Hilton has signed a 145-room DoubleTree by Hilton in Rajkot, Gujarat, in partnership with Sanjayraj and Co., marking Hilton’s first hotel in the city and the first DoubleTree by Hilton property in Rajkot. The signing, announced September 9, 2026, is part of Hilton’s stated ambition to more than double its India footprint and triple its luxury estate in the coming years, with more than 100 operating and pipeline hotels already in the country as of early September 2026.
Rajkot, a major industrial and commercial centre in Saurashtra, Gujarat, has seen rising demand for branded accommodation as its manufacturing, engineering and trading economy continues to draw business travellers who previously had limited access to internationally branded hotel options in the city.
Why Is Hilton Entering Rajkot Now?
Rajkot’s economy is built around engineering, auto components, casting and forging industries, drawing a steady stream of business travellers and vendors who need reliable, business-oriented accommodation — precisely the guest profile DoubleTree by Hilton, an upscale full-service brand, is designed to serve. Hilton’s decision to enter with a 145-room property signals confidence that Rajkot’s business travel demand can support a full-service branded hotel rather than only budget or midscale options, which have historically dominated the city’s hospitality supply.
How Does This Fit Hilton’s Broader India Strategy?
The Rajkot signing is one piece of a much larger expansion push: Hilton has confirmed plans to more than double its brand presence in India over the next five years and triple its luxury estate, with new Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, LXR and Signia properties already announced in cities like Jaipur and Bengaluru. At the same time, Hilton has been accelerating midscale growth through brands like Hampton by Hilton, including a reported agreement to sign and open 125 Hampton by Hilton hotels across western and southern India by 2035 in partnership with Regenta Hotels. The Rajkot DoubleTree signing shows this expansion extending beyond India’s largest metros into strong secondary industrial cities.
Industry Reaction and Expert Commentary
Hospitality industry trackers have noted that Hilton’s India growth strategy is unusually broad, spanning luxury (Waldorf Astoria, Conrad), upscale (DoubleTree) and midscale (Hampton) brands simultaneously, rather than concentrating on one segment. This multi-brand approach lets Hilton capture demand across India’s varied city tiers — from luxury demand in Jaipur and Bengaluru to business-traveller demand in industrial cities like Rajkot — reflecting a broader race among international hotel chains including Marriott, IHG and Wyndham to lock in signings across India’s expanding secondary cities before competitors do.
What Happens Next?
The 145-room DoubleTree by Hilton Rajkot has not yet disclosed an opening date, but as Hilton’s first property in the city, it will likely be closely watched as a test of demand for full-service international branding in Saurashtra’s industrial belt. Continued signings in similar tier-2 industrial cities are likely as Hilton works toward its five-year target of doubling its India hotel count.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many rooms will the new Hilton hotel in Rajkot have?
The newly signed DoubleTree by Hilton in Rajkot will have 145 rooms, developed in partnership with Sanjayraj and Co., and is Hilton’s first hotel in the city.
What is Hilton’s broader expansion plan for India?
Hilton intends to more than double its brand presence in India over the next five years and triple its luxury estate, spanning luxury brands like Waldorf Astoria and Conrad, upscale brands like DoubleTree, and midscale brands like Hampton by Hilton.
Why did Hilton choose Rajkot for a DoubleTree hotel?
Rajkot’s engineering, auto-component and manufacturing economy generates steady business travel demand, making it a fit for DoubleTree by Hilton’s upscale, business-traveller-oriented positioning.
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