GUWAHATI

Bhutan has played an indirect role in an Assam-based hospitality group’s bid to be a pan-India brand. The first sector-specific firm from the northeastern region to invest in hospitality projects elsewhere in the country, the Poddar Group on Thursday (May 7, 2026) unveiled a ₹800-crore expansion roadmap. The plan includes developing 10 properties across multiple States within a decade.

According to the group’s chairman, Anup Poddar, a “premium budget hotel” in northern West Bengal’s Alipurduar has been instrumental in the 10-year-old local firm’s journey toward becoming a major Indian brand.

“One may not connect higher-end hotels with Alipurduar, but the town is a strategic overnight halt for tourists and corporate executives moving to and from Thimphu and other urban centres in Bhutan. It also serves wildlife enthusiasts visiting Buxa Tiger Reserve,” he told journalists in Guwahati.

The group established a unit of its Palacio hotel brand in Alipurduar before opening its second 83-room hotel in Guwahati. Among its upcoming projects is a luxury hotel it is developing in Sikkim’s capital, Gangtok, which the Hyatt group will run.

“We are pursuing a hybrid model, whereby we build assets or operate on leased properties or offer our management services to owners of properties, especially in non-metros, who find it difficult to run themselves,” Mr. Poddar said.

He, however, said the group’s focus has been on “meaningful dining” with curated dishes that blend local flavours with global tastes. Celebrity chef Vicky Ratnani has crafted the Palacio signature menu.