IHG Hotels & Resorts is strengthening its presence in India’s growing leisure hospitality market through a new partnership with Paix Hospitality LLP to develop Holiday Inn Resort Sasan Gir in Gujarat. The companies have signed a management agreement for the upcoming property, which is expected to welcome guests in the first quarter of 2031. The development reflects IHG’s strategy to expand into promising tourism destinations across India, particularly locations experiencing increasing demand for wildlife experiences, nature-based holidays and premium leisure accommodation.
Holiday Inn Resort Sasan Gir to Strengthen Gujarat’s Wildlife Tourism Infrastructure
The upcoming resort will be situated in Sasan Gir, within Gujarat’s Gir Somnath district, a destination internationally recognised for its Asiatic lion population. As the only place where these lions survive in the wild in their natural habitat, the Gir landscape attracts wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and nature lovers. The planned Holiday Inn Resort aims to serve travellers seeking comfortable accommodation while exploring the region’s natural attractions. Its development also reflects the growing importance of established wildlife destinations within India’s domestic tourism market, where demand for organised leisure stays and memorable outdoor experiences continues to create opportunities for hospitality investment.
IHG Builds on Holiday Inn’s Global Reputation to Expand Its Leisure Portfolio
Holiday Inn Resort Sasan Gir will operate under the established Holiday Inn brand, which has served international travellers since 1952. The resort concept combines familiar hospitality standards with facilities suited to holidaymakers looking for relaxation, recreation and shared experiences. Through IHG’s international reservation network, operational technology and IHG One Rewards loyalty programme, the new property will benefit from an established hospitality platform. These resources are expected to support the resort’s visibility among domestic and international guests while strengthening its ability to compete in Gujarat’s evolving accommodation market. The agreement also reinforces IHG’s focus on expanding its presence in destinations with sustained leisure tourism potential.
New Resort Will Feature 92 Guest Rooms and Extensive Dining Facilities
Designed to accommodate different categories of leisure visitors, Holiday Inn Resort Sasan Gir will offer 92 guest rooms, including 11 suites, alongside a selection of hospitality and recreational amenities. Guests will have access to five food and beverage outlets, providing dining options throughout their stay. The property will also include a swimming pool, fitness centre, spa and retail facilities, allowing visitors to combine wildlife excursions with relaxation and wellness activities. These amenities are intended to make the resort suitable for families, couples and groups seeking a more comprehensive holiday experience in Gujarat’s popular wildlife region.
Spacious Ballroom and Event Venues to Support Destination Weddings and Celebrations
Beyond conventional leisure accommodation, Holiday Inn Resort Sasan Gir will feature substantial facilities for meetings, weddings and private gatherings. The development will incorporate 1,366 square metres of meeting and event space across four venues, including a ballroom measuring approximately 1,170 square metres. This capacity will allow the property to cater to larger celebrations, social functions and organised group events. By combining event infrastructure with recreational facilities and access to the Gir region, the resort is being positioned to attract visitors seeking destination weddings and extended family celebrations. The facilities will broaden its potential guest base beyond traditional wildlife tourism.
Sasan Gir Emerges as a Strategic Destination for India’s Expanding Leisure Hospitality Market
The decision to establish a Holiday Inn Resort in Sasan Gir highlights the increasing commercial importance of tourism destinations beyond India’s major metropolitan centres. Gujarat’s wildlife attractions provide opportunities for hotels that combine internationally recognised service standards with destination-specific leisure experiences. The planned development will add branded accommodation capacity to the region while supporting IHG’s wider growth ambitions in India. With its scheduled opening in early 2031, Holiday Inn Resort Sasan Gir is expected to serve wildlife tourists, families, event organisers and holidaymakers looking for a comfortable base from which to discover the natural heritage of Gujarat.
Commenting on the signing, Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “We are pleased to partner with Paix Hospitality LLP to bring Holiday Inn Resort to Sasan Gir. As one of India’s leading wildlife tourism destinations, Sasan Gir presents an exciting opportunity to extend our presence into a distinctive leisure market in Gujarat. We believe the destination’s natural appeal, combined with the growing interest in experiential travel, makes it a compelling addition to our expansion plans.”
He further added,“Holiday Inn Resort is designed for destinations where guests can unwind, explore and spend quality time together, making it well suited to Sasan Gir’s leisure proposition. With its accommodation, diverse dining options and extensive wedding and event facilities, the upcoming resort will cater to a range of traveller needs while bringing the warmth and dependability of the Holiday Inn brand to the destination.
Mr. Kuldipsinh Ghoghubha Jadeja from Paix Hospitality LLP added: We are delighted to partner with IHG Hotels & Resorts. For us, Holiday Inn Resort Sasan Gir represents an opportunity to enter the hospitality sector with a development that responds to the destination’s evolving potential. We see scope to create a well-rounded resort offering that brings together leisure accommodation, dining and facilities for weddings and social gatherings. Partnering with IHG gives us the opportunity to build this vision on the strength of an established global hospitality brand, and we look forward to developing a resort that creates value for Sasan Gir’s
tourism offering.”
The signing of Holiday Inn Resort Sasan Gir represents another significant milestone in IHG’s continued growth across India. The development reflects the hospitality group’s commitment to expanding its portfolio in emerging tourism destinations while introducing internationally established hotel brands to markets with strong travel potential. Through this strategy, IHG aims to strengthen its footprint across India’s evolving hospitality landscape and meet the growing demand for quality accommodation in both established and emerging destinations.
IHG currently operates 53 hotels across seven brands in India, comprising Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Vignette Collection, Crowne Plaza, voco Hotels, Holiday Inn Resort and Holiday Inn Express. The group is also preparing for substantial expansion, with 110 additional hotels in its development pipeline, scheduled to open over the next three to five years. This planned growth highlights IHG’s long-term confidence in India’s hospitality sector and its ambition to serve a wider range of leisure and business travellers.