Bengaluru-based SAMHI Hotels Ltd. has announced a strategic joint venture with Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC to create an investment platform for upscale and premium hotel assets in India. The transaction, valued at ₹2,200 crore in enterprise value, will see GIC acquiring a 35% stake across three of SAMHI’s subsidiaries, marking a significant step forward in the company’s capital recycling and deleveraging strategy.
The ₹752 crore investment will be structured in two phases: ₹603 crore as an upfront infusion primarily to reduce debt and ₹149 crore to fund capital expenditure for the dual-branded Westin and Tribute Portfolio hotel in Bengaluru’s Whitefield. SAMHI expects a debt reduction of ₹580 crore and a 15–20% uplift in pro forma PAT as a result of this transaction.
The three assets included in this deal are:
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Courtyard & Fairfield by Marriott, Bengaluru ORR: A dual-branded 336-room hotel located in the city’s prime business district.
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Hyatt Regency, Pune: A 301-room hotel including 71 serviced apartments, located near the city’s airport.
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Trinity Hotel (Innmar Tourism), Bengaluru Whitefield: Currently operating with 142 rooms, this asset will be rebranded under Marriott’s Tribute Portfolio, with plans to expand by 220 rooms under the Westin brand.
This move is consistent with SAMHI’s strategy of partnering with marquee global investors—having previously collaborated with entities like Goldman Sachs and IFC—and now bringing GIC on board as it pivots toward asset-light growth and portfolio optimization.
Financially, the impact is notable. SAMHI’s net debt is expected to reduce from ₹20,643 million to under ₹14,700 million, bringing its net debt-to-EBITDA ratio below 3.5x and targeting sub-3.0x within a year. Annualized interest costs are projected to drop significantly, freeing up additional cash flow for operational expansion.
The venture also positions SAMHI to scale aggressively, particularly in the upper-upscale segment, where it already plans to double its inventory. With projects in the pipeline including Tribute, Westin, and Courtyard branded hotels in Pune, Jaipur, and Hyderabad, the company is eyeing significant topline and profitability growth in FY26 and beyond.
This partnership not only enhances SAMHI’s financial strength but also reinforces its credibility in attracting world-class capital to India’s hospitality sector.
