Tamara Leisure Experiences Plans ₹600 Crore Expansion, Targets 40 Hotels by 2030

Tamara Leisure Experiences is stepping up its expansion plans with an investment of around ₹600 crore over the next five years, as the Bengaluru-based hospitality company looks to grow its portfolio from nine operational properties to 40 hotels by 2030.

The company’s expansion is being driven partly by the growing opportunity in faith tourism, with Tamara launching a new hospitality brand, Rae by Tamara, aimed specifically at travellers visiting pilgrimage destinations.

Unlike conventional hotels that largely cater to leisure or business travellers, Rae by Tamara is being designed around the needs of pilgrims. The company plans to introduce the brand in destinations where religious travel generates significant visitor traffic.

The first company-owned properties under the new brand are planned for Guruvayur, Kumbakonam and Velankanni. Tamara has also signed management agreements for hotels in Tirupati, Tiruvannamalai and Palani. Other major pilgrimage destinations, including Ayodhya, Varanasi, Shirdi and Katra, are being evaluated.

The expansion will take Tamara’s inventory from around 600 rooms currently to nearly 3,000 rooms by 2030. About half of the new properties are expected to be company-owned, while the remainder will operate under management contracts.

Rae by Tamara is expected to offer services tailored to religious travellers, including specialised meal options, elderly-friendly rooms and trained staff to help guests understand local traditions and pilgrimage routes. The company is also developing a digital platform designed to personalise future pilgrimage experiences.

The broader expansion is not limited to faith tourism. Tamara is developing a 200-room O by Tamara property in Bengaluru’s Whitefield, a luxury farm resort in Hosur, a wildlife resort in Kaziranga and a hotel in Bodh Gaya. It is also planning a solar-powered houseboat resort in Alappuzha and a wedding venue in Madurai.

Tamara said the entire ₹600 crore expansion will be funded through promoter investments, allowing the company to remain debt-free.

The company reported revenue of around ₹150 crore in FY25, compared with approximately ₹120 crore in the previous financial year. It expects annual revenue growth of about 20% over the next three to five years.

The expansion comes as hospitality operators increasingly look beyond traditional leisure destinations. For Tamara, combining conventional hospitality with pilgrimage-focused accommodation could provide a new route to scale across India’s growing domestic travel market.