Who will take on Trump branded residences in India?
Who will take on Trump branded residences in India?
https://www.hotelinvestmenttoday.com/Development/Brands/Who-will-take-on-Trump-branded-residences-in-India
By Raini H.R.
INDIA – Trump Residences Gurgaon, launched in May, sold out all 298 units in five hours, developer Tribeca trumpeted on its website. Featuring two 51-story towers, it is the Trump Organization’s fifth branded residences project in India, a market it entered in 2018 with Tribeca in the Delhi NCR (National Capital Region). The other projects are in Pune, Mumbai and Kolkata.
Because India currently has fewer than 20 branded residences, according to a report by Mumbai-based Noesis Capital Advisors, a portfolio of five projects makes the U.S. president’s firm an aggressive first mover in the market, along with London-based YOO Residences, whose website shows it has nine branded residences in the sub-continent.
By and large, other global hotel brands are having a ball ploughing through India’s mid-market and, of late, the luxury field. But their attention is starting to spill over to luxury branded residences.
Artist impression of Westin Residences Gurugram
Marriott International, which leads branded residences globally with 17 brands across 50 countries, recently created a team in India to expand its branded residential portfolio in the country, APEC President Rajeev Menon told Hotel Investment Today. Marriott will also be managing one of, if not the largest, standalone branded residences in India, launched in June by developer Whiteland Corp. The 1,550-unit Westin Residences Gurugram spans 20 acres in the Delhi NCR and is set for completion in 2031.
Four Seasons Private Residences Mumbai, developed by Provenance Land, has completed construction. As of July 31, 80% of units – 41 homes spread across 64 floors – are sold, said the luxury hotel group.
India’s own global brand, Taj, recently partnered with Ampa Group to develop Taj Sky View Hotel and Residences in Chennai, comprising a 253-key Taj hotel and a 123-unit Taj branded residences. The project will be launched in three to four years.
Turning point
The market is at a turning point for hotel-branded residences. According to the Noesis report, 80% of projects globally are hotel brands; however in India it’s just 40%. This means opportunities for hotel companies. Noesis CEO Nandivardhan Jain sees a more balanced ratio in the next year or two.
“Before, chains were focused only on hotels. In the last 24 months, they’ve changed their outlook,” he said.
On the other hand, there is a “high level of interest” for hotel brands among developers who want to “out-class” competitors with a unique project and hospitality management experience. Fashion, auto and design brands are typically managed by third-party facility managers, Jain said.
Jain expects India’s branded residences market to grow by at least 10 times within five years. Globally, there are 788 projects with 126,129 units, the Noesis report said. India has 4,000 units, or just a 3% share of global share.
Artist impression of Taj Sky View Hotel & Residences, Chennai
Following the first branded residences summit in India organized by Noesis last month, attended by 175 developers, the firm received requests from 32 developers to conduct feasibility reports, Jain said. “Before the summit, we had completed 20 reports. Some of the developers even wanted to get the brand selection done.”
Rich aspirations
Marriott’s Menon also sees escalating demand for ultra-luxury and premium homes in India.
“It’s driven by high-net-worth individuals and non-resident Indians who prioritize expansive living spaces, wellness-focused amenities, and sustainable design,” Menon said.
Added Zubin Saxena, Hilton’s senior vice president and regional head, South Asia, “The market is shifting from mere luxury and opulence to experience, where wellness, technology and intuitive services define value. Post-pandemic, affluent buyers seek seamless, sustainable and service-led living that feels intuitive rather than indulgent.”
Menon believes Marriott is “well-positioned” to capture India’s branded residences momentum thanks to its diverse brand portfolio and 100-year hospitality management expertise.
“We see significant growth opportunities in prime urban locations such as the NCR region, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai, as well as in leisure destinations like Goa, Himachal Pradesh, and Udaipur,” Menon continued. “The diversity of our brand portfolio enables us to expand to both metro and lifestyle destinations, responding to the growing domestic demand for second homes and experiential living.”
