Hilton's Twin Hotel Project in Delhi: Waldorf Astoria Coming to Aerocity

India's booming travel space is a beckoning call for all players, and Hilton is no exception. The latest signing in Delhi is testament that the Indian travel landscape has capacity to support every possible brand strategy, provided it comes at the right time and with the right gusto.

Hilton on Wednesday signed two new hotels set to come up in Delhi Aerocity, including a Waldorf Astoria-branded property. The other hotel will be developed under the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand.

The signing, done in partnership with GMR Group-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), will mark the debut of both the brands in New Delhi. This is also the second Waldorf Astoria property in India, after Jaipur.

Collectively, these two hotels will have an inventory of 500 keys: 150 rooms in Waldorf Astoria and 350 rooms in Hilton.

According to Chris Nassetta, president and CEO of Hilton, the signing is a part of Hilton’s long-term strategy in India. “As we continue to accelerate our growth in South Asia, these landmark properties and partnerships play a pivotal role in expanding Hilton’s portfolio,” he said.

“This signing is another step in our goal to grow our India portfolio to 10 times its current size in the next decade, supported by vast infrastructure investment and increasing appetite for travel,” said Alan Watts, president, Asia Pacific at Hilton.

Hilton’s India Ambition: Last month, Hilton announced its ambitious expansion plans in India. At present, the company has 32 hotels in India with 29 more in the developmental pipeline. If all goes as planned, this figure will increase to 300 properties in 10 years.

Supplementing this growth, Hilton is also planning to introduce five new Hilton brands in the country, including Curio Collection by Hilton and Signia by Hilton this year, LXR Hotels & Resorts in 2026, and Waldorf Astoria by 2028. India will also be the first market in Asia Pacific to debut Hilton’s entry-level brand - Spark by Hilton, under which the company plans to have 150 properties starting with Goa.

“There’s no market with more opportunity and higher growth than India,” Nassetta said during the Hilton Brand Showcase last month. “What’s been happening in the hospitality market in India over the l