The fifth largest hotel chain in the country, Royal Orchid Hotels Ltd, is making quiet waves in the industry with properties that are all about authenticity, localisation and scale
BY BINDU GOPAL RAO
Founded in 2001 by Chander K. Baljee, Royal Orchid Hotels Ltd (ROHL) has grown from a single hotel in Bengaluru to 116 hotels, making it one of India’s leading hospitality companies.
Built on a strong foundation of service excellence, innovation and a deep understanding of Indian hospitality, the group has continually evolved to meet the needs of modern travellers while maintaining the warmth of traditional Indian hospitality.
The journey began with Hotel Royal Orchid, Bengaluru, which quickly gained acclaim for its exceptional service and business-centric offerings. Recognising the growing demand for quality hotels across India’s emerging cities and travel destinations, the group embarked on a strategic expansion, one that prioritised not just scale but diversity in offerings and markets.
Over the past two decades, Royal Orchid Hotels has steadily expanded across India and into neighbouring countries like Nepal and Sri Lanka. With a balanced mix of owned, managed, and franchised hotels, ROHL has emerged as a preferred partner for hotel owners and developers seeking to tap into a credible, fast-growing hospitality platform.
Royal Orchid Hotels is one of India’s fastest-growing hotel chains operating in the four- and five-star category, and what makes the company different is its warm service and efficient product offering. Little wonder then that the company has become the country’s preferred hospitality partner in its segment.
The in-house loyalty programme Regenta Rewards is one of the fastest-growing rewards platforms in India, with 3.5 lakh active members. The chain offers immediate savings on booking channels that exceed your management fees. A streamlined tech stack ensures that there is effortless management, and the national sales offices with significant presence boost revenue. With direct bulk purchases at zero commission, the group is making partnerships effective and efficient.
In a bid to do its bit for education and skilling, Royal Orchid’s Skill Development and Training Institute at Presidency College of Hotel Management is making the next generation of hoteliers job ready.
NUMBER CRUNCHING
As of today, ROHL operates 116 hotels across 65-plus destinations and has 6,946-plus keys in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. This includes 15 JLO (owned) hotels (1,326 keys), 75 managed hotels (4,025 keys) and 26 franchised hotels (1,495 keys).
ROHL is on track to launch 30 new hotels with 2,300-plus keys in the next phase of growth, reinforcing its position as one of the most dynamic hotel companies in the region. The Royal Orchid Group has built a well-defined multi-brand strategy to cater to various segments of travellers and hotel partners through its sub-brands – Iconiqa (hotels and resorts that redefine upscale luxury), Crestoria (boutique hospitality with local experiences), Regenta (warm, familiar midscale hotels), Regenta Place (youthful, energetic, value-priced modern hospitality), and Regenta Z (the everywhere budget hotel brand to explore every neighbourhood).
ROHL’s hospitality offerings span a wide array of travel experiences and segments, including business hubs, leisure destinations, heritage cities, religious pilgrimages, wildlife getaways, beachfront resorts, hill stations, and large-format wedding venues. The group has created a formidable presence in the destination wedding segment, with 22-plus dedicated wedding hotels and resorts across India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka – making it one of the most trusted brands for curated celebrations.
PEOPLE FIRST
The group is headed by Chander Baljee, Chairman & Managing Director of ROHL, who has over 50 years of experience in the hospitality industry. A thought leader in the ever-evolving hospitality space, Chander Baljee has to his credit many achievements, including the rapid setup and expansion of one of India’s foremost chain hotel brands, Royal Orchid and Regenta Hotels.
He is ably supported by his son Arjun Baljee, President of ROHL, the co-promoter who played a crucial role in developing the first Royal Orchid Hotel in 2001. Under Arjun’s visionary leadership, Royal Orchid Hotels is undergoing a strategic transformation – redefining its existing brand portfolio while introducing new concepts designed to rival global hospitality giants. This forward-looking approach is enabling the group to expand its footprint across India and cater to a broad spectrum of domestic and international travellers.
With over 20 years of experience in sectors such as real estate, technology, startups, and hospitality, Arjun has worked with and advised a diverse range of businesses, from new-age companies to traditional conglomerates. He served as a strategic advisor to the Tourism Development Fund of Saudi Arabia, managing investments in the Kingdom’s tourism infrastructure and has collaborated with numerous government bodies and charities globally.
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE
As a brand that is the fifth largest hotel company in the country, Royal Orchid has been making a quiet yet compelling statement in the hospitality space. “There are several hotels or hotel brands that call themselves lifestyle, but it is about human connections, and this connection extends to authenticity. What does a brand really stand for, how does it interact with the community that it operates in, and how do you scale it right and make it an inclusive brand that, to me, is a lifestyle product?” says Arjun.
He adds: “The opportunity we have today stems from the scale that we have, and we can bucket them in five different categories, which is what we are doing now, right? Starting from an upscale lifestyle category extending all the way down to a Generation Z hyperlocal brand.”
As a young demographic country that is aspirational, there is a market for demanding more from traditional hospitality, and that gives the brand an opportunity. “Authentic local experiences layered with brand DNA and standardisation will augur well for us,” Arjun points out.
As the company is all set to launch its hotel and its new brand, Iconiqa, which is set to question traditional hotel models, the group is all set to accelerate to the next level.
ROHL corporate office address:
No. 1, Golf Avenue, Adjoining KGA Golf Course
Old Airport Road, Bengaluru - 560 008
Phone: +91 8041783000
Web: www.royalorchidhotels.com | www.regentarewards.com