Puneet Chhatwal, managing director and CEO of the Indian Hotel Co. Ltd., which owns the Taj brand, sees significant potential for both branded residences and luxury serviced apartments in urban centers such as Hyderabad, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Gurugram.
“Our strategy is focused on evaluating projects in high-growth markets where evolving lifestyle preferences are driving demand for luxury residential offerings both in India and select international markets, only with the Taj brand,” Chhatwal said.
‘Defining decade’
And there will be more wealthier and affluent Indians. Saxena cited figures of 1.4 millionaire households in India and 400,000 HNWIs expanding by 12% annually. A Knight Frank Wealth Report, meanwhile, projects India’s HNWI population to grow by 58% by 2027.
Luxury housing sales are also surging in India, to 19,700 in 2024, from 12,895 in 2023, according to a CBRE report.
“The branded residences market is stepping into a defining decade,” Saxena said. “Globally valued at $60 billion, with Asia contributing 42%, India’s 8% share may seem modest, yet it rides on a rare convergence of timing, affluence and aspiration.
“In Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru, branded residences have already outpaced other premium segments with an 18% price per square foot increase, showing that buyers value trust, service and experience as much as design.”
Globally, Hilton manages over 60 branded residence projects across nine brands, totaling 9,000-plus units in locations such as Dubai, Miami and Bali. It does not yet operate branded residences in India but is “observing the market with a long-term lens, understanding regulations, evolving consumer behavior, and potential partners,” Saxena said. Entry is guided by operational excellence, service consistency, and a focus on building enduring brand trust.
Biggest hurdles
Trust is the biggest motivation for Indian customers to buy branded residences; for hotel chains, it’s brand protection, said Noesis’ Jain.
“The last thing the brand wants is developer defaults. The impact will come down hard on the brand. So, in due diligence, brands themselves monitor the developer’s profile, execution capacity, financials, legalities, approvals, even the kind of sale signed between customer and developer,” Jain said. “The brand’s restrictions are even more stringent than those imposed by RERA [Real Estate Regulatory Authority], which has certain guidelines to protect customers. This gives customers a huge comfort of trust and is why they are willing to pay a premium of 25% to 30% on top of the price for normal residential housing.
“But from developers’ viewpoint, they see the brand as trying to heap a lot of restrictions on them. Getting them to agree to those terms takes a lot of time and effort by consulting firms, which try to explain both sides’ perspectives.”
Sustaining the project is another issue. “The challenge isn’t demand, it’s delivery,” Saxena said. “Many developers understand how to build luxury, but not necessarily how to sustain it. Branded residences require service infrastructure such as trained teams, governance frameworks, and long-term maintenance protocols that extend far beyond construction. Without these, the resident experience, and therefore the brand promise, weakens over time.”
Another hurdle lies in regulatory alignment, Saxena added. “India still needs clearer structures for managing shared amenities and service charges in hospitality-linked housing. Ultimately, success will depend on education and discipline, helping stakeholders appreciate that a branded residence is not just a real estate product but a living eco-system of service, culture and trust.”
Nevertheless, Saxena, who attended the Noesis summit, was uplifted by how it mirrored the sector’s evolution. “What stood out was the openness among developers and investors to learn from global precedents and co-create frameworks suited to India’s realities.”
Mandarin Oriental to go private with $4.2 billion valuation
Jardine Matheson, via division Bidco, to acquire final 11.96% of hotel group
Among Mandarin Oriental's more than 40 operating properties is the Mandarin Oriental Singapore, which has 510 rooms. (Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group)
https://www.costar.com/article/789769801/mandarin-oriental-to-go-private-with-4-2-billion-valuation
Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group is set to go private.
