Guwahati: Assam-headquartered hospitality brand Hotel Palacio has unveiled plans for a major expansion across the Northeast, signalling growing confidence in the region’s rapidly evolving tourism and business landscape.
The company on Wednesday announced a ₹800 crore investment roadmap to develop 10 properties over the next decade, with a strong focus on Northeast India while also exploring opportunities in other parts of the country.
The announcement coincided with the launch of Hotel Palacio’s second property in Guwahati at Paltan Bazar, strengthening the group’s presence in what is increasingly emerging as the Northeast’s principal hospitality and transit hub.
With the latest addition, Palacio Hospitality now operates three hotels — two in Guwahati and one in Alipurduar in neighbouring West Bengal.
The expansion reflects a broader shift underway in the Northeast, where improving road and air connectivity, rising tourist arrivals, and growing corporate travel are attracting fresh investment into the hospitality sector.
Speaking at the launch, Poddar Group Chairman Anup Poddar said the Northeast is witnessing a significant transformation that is creating new opportunities for the hospitality industry.
“Hotel Palacio is a brand that has been built in Assam, and that is something we take great pride in,” he said.
“Our larger vision is to build Palacio into one of the most respected hospitality brands to emerge from Assam, while staying rooted in the region’s identity and values.”
He said Guwahati’s emergence as a gateway city for the Northeast made expansion within the city a natural decision for the company.
Located in one of Guwahati’s busiest commercial and transit zones, the Paltan Bazar property has been designed to cater to business travellers, events and leisure visitors alike.
The hotel features 83 rooms, conference and boardroom facilities, more than 6,000 square feet of indoor banquet space and a 7,000 square feet rooftop venue aimed at the growing events and social gatherings market.
Among the new attractions is “Omara”, a signature restaurant developed in collaboration with celebrity chef Vikey Ratnani. The property will also house what the company describes as Guwahati’s first cocktail bar-cum-listening room, reflecting changing urban lifestyle and dining trends in the city.
Managing Director and COO Ankit Poddar said the group intends to pursue a flexible expansion strategy through a mix of owned properties, lease models and hotel management agreements.
“Our ₹800 crore roadmap reflects a long-term approach to growth. While the Northeast remains our primary focus, we are also open to opportunities across India where the market aligns with our vision,” he said.
Among the company’s upcoming projects is the Hyatt Regency Gangtok in Sikkim, currently under development.
Industry observers say hospitality brands are increasingly looking at Northeast India as a growth market as cities such as Guwahati, Shillong and Gangtok emerge as important business and tourism destinations supported by expanding infrastructure and improving regional connectivity.
Founded in 2015, Hotel Palacio is among the few hospitality brands originating from Assam to pursue a large-scale regional expansion strategy, mirroring the changing economic and tourism profile of the Northeast.