Minor Hotels signs Anantara’s first resort and city hotel in India | News
Minor Hotels, a global leader in hospitality with more than 640 properties in 63 countries, announces the first contracts in India under its luxury hotel brand Anantara Hotels & Resorts for 2026: Anantara Zanti Coorg Resort and Anantara Kolkata Hotel. Both properties represent firsts for the brand in India: the first resort and first city hotel in the country.
Anantara Zanti Coorg Resort
Scheduled to open in 2028, Anantara Zanti Coorg Resort will bring the brand’s immersive experiences and refined hospitality to the UNESCO-recognized Western Ghats. Located in a forested enclave near Madikeri in Coorg, Karnataka, the 69-key resort was designed by renowned Sri Lankan architect Channa Daswatte, widely recognized as the foremost protégé of Geoffrey Bawa, the pioneer of tropical modernism. The resort is based on the region’s natural landscapes, coffee heritage and Kodava culture. The property’s facilities include four dining options, a swimming pool, a lobby lounge and library, an Anantara Spa and Wellness Center, a fitness studio, meeting and event spaces and a kids’ club.
Bimal Desai, Chairman of Zanti Hospitality, owner of Anantara Zanti Coorg, commented: “Our partnership with Minor Hotels brings a renowned brand to one of India’s most fascinating destinations. Through this greenfield development, we aim to deliver authentic experiences that immerse guests in Coorg’s rich culture and pristine landscapes, setting a new benchmark for luxury hospitality in the region.”
William Heinecke, Founder and Chairman of Minor International, parent company of Minor Hotels, added: “Coorg’s natural beauty exemplifies India’s potential for experiential luxury and is ideal for the Anantara brand. The upcoming Anantara Zanti Coorg Resort will demonstrate our vision of creating distinctive stays that celebrate local culture and immerse guests in the vibrant nature and tradition of the destination.”
Anantara Kolkata Hotel
The 170-room hotel is scheduled to open in 2032 and will form the basis for the upcoming World Trade Center Salt Lake Kolkata, a one-hectare mixed-use development. Designed to meet growing demand for business, meetings and events, the hotel features two restaurants, a lobby lounge, flexible meeting and events spaces and additional leisure facilities including the Anantara Spa and Wellness Centre, a gym and a swimming pool.
The World Trade Center Salt Lake is a joint venture between Aryan Realty and Merlin Group.
Mr. Sanjay Saraf, Co-Chairman of Aryan Realty, commented, “The World Trade Center Kolkata is a landmark development for Kolkata and West Bengal, strengthening the city’s position as a regional business and cultural hub. Partnering with Minor Hotels to introduce Anantara to Kolkata reflects our commitment to creating a destination that will support the city’s long-term commercial growth and enhance its hospitality offering.”
Mr. Sushil Mohta, Chairman of Merlin Group, added: “Our partnership with Minor Hotels and the introduction of Anantara to WTC marks an important step in shaping a destination that not only meets international benchmarks, but also redefines how business and hospitality meet in Eastern India.”
William Heinecke added: “Signing Anantara Kolkata as our first urban Anantara in India represents a significant step in our growth in the country and reflects the brand’s versatility in both urban and resort environments. We look forward to working with Aryan Realty and Merlin Group to deliver a hotel that matches the scale and ambition of the World Trade Center development.”
Expansion of small hotels in India
Anantara Zanti Coorg Resort and Anantara Kolkata Hotel are the latest additions to the growing portfolio of Minor Hotels in India. This signing builds on the strong performance of Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur, which introduced the Anantara brand to India in 2025, and follows the first signing of an Avani-branded property, Avani+ Sunray Beach Visakhapatnam Resort. The group has a growing pipeline in India and is steadily moving towards its target of 50 properties in the next ten years.
Minor Hotels’ India strategy focuses on launching its brands in leisure destinations as well as key cities, as illustrated by Anantara’s contracts in Coorg and Kolkata, serving the fast-growing domestic travel market and attracting inbound travelers. The group’s expansion is led by luxury and premium brands including Anantara, Avani and NH Collection, tapping into the demand for experiential, wellness-focused resorts and modern lifestyle hotels. Minor Hotels will also introduce its select-service NH, Oaks and iStay brands in India, supporting expansion into tier two and three cities and airport locations. Minor Hotels’ recently launched conversion-friendly collection brands, Minor Reserve Collection and Colbert Collection, open new opportunities for independent hoteliers to join Minor Hotels’ global distribution and commerce platforms and Minor DISCOVERY’s loyalty ecosystem.
Minor Hotels is scaling in India primarily through hotel management agreements and franchise opportunities, in line with the group’s global asset-right strategy.