The global hotel brand's controlling shareholder, Hong Kong-based Jardine Matheson, is in the process of acquiring the remaining 11.96% of Mandarin Oriental through its wholly owned subsidiary Bidco, according to a bourse filing. The $3.35-per-share deal gives Mandarin Oriental a new, total valuation of approximately $4.2 billion.
Mandarin Oriental also announced — concurrent to the deal to take it private — that is has agreed to sell the top 13 floors (levels 21 to 35), its rooftop signage and 50 parking spaces of building One Causeway Bay in Hong Kong to two entities, Alibaba Group and Ant Group. That part of the deal — named the OCB Sale — is valued at $925 million.
The $3.35 bid deal to take Mandarin Oriental private includes a $2.75 scheme value and a $0.60 special dividend and represents an approximate 52.3% premium to Mandarin Oriental’s closing price of $2.20 on Sept. 29.
Several directors of Mandarin Oriental are also directors of Jardine Matheson, so to avoid conflicts of interest, the acquisition process is being considered by the Mandarin Oriental Transaction Committee, a committee of independent, non-executive directors of Mandarin Oriental.
Jardine Matheson and its subsidiaries intend to finance the privatization using cash on its balance sheet together with committed facilities, the official statement of the deal said.
The proposal needs to be agreed to by 75% of Mandarin Oriental shareholders, with Jardine Matheson stating it is hopeful it will be able to close the deal by the end of February 2026.
The sale of the 301,555-square-foot section of One Causeway Bay, Mandarin Oriental said in the filing, “is a resounding expression of confidence in Hong Kong’s attractiveness as a global gateway city and the vitality of our local economy. … The sale marks a further advancement in [our] asset-light strategy and will enable a significant return of capital to shareholders.”
Mandarin Oriental has 43 hotels around the world in operation and four set to open soon, including the 138-room Mandarin Oriental, Vienna, on Oct. 28 in an 1908 Art Nouveau building, a heritage-listed former courthouse at Riemergasse 7.
Jardine Matheson has not returned correspondence from CoStar News Hotels by press time.
Scammers Are Targeting Travelers to Europe
Nigel Harris/iStock
https://www.fodors.com/world/europe/experiences/news/eu-launches-entry-exit-system-etias-not-yet-required
You don’t have to pay yet.
(The Schengen area comprises 25 of the EU’s 27 member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Norway. Cyprus and Ireland are EU members but not part of Schengen.)
Scammers are taking advantage of confusion between EES and ETIAS, which is a travel authorization for visa-exempt travelers. ETIAS is not yet in effect, and travelers do not need to apply for it. However, fake websites claim to offer the service. U.K.-based travel association ABTA warned, “People who try to apply for an ETIAS now may be at risk of fraud, with a loss of money and possibly personal data too.”
Related: 11 Scams Targeting Tourists in Europe
EES Vs ETIAS
EES applies to non-EU, visa-exempt travelers and those with a short-stay visa. On a traveler’s first arrival, passport officers will capture photographs and fingerprints and register the crossing. The data will be stored in the system for three years. Travelers will be required to provide biometric data on their first arrival, but subsequent checks may be quicker since officers will only need to confirm what is stored in the system.
If you have a biometric passport (which already contains your data), you may be able to use self-service kiosks. The kiosks will register your crossing and check whether your data is in the system. You then proceed to the border-control lane, where an officer will have your information ready, including the remaining days of your authorized stay, and may ask additional questions. You do not need a biometric passport to enter the EU; your data can be collected manually.
The EU introduced EES to make border checks more efficient and secure. It will store information about entries and exits of non-EU nationals and help identify people who have overstayed their visas. If someone is denied entry or detained, that information will also be stored in the system. The data may be shared with local police and other law enforcement agencies in the EU.
Although EES launched this week, not all countries and border points have implemented it. It is being deployed in phases and will be fully implemented by April 10, 2026. “This means that travellers’ biometric data (facial image and fingerprints) might not be collected at every border crossing point right away, and their personal information may not be registered in the system. Passports will continue to be stamped as usual,” the website clarifies. Once it is fully operational, passport stamping will stop.
