The news: India's hotel investment market surged 197% in the first half of 2026, according to JLL data. Real estate developers now command 58% of transaction volumes, and critically, Tier II and III cities captured 60% of investments — a significant shift from traditional metro-focused activity. Full-year volumes are projected to exceed $1.1 billion.
Why it matters for MICE operators: This capital reallocation means new hotel capacity is coming to secondary and tertiary Indian cities where MICE demand has been building. Operators in cities like Pune, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, and Indore should expect more five-star and upper-midscale properties entering their markets within 18-24 months. This creates both competition and opportunity — more venues mean you can bid larger events locally, but venue selection will intensify.
The takeaway: Map upcoming hotel launches in your city and proactively build relationships with new properties' sales teams before they compete for your events.
Source: ET HospitalityWorld