint in India’s rapidly growing hospitality sector.

TreeHouse Hotels & Resorts launches 60+ key property in Moradabad

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Jayant Singh, Managing Partner, TreeHouse Hotels & Resorts.

TreeHouse Hotels & Resorts has announced the launch of its latest brownfield hospitality project in Moradabad, widely known as the Brass City of India. Notably, the upcoming hotel, featuring over 60 keys, marks a strategic expansion as the brand strengthens its presence across emerging business and leisure destinations in India.

Furthermore, the company is developing the new TreeHouse Hotel as a contemporary, full-service property tailored to modern travellers. It aims to cater to business travellers, weddings, meetings, and leisure stays, while focusing on functional design, regional relevance, and essential amenities. As a result, the hotel will offer rooms and services designed to meet diverse and evolving travel needs.

In addition, the property will feature 60 rooms and suites, along with an all-day dining restaurant, banquet facilities, a rooftop casual bar, and dedicated event and meeting spaces. It will also include wellness offerings, thereby positioning itself to host corporate stays, weddings, and social gatherings with a strong emphasis on operational efficiency and functional hospitality.

“We are delighted to announce our brown field project in Moradabad, a city that holds immense cultural and commercial importance. As travel patterns evolve, we see strong opportunities in emerging cities where quality hospitality supply is limited yet demand continues to grow. This project reinforces our vision of expanding TreeHouse Hotels & Resorts into high-growth markets while delivering dependable and Dil-Se experiences,” said Jayant Singh.

Meanwhile, the owner of the property also expressed confidence in the brand partnership. “This is my first hotel, and I was quite impressed with the TreeHouse Brand, its commitment, sincerity, and its brand values, which truly resonate with me,” said Khan, Managing Director and Owner of the hotel.

TreeHouse Hotels & Resorts continues to capitalize on the growing demand for quality hospitality in emerging cities. By expanding into Moradabad, the brand is strategically positioning itself to tap into underserved markets while delivering consistent and experience-driven hospitality offerings.

Australian AI firm Firmus secures $505M, targets massive AI factory expansion

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Firmus, an Australian artificial intelligence company, announced on Tuesday that it has secured $505 million in a funding round led by Coatue Management. With this fresh capital, the company plans to aggressively scale its AI infrastructure platform across the Asia-Pacific region.

Notably, the equity round has valued Firmus at $5.5 billion post-money. In addition, leading AI chipmaker Nvidia also participated in the investment, further strengthening the company’s strategic positioning in the AI ecosystem.

Furthermore, Firmus stated that it will deploy the funds to accelerate its ambitious Project Southgate initiative. This project focuses on building a large-scale network of AI factories across Australia. Developed in collaboration with Nvidia and CDC Data Centres, the initiative is expected to reach a capacity of up to 1.6 gigawatts over the next three years.

Meanwhile, this latest equity funding follows a significant $10 billion debt package that the company finalized in February. The debt round was led by Coatue and global investment giant Blackstone, highlighting strong institutional confidence in Firmus’ long-term growth strategy.

Overall, Firmus is rapidly positioning itself as a key player in the global AI infrastructure space. As demand for scalable AI computing continues to surge, the company is well placed to capitalize on emerging opportunities across the Asia-Pacific market while strengthening Australia’s role in next-generation AI development.

Firmus’ latest funding round marks a significant milestone in its expansion journey. By combining strong investor backing, strategic partnerships, and large-scale infrastructure initiatives, the company is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of AI infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region.

India’s REIT market gains momentum, emerges as strong investment avenue

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India’s Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) market is witnessing strong growth and is rapidly emerging as a competitive investment avenue both domestically and across Asia. According to a recent report by ANAROCK, released at EXCELERATE 2026 by NAREDCO Maharashtra NextGen, the sector is evolving into a mature asset class, driven by strong fundamentals, regulatory support, and rising investor confidence.

Moreover, the introduction of Small and Medium REITs (SM REITs) in 2025 has significantly expanded market access through fractional ownership. As a result, the segment has unlocked a potential monetisation opportunity of ₹670–710 billion. At the same time, Indian REITs have delivered nearly 9% five-year price returns, outperforming several Asian peers while maintaining stable distribution yields of 5–6%.

In addition, operational performance remains robust, with portfolio occupancy levels consistently exceeding 90%. Global tenants across sectors such as technology, BFSI, and consulting drive this strong demand. Furthermore, REITs accounted for over 20% of office leasing in Q2 FY26, supported by healthy re-leasing spreads and steady rental growth.

Since listing, REITs have delivered returns ranging from 12% to over 60%, alongside consistent income distributions. Consequently, tax efficiency continues to enhance their appeal among investors. Regulations mandate the distribution of at least 90% of net cash flows, while more than 65% of these distributions remain tax-exempt, thereby improving post-tax returns.

