ASPHL hotel signing: Zone Connect Ayodhya & Ujjain (120 Rooms)

New Delhi, April 2026: Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) has signed two hotel management agreements to develop Zone Connect by The Park properties in Ayodhya and Ujjain, adding a combined 120 rooms to its portfolio. The move marks a targeted expansion into India’s rapidly growing pilgrimage tourism segment.

Two New Projects Add 120 Rooms Across Key Pilgrimage Cities

The dual signing includes a 56-room hotel in Ayodhya and a 64-room property in Ujjain, both positioned in proximity to major religious landmarks and transport hubs. These developments form part of ASPHL’s strategy to establish a presence in high-demand spiritual destinations where visitor volumes are increasing steadily.

The Ayodhya project will be located approximately 4.9 km from the Ram Janmabhoomi site and around 6 km from Maharishi Valmiki International Airport. The Ujjain property will be situated about 8 km from the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga Temple and 7 km from Ujjain Railway Station, with access to Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Airport.

Both locations have been selected to align with strong pilgrimage-driven demand, offering accessibility to religious sites while catering to the need for organized accommodation infrastructure.

Facilities Planned Across Dining, Wellness and Events

The Ayodhya hotel will feature 56 rooms along with an all-day dining restaurant branded as Café C and a rooftop dining outlet. Additional amenities include a swimming pool under the Plunge concept, a fitness facility under the Vitalia brand, and a banquet hall designed to accommodate social events and gatherings.

In Ujjain, the 64-room hotel will also include Café C as its all-day dining outlet, along with a swimming pool and fitness and wellness facilities. The design and service approach for both properties will follow the Zone Connect by The Park brand positioning, focusing on contemporary, design-led hospitality.

The inclusion of wellness amenities and event spaces reflects a shift in pilgrimage hospitality, where guests increasingly expect facilities beyond basic accommodation.

Strategic Expansion into Spiritual Tourism Segment

The signings reinforce ASPHL’s focus on expanding into India’s spiritual tourism circuits, which have seen significant growth driven by domestic travel and improved infrastructure connectivity. The company is positioning its Zone Connect brand to address the demand for mid-scale, experience-oriented stays in culturally significant destinations.

According to company leadership, the expansion is aligned with changing traveller preferences, where visitors to pilgrimage destinations seek comfort, modern amenities, and design-oriented hospitality experiences while remaining connected to the local cultural context.

The projects also highlight a broader industry trend, where hotel operators are increasingly targeting religious destinations as key growth markets due to their consistent demand patterns and year-round occupancy potential.

Partnership Model Supports Development Pipeline

The Ayodhya property is being developed in partnership with M/s Hotel Saroj Sons, while the Ujjain project is backed by Shubh Aagman Hotels LLP. Both partnerships reflect an asset-light expansion approach, where ASPHL leverages local ownership while managing operations under its brand framework.

Stakeholders from the ownership side indicated that the collaboration aims to deliver structured hospitality offerings in cities experiencing rising visitor inflows. The partnership model allows for faster development timelines and localized execution, while maintaining brand consistency.

This approach continues to be widely adopted across the hospitality sector in India, particularly in emerging and high-growth destinations where local partnerships are critical for project execution.

Growing Demand for Organized Hospitality in Pilgrimage Cities

The expansion into Ayodhya and Ujjain comes at a time when India’s pilgrimage destinations are witnessing increased footfall due to infrastructure upgrades, improved connectivity, and government-led tourism initiatives. These factors are driving demand for standardized accommodation options across different segments.

Ayodhya, in particular, has seen a surge in visitor numbers following recent developments, while Ujjain continues to attract steady pilgrimage traffic due to its religious significance. The demand in these cities is increasingly shifting toward organized hotel formats that offer reliability, safety, and enhanced guest experiences.

ASPHL’s entry into these markets reflects a strategic alignment with this demand, positioning its brand to capture growth opportunities in a segment that is transitioning from unorganized to organized hospitality supply.

With the addition of these two properties, the company continues to build a geographically diverse portfolio while strengthening its presence in destinations driven by cultural and religious tourism. The projects are expected to contribute to the company’s expansion pipeline while addressing the growing need for quality hospitality infrastructure in India’s spiritual hubs.