Accor and IndiGo parent firm InterGlobe aim for 300 hotels in India by 2030

The French hospitality giant Accor and IndiGo parent firm InterGlobe have partnered to establish "India's fastest growing hospitality enterprise," with the goal of having 300 hotels operating under Accor brands by 2030.

From budget to luxury brands, Accor now runs 71 hotels in India and has 40 more under construction.

IndiGo intends to sign a deal with Accor to work together and provide its loyalty program members with travel and hospitality perks.

Through their loyalty programs, IndiGo BluChip and ALL-Accor Live Limitless, the two partners have decided to work together.

Members would be able to accumulate and use points for flights and lodging as a result.

To create a single, independent, and integrated platform, Accor and InterGlobe will combine their existing assets, development, and management companies in the nation.

This new organization will serve as the exclusive means of expanding all Accor brands in India.

Accor will maintain its position as the industry leader in operations and brand management while granting complete access to its services and brands.

“At InterGlobe, we have always believed in our commitment to building meaningful and enduring relationships with both our partners and the guests we serve. Today, I am delighted to further strengthen our two-decade-long association with Accor through this strategic partnership,” said InterGlobe Enterprises group MD Rahul Bhatia.

“Together with InterGlobe’s profound market insights, Accor’s world-class services, India’s dynamic growth, and the evolving travel landscape, we aim to redefine the hospitality experience by offering exceptional value to our guests and setting new standards for excellence in the industry,” Bhatia added.

Sébastien Bazin, chairman & CEO of Accor, said, “This partnership marks a transformative moment for Accor and its brands in India. By aligning with our long-term, successful, and trusted partner InterGlobe and bringing together the best of hospitality, tech, and entrepreneurship in India, we are unlocking unprecedented growth potential in one of the world’s most exciting travel markets.”

IndiGo’s CEO, Pieter Elbers, commented on the strategic partnership with Accor, saying, “We are excited to be working on a strategic partnership with Accor to elevate the travel experience and maximize the rewards of our valued loyalty members. Last year at IndiGo’s 18th anniversary, the launch of the BluChip loyalty program was announced.”

“And to date, since its launch in Nov 2024, over 20 lakh members have already enrolled with BluChip. Now IndiGo moves to the next phase to strengthen its loyalty program by exploring and developing strategic partnerships… (to) open new and unparalleled opportunities for IndiGo’s BluChip members,” Elbers added.

In a separate announcement, Accor and InterGlobe revealed that they would jointly invest in and become the largest shareholders in Treebo, one of India’s leading branded budget hotel platforms, managing 800 hotels across 120 cities.

According to a joint statement, “Treebo will take the lead to develop the Ibis and Mercure brands in India through a master license agreement. Under this partnership, Treebo has reached an agreement with various property owners to sign ten new Mercures”.

“Accor’s brands will leverage Treebo’s state-of-the-art technology to tap into India’s vast unbranded hotel market and accelerate growth. The combined Accor and Treebo portfolio will create India’s third-largest hospitality player, with over 30,000 rooms,” the statement added.

The group that owns India's largest airline (by market share) and operates in a number of different travel verticals obviously wants to take advantage of the opportunity that India's extremely fragmented hotel business presents for organized and branded companies.

InterGlobe's portfolio includes logistics, travel, and AI-enabled technology companies in addition to IndiGo, one of the most valuable airlines in the world by market capitalization, which now operates a fleet of more than 400 aircraft and carried over 11.8 crore passengers in the most recent fiscal year.