Wormwood Hotels Expands Portfolio, Strengthens Eastern Market Position

Wormwood Hotels , an emerging hospitality company with a strong eastern India focus, is pursuing an ambitious expansion plan to scale up to 10 properties by 2027 with a projected capital expenditure of around ₹100 crore . Founded by experienced hotelier Soumya Sengupta , an alumnus of the Institute of Hotel Management Kolkata with more than two decades in hotel operations, the venture entered the market with its first property in Bhagalpur . Within a year, the brand expanded to five hotels across key tourism circuits, including two properties in Puri and one each in Varanasi and Darjeeling , taking its operational strength to 237 keys .

The company plans to add nearly 200 more rooms , with projects under construction in Santiniketan and Siliguri , while land has also been secured in the Sunderbans for future development. Expansion plans also include scouting for a property in Kolkata , strengthening its eastern corridor presence. Around ₹40 crore has been invested so far, with existing properties operating under a lease model supported by investor Synergy Infra . Sengupta retains brand ownership and operates the hotels under management contracts, while planning to directly promote three upcoming projects.

Industry research shows India’s organised and branded hospitality market is dominated by a mix of major domestic groups such as IHCL (Taj), ITC Hotels , EIH Limited (Oberoi), Lemon Tree Hotels , and The Leela Palaces Hotels and Resorts , alongside international chains like Marriott International , Hilton Hotels & Resorts , Accor , Hyatt Hotels Corporation , and Radisson Hotel Group . While these players command the largest national footprints, a long tail of regional and independent operators continues to serve tier-2, tier-3 and leisure destinations.

Recent industry estimates place India’s branded or chain-affiliated hotel inventory at roughly 1.66 lakh rooms , while official government data show 107,795 classified hotel rooms nationwide as of mid-2023. In eastern India covering states such as West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand and much of the Northeast, officially classified hotel rooms total about 7,666 , indicating that the region accounts for only a small fraction of the national organised inventory. This comparatively lower supply base creates room for regional brands to expand faster than in saturated metro markets.

Wormwood’s 237-key portfolio represents a small but meaningful share of the organised eastern hotel base , with its presence expected to rise further once upcoming rooms become operational. Its focus on pilgrimage, heritage and leisure-driven destinations aligns with steady domestic travel demand, rather than volatile international flows. Sengupta says the group’s strategy centres on operational efficiency , asset-light growth , and strong regional understanding. With expansion momentum continuing, the company plans to explore an initial public offering (IPO) once at least 10 properties are operational, positioning itself as a structured regional hospitality platform ready for larger-scale investment.