The Claridges Hotel in Delhi is iconic, and everyone who lives in Delhi NCR has heard of “The Dhaba” if they have not dined there. Now, the hotel has been folded into the IHCL’s management, which has long offered Taj Hotels, Vivanta, and SeleQtions Brands for their full-service properties.

Claridges Hotel becomes an IHCL-managed property on April 1, 2025.

In November 2024, a management deal was announced for The Claridges, Delhi, to be taken over by Taj Hotels’ parent IHCL, for a 25-year management contract as of April 2025. This contract went into effect today.

For the Taj parent, this is the second Claridges hotel it has taken over. The first was The Claridges Surajkund, which now operates as the Vivanta Surajkund. That hotel was taken over in 2013. The Taj has also recently taken over the Sea Rock Hotel in Mumbai, which will be rebuilt as the Taj Bandstand, from the Nandas, who are the promoters of The Claridges. The same promoters built a Taj in Business Bay, Dubai, for IHCL.

IHCL has been aggressively signing up properties in Delhi to expand its footprint in the capital city. It already has the Taj Mahal and the Taj Palace hotels in Central Delhi, apart from Ambassador, which has operated as a Taj SeleQtions property since 1990.

The reservation systems are not integrated, but it won’t take long to do so. For now, the IHCL/Taj website is being redirected to the Claridges website, which is listed as a partner hotel of iPrefer Hotels.

IHCL Launches the Claridges Collection to solidify the legacy of The Claridges

Indian Hotels Company Limited, India’s largest hospitality company, also introduced the Claridges Collection, a curated set of boutique luxury hotels blending elegance with rich historical charm. The Claridges Collection will be positioned on a par with the company’s Taj brand since IHCL did not want to “stretch the Taj brand.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, said,

With India’s growing economic prominence, the income pyramid is witnessing a structural shift and the demand for luxury product and services is at an all -time high led by significant expansion of households in the high-net worth bracket. This presents a market opportunity to extend hospitality offerings in the luxury segment as consumers are seeking differentiated experiences.

Claridges Collection resonates with those well-versed in the nuances of global luxury and seek evolved and bespoke experiences. Positioned at the heart of key gateway cities across the world, these hotels serve as the epicentre of cultural and social prominence, offering a refined sanctuary for discerning travellers. The Claridges Collection portfolio will commence with The Claridges, New Delhi and will include the historic Connemera, Chennai and post a comprehensive renovation, Blue Diamond, Pune.

Claridges Collection is set to build its portfolio across India’s metro cities and key leisure destinations to reach 20+ hotels by 2030. The Taj Connemara in Chennai will be rebranded under the portfolio in the new financial year. Meanwhile, the Blue Diamond in Pune — currently under the SeleQtions brand — will be rebranded after it undergoes renovations over the coming year and a half.

Bottomline

IHCL, which has the Taj Hotels as their flagship hotel brand, has now taken over Claridges, Delhi management, and is going to offer The Claridges Collection a luxury collection of Boutique Hotels adjacent to the Taj Hotels brand. All of this goes live as of April 1, 2025.

What do you feel about the admission of the Claridges to the Taj/IHCL offering?

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