India Hospitality Boom Surges As IHG Adds New voco Karjat Resort To Maharashtra’s Fast-Growing Leisure Market

Written By: Ricky Acharjee

Ricky Acharjee

I am travel writer at Travel And Tour World with 3 years of experience covering global tourism, aviation, hospitality, and destination news. Dedicated to accurate reporting and compelling storytelling, Ricky explores the trends, innovations, and developments shaping the international travel industry while delivering engaging insights for travellers and industry professionals.

See Full Bio

August 25, 2026 12:20 AM |

Image generated with Ai

IHG Hotels & Resorts has strengthened its expansion plans in Maharashtra after signing a management agreement with Discover Resorts Neral Pvt. Ltd. for the upcoming voco Karjat. The resort is expected to join IHG’s premium voco brand portfolio by early 2028, bringing more than 200 rooms to the company’s growing network and marking its entry into one of Maharashtra’s fast-developing leisure markets.

Situated near the Sahyadri mountain range, Karjat is emerging as a preferred getaway destination for travellers seeking nature-based escapes, celebrations and short breaks. The location benefits from its connectivity to two major cities, Mumbai and Pune, making it increasingly attractive for weekend tourism and premium hospitality demand. Karjat is located around 62 kilometres from Mumbai and approximately 102 kilometres from Pune, allowing easy access for leisure travellers, corporate groups and event organisers.

The destination’s scenic surroundings, combined with rising interest in experience-focused travel, have increased demand for high-quality resorts offering relaxation, recreation and event facilities. Karjat is becoming a growing hub for destination weddings, social gatherings and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) experiences, creating opportunities for branded hotels and resorts.

The voco brand is designed to combine the character and individuality of an independent hotel with the reliability, standards and global reach of an international hospitality group. Through its distinctive design approach, personalised guest experiences and flexible operating model, voco allows properties to maintain a unique identity while benefiting from IHG’s worldwide distribution network, loyalty programme and commercial capabilities.

Once operational, voco Karjat will provide a wide range of facilities aimed at attracting leisure guests, families, groups and corporate visitors. The resort will include three dining venues, featuring a 200-seat all-day dining restaurant, a 50-seat poolside bar and a 150-seat rooftop venue designed for social gatherings and leisure experiences.

The property will also offer a fitness centre, spa facilities, parking areas, pet-friendly services, a dedicated children’s zone and salon amenities. These features are expected to position voco Karjat as a complete lifestyle resort catering to travellers looking for comfort, recreation and memorable stays outside Maharashtra’s major urban centres.

The addition of voco Karjat reflects IHG’s broader strategy of expanding its presence across India’s emerging leisure destinations, where demand for premium resorts and experience-led accommodation continues to grow. With increasing interest in domestic holidays, short-distance escapes and destination events, Karjat represents a strategic location for strengthening branded hospitality offerings in western India.

Commenting on the signing, Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, said: “Karjat is emerging as an exciting leisure market in Maharashtra, with its proximity to Mumbai and Pune creating a strong opportunity to serve the growing demand for weekend travel, weddings, celebrations and MICE. At IHG, our approach is to bring the right brands to the right markets, while working closely with owners to build new hotels or unlock the potential of existing assets and create compelling propositions for guests. voco is well suited to a destination like Karjat, where travelers are looking for a premium experience that feels distinctive, relaxed and connected to the character of the place. We are pleased to partner with Discover Resorts Neral Pvt. Ltd. on this conversion and look forward to bringing voco’s distinctive hospitality to Karjat.”

Naqisa Chaudhary, CEO Discover Resorts Neral Pvt. Ltd., added: “Karjat has strong potential as a premium leisure and events destination, and we see an opportunity to build on the existing property and create a differentiated hospitality experience. Our partnership with IHG and the introduction of voco will combine the character of the property with the strength of a globally recognized brand, creating a compelling proposition for travellers, weddings and MICE.”

IHG is strengthening its premium hotel portfolio by combining new-build projects with strategic conversion opportunities, allowing its internationally recognised brands to enter promising markets while providing hotel owners access to IHG’s global operating platform, commercial capabilities, extensive distribution channels and loyalty network. The continued expansion of voco Hotels highlights the success of its adaptable conversion model, with the brand achieving the milestone of 100 operating properties worldwide within just seven years of its launch.

IHG® currently operates 53 hotels across India under seven of its leading brands, including Six Senses, InterContinental Hotels and Resorts®, Vignette Collection, Crowne Plaza®, voco™ Hotels, Holiday Inn Resort® and Holiday Inn Express®. The company is also preparing for significant growth in the Indian hospitality market, with a robust development pipeline of 110 additional hotels expected to open over the next three to five years.