September 2024 | 371 words | 2-minute read
In July this year, amã Stays & Trails, Indian Hotel Company’s (IHCL) premium homestay offering, crossed a major milestone, taking its portfolio to 200+ bungalows with 100+ under development.
IHCL brought the branded homestays concept to life in 2019, and today, amã Stays & Trails’ bungalows have a footprint across the country — in Goa, Kerala and Maharashtra which lead with the highest number of properties, followed by Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Pondicherry and Sikkim.
amã Stays & Trails offers a distinctive blend of heritage and modernity through its diverse collection of bungalows, which include British colonial-style villas, Portuguese cottages, homes inspired by traditional Kerala architecture, and contemporary homestays. Each property is thoughtfully designed to reflect the local culture and heritage of its destination, providing guests with an unparalleled opportunity to immerse themselves in the history and charm of the region.
Many of the brand’s properties have been recognised by industry leading aggregators over the years, and have acquired a following among amã’s customers. These include Villa Siolim and Moira by the Church in Goa, The Mango House in Alibag, Abhay Manor in Udaipur and Abhay Villa in Jodhpur, Ambika Vilas in Trivandrum, and Chalet 1228 in Kamshet.
The growing demand for experiential travel meant that for IHCL, branching out into the fast-evolving homestays segment made perfect sense. “The segment is attracting fresh capital, particularly through greenfield projects, showcasing increasing investor confidence,” says Deepika Rao, Executive Vice President, New Businesses and Hotel Openings, IHCL. “Our growth strategy focuses on two key areas: expanding into high-demand clusters like Goa and Maharashtra, and building a footprint anchored around IHCL hotels to leverage cross synergies and service excellence. Today, over 65% of the pipeline is in the nature of new builds.”
amã Stays & Trails’ accelerated growth trajectory seems unstoppable as it continues adding to an enviable portfolio. Spread across some of the most idyllic destinations, amã offers you the opportunity to savour the good life in its heritage bungalows, discover local cuisine, and explore untouched trails.