Looking ahead, the sector holds significant growth potential, with only 32% of REIT-worthy assets currently listed. Additionally, expansion into emerging segments such as logistics, data centres, healthcare, and residential real estate expects to further strengthen the investment landscape.

Notably, the Securities and Exchange Board of India introduced REITs in 2014 to formalise real estate investments by improving liquidity and enabling portfolio diversification. Currently, India has five listed REITs managing over 176 million sq. ft. of space, reflecting steady expansion supported by institutional capital and policy reforms.

Meanwhile, EXCELERATE 2026 brought together global and domestic stakeholders to discuss investment strategies, emerging asset classes, and the future of real estate financing in India. As a result, the event reinforced the sector’s growing role as a global investment destination.

India’s REIT market is entering a high-growth phase, with regulatory clarity, strong asset performance, and increasing investor participation driving this momentum. As new segments open up and accessibility improves, REITs will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of real estate investment in India.

 

Hyatt signs deals with Brigade Group for two new hotels in India

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Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the signing of management agreements with Brigade Hotel Ventures Limited and BCV Developers Private Limited, both part of Brigade Group, to develop two new properties in India—Grand Hyatt Chennai ECR and Hyatt House Bengaluru Devanahalli.

Firstly, Brigade Hotel Ventures Limited has partnered with Hyatt to develop Grand Hyatt Chennai ECR, a premium beachfront property along the scenic southeastern coastline in Chennai. Scheduled to open in 2029, the hotel will feature approximately 200 guest rooms and offer an immersive luxury experience. In addition, the property will include five dining venues—comprising a signature restaurant, specialty outlets, a pool bar, and a lobby lounge—along with wellness facilities and multiple sophisticated event spaces. Consequently, the hotel aims to cater to both leisure and business travellers while positioning itself as a preferred destination for weddings, staycations, and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions).

Meanwhile, BCV Developers Private Limited has signed a separate agreement with Hyatt to launch Hyatt House Bengaluru Devanahalli, a greenfield development in Bengaluru. Expected to open in 2027, the project will feature 135 serviced apartments tailored for extended stays and short-term visits. Moreover, the property is strategically located just 20 minutes from Kempegowda International Airport and will serve the rapidly growing Devanahalli tech corridor, which includes upcoming IT parks, the Aerospace Science Park, and the planned Financial City. Amenities will include an all-day dining restaurant, a bar, meeting spaces, a swimming pool, and a fitness centre.

“We are happy to announce our plans for Grand Hyatt Chennai ECR, a world-class hotel that will redefine the hospitality landscape in Chennai,” said Nirupa Shankar. “This will be our first hotel with Hyatt, and we are confident in Hyatt’s global expertise in managing large-format MICE hotels. Strategically located on East Coast Road, the property is poised to become a premier destination, appealing to business travellers, wedding guests, and leisure seekers alike. Brigade is committed to building landmark hospitality assets, and Grand Hyatt Chennai ECR is a significant step in that journey.”

“We are thrilled to be collaborating with Hyatt on this new project,” said Amar Mysore. “The Hyatt House brand is a perfect fit for the Devanahalli locality, offering a blend of comfort and convenience that meets the needs of today’s business and leisure travelers. Its proximity to the airport and upcoming tech parks makes it a prime location, and we are confident this hotel will set a new standard for extended-stay hospitality in the region.”

“We are excited to work with Brigade Group through the signings of Grand Hyatt Chennai ECR and Hyatt House Bengaluru Devanahalli,” said Dhruva Rathore. “Chennai and Bengaluru are dynamic markets with strong demand for hospitality, and these landmark developments align with Hyatt’s strategic vision of expanding our brand presence in key leisure and business destinations across India.” He added, “We are confident our guests will savor memorable moments whether they are traveling for business, with family, or gathering with colleagues to enrich connections.”

Furthermore, Hyatt continues to strengthen its footprint in India, aligning with its broader global expansion strategy. Headquartered in Chicago, the company operates over 1,500 hotels and all-inclusive properties across 83 countries as of December 31, 2025. Its diverse portfolio spans luxury, lifestyle, inclusive, and essentials segments, reinforcing its leadership in the global hospitality industry.

At the same time, Brigade Group, established in 1986, has built a strong presence across residential, office, retail, and hospitality segments in cities such as Hyderabad, Mysuru, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, and GIFT City.

The dual signing marks a significant milestone in Hyatt’s India growth strategy while reinforcing Brigade Group’s ambition to develop landmark hospitality assets. As demand for premium leisure and extended-stay accommodations continues to rise, these projects can effectively capitalise on evolving travel and business trends across key Indian metros.