Meanwhile, the EU is also working on ETIAS. Under the yet-to-be-introduced policy, travelers will need to apply for authorization before their visit. The application will cost €20 and will cover 30 European countries for stays up to 90 days. After years of delays, ETIAS is now slated for launch in the last quarter of 2026, and you do not need to take any action now to travel to EU countries.
When it is launched, travelers will be able to apply on the official website. Do not use third-party websites or apps that claim to offer the service. The U.S. has a similar system, ESTA, which requires travelers from visa-exempt countries to complete an application before their visit.
U.S. Passport Strength Ties With Malaysia as It Falls Out of Top 10
Levi Ventura/Unsplash
https://www.fodors.com/news/news/u-s-passport-falls-to-12th-place-in-2025-henley-passport-index
The US passport ranks 12th in the 2025 Henley Passport Index, its lowest position ever.
The U.S. passport is less powerful in 2025 than it was last year, says an annual passport ranking report. The Henley Passport Index, which tabulates data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranked the U.S. passport in 12th place for 2025 for affording its holders visa-free travel to 180 of 227 countries.
The ranking assigns places to multiple countries, meaning there are actually 36 countries on the list with passports that offer visa-free travel to more countries. In first place is Singapore, with 193 visa-free countries accessible to holders of its passport. South Korean was ranked second, with 190 countries, and Japan ranked third, with 189 countries. Most countries in the European Union are ranked next, with Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom rounding out the top ten. The United States tied with Malaysia in 12th place.
The Henley Passport Index has been published since 2006. The United States ranked first in passport power that year, and also ranked first in 2014. 2025 marks the first time the U.S. passport has been ranked lower than the top ten. The previous nadir for U.S. passport power was in 2010, 2023, and 2024, when it was ranked 7th.
For the purposes of the report, Henley considers Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETA), such as those issued by Australia and New Zealand to be “visa-free travel.” Visa On Arrival (VOA) schemes are also considered visa-free. Countries that issue E-visas, which require an application to be approved before a traveler can board a flight, are not considered visa-free. Countries that offer visa waivers for short-term transits or group travelers were also excluded from being considered visa-free.
More countries require a visa from U.S. passport holders in 2025 compared to previous years. U.S. passport holders lost visa-free travel to Brazil in April, and were not included on a list of 43 countries China waived visa requirements for travelers intending short touristic stays. The report also cited changes to visa policy in Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Somalia, and Vietnam as contributing to pushing the U.S. passport out of the top ten rankings for the first time in the history of the report.
“The declining strength of the U.S. passport over the past decade is more than just a reshuffle in rankings — it signals a fundamental shift in global mobility and soft power dynamics. Nations that embrace openness and cooperation are surging ahead, while those resting on past privilege are being left behind,” said Dr. Christian H. Kaelin, the creator of the Henley Passport Index, in a statement accompanying the report release.
The report also noted that the UK passport experienced a precipitous drop in ranking compared with previous years.
Many countries structure visa policy on a bilateral agreement offering reciprocal access. The United States, however, denies reciprocal access to a number of countries that allow visa-free travel for U.S. citizens. While U.S. passports allow visa-free travel to 180 countries, only 46 nationalities can travel visa-free to the United States.
According to the Henley Openness Report, which tracks how many countries can travel to a country without a visa, the United States currently ranks 77th. Eleven countries in Africa, Asia, and Oceania share the top ranking in that report, each offering visa-free travel to 198 countries. Passport holders of 10 of the 11 countries must have a visa to visit the United States. The eleventh is the Federated States of Micronesia, which is in a compact of free association with the United States, allowing citizens of both countries the right to freely travel between them without restriction.
By contrast, China, once noted for its restrictive visa policy, now allows visa-free entry to passport holders from 76 countries, earning it the ranking of 65th on the Henley Openness Report.
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