In an evolving hospitality landscape driven by experience-led travel, boutique concepts, and rising demand across leisure destinations, Udaan Hotels & Resorts has emerged as a distinctive brand. In this conversation, Ajay Kumar Wadhawan, Executive Director, Air IQ, shares insights on the brand’s performance in 2025, its differentiators in a competitive market, and the strategic roadmap shaping its expansion in the years ahead.
Priyanka Saxena Ray
How has Udaan Hotels & Resorts performed in 2025 in terms of expansion, guest response, and brand visibility, and what key trends are influencing your growth strategy?
The growth of Udaan Hotels and Resorts has been an excellent experience, both in terms of expansion and business trends. Our overall growth in business has been over 40% in 2025, including the additional capacity of around 11%.
What differentiates Udaan Hotels & Resorts in today’s competitive hospitality market, particularly in terms of guest experience, design philosophy, and positioning across leisure and experiential travel segments?
Udaan Hotels and Resorts are strategically placed in a key segment of hospitality, with a major focus on excellence in experiential stays, boutique products, and the highest quality. They offer mid-sized, beautiful, and well-located properties with no compromise on quality.
What are your strategic priorities and expansion plans for 2026, and how do you see the Udaan brand evolving to meet the changing demands of new-age travellers?
We are clear on the strategic priorities and expansion in the coming years, too. We started with a property a few years ago, and today we successfully manage more than 22 properties, with 24 more on the way. The aim is to complete a total of 30 by FY 2026-27 and 50 by FY 2030. As far as the demand of the new age travellers is concerned, we are fortunately already working, strategically placed currently, and focusing accordingly. After consolidating Siliguri, the North Bengal Hills, and Sikkim, we are getting open to covering the rest of Northeast India too, with plans to expand our hospitality network to at least five more locations.
