Corporate Report     

Published: August 15, 2026
Updated: August 15, 2026

Pride Hotels Ltd.

Fastest growing hotel chain in India: Redefining hospitality

Meet Sureshchand Premchand Jain, a far-sighted and dynamic first-gen entrepreneur, hailing from a middle-class Marwari family and residing in a rural area of Madhya Pradesh, who has built a Rs 5,000-crore hospitality empire comprising over 70+ hotels across the length and breadth of India.

Coming from a business-oriented Marwari family, Mr Jain chose commerce while prosecuting his studies and thereupon became a chartered accountant and financial consultant. While advising others on business and finance issues, he was bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, quit his profession and turned hotelier with the first green field hotel, which he renamed Pride Hotel, in the Shivajinagar area of Pune in 1988.

START OF EMPIRE

This was the start of his journey in creating a hospitality empire, which he pursued with determination, perseverance and hard work. Cynics wondered whether a chartered accountant would succeed in the hoteliering line, but he surprised one and all, including his well-wishers, by setting up new hotels at a spectacular pace of around five hotels every three years. Over the last 38 years since 1988, when the first hotel in Pune started operations, till June 2026, Mr Jain has set up more than 70 hotels across 33 cities. Needless to say, the Pride hotel group has emerged as the fastest-growing hospitality chain in India, catapulting itself into the coveted list of the top five hotel groups in the country. Today, it boasts of a pan-India presence, from Gujarat in the west to West Bengal in the east and from Jammu & Kashmir in the north to Chennai and Coimbatore in the south.

Born and brought up in a rural area of Madhya Pradesh, Mr Jain came to Mumbai after completing his studies to make a career as a chartered accountant. In 1988, upon getting the opportunity to manage an ordinary hotel in Pune, he put his profession on the backburner in pursuit of his ambition of creating a nationwide hotel chain on the lines of the Tatas and the Oberois.

Mr Jain focused all his energies on learning the ropes of the industry. He visited leading hotels, studied their décor, style of management, banquets, kitchen management and guest relations – the last an important detail in ensuring repeat visits by patrons. Once he had a firm grasp of the art of hoteliering, he embarked on a property acquisition spree. After converting his first property in Pune into a five-star hotel, he set up hotels in Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Goa, Rajkot, Vadodara, Anand, Surendranagar, Dwarka Ganeshnagar, Sasan Gir, Manjusar, Bagodara, Veraval, Palitana, Bharuch, Mothera, Surat, Alkapuri, Daman, Kalol, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Pune and Phaltan, all in western India.

INDIA-WIDE

Then he turned to south India, launching Pride hotels in Bengaluru, Chennai and Hyderabad. Subsequently, the Pride caravan entered north India with Pride properties coming up in New Delhi, Jim Corbett, Mussoorie, Dehradun, Rudra Prayag, Nainital, Hrishikesh, Haridwar, Haldwani, Ramnagar, Kashipur, Jaipur, Lucknow, Agra, Gurugram, Gorakhpur, Ayodhya, Kanpur, Bhopal, Deoghar, Jabalpur and Indore. Neither did he ignore east India, with a Pride presence in Kolkata and Digha, Deoghar and Gangtok in the north-east.

In short, today Pride Hotels and Resorts operates 70 properties with 5,500 rooms, 102 restaurants and 25 lakh sq ft of banquet space. This diverse portfolio caters to business, leisure, spiritual and wellness travellers alike. The group has also positioned itself as a trusted partner for business owners, helping them achieve 95 per cent of budgetary revenues while addressing operational challenges like staffing and resource mobilisation.

FURTHER AIM

Despite this remarkable achievement, Mr Jain has no intention of hanging up his boots. “No way”, he avers, adding, “This is just the first phase of my journey in the hotel business. In the second phase, I would like to expand my business empire to 133 hotel properties by 2033.”

Maintaining that “the group’s journey has been one of passion, perseverance and a deep commitment to Indian hospitality,” Mr Jain adds, “Over the years, we have grown from a single property to one of the most recognised and trusted hotel chains in India with as many as 60 properties across the country.”

TWIN MODELS

The company operates through two models: owned hotels and managed hotels. There are eight properties under the first model which are owned and managed by the company itself. There are 1,277 keys under this model. There are 22 properties with 1,927 rooms under the second model which are owned by others but managed and operated by Pride Hotels. Thus, the company’s total portfolio covers 40 hotels with 3,204 rooms across 32 cities in India. Among family-promoted hotel groups, Pride is the fourth largest domestic chain. It is the sixth largest hotel chain in India in terms of owned inventory in upscale, upper mid-scale and mid-scale segments.

Interview: ‘Indian hospitality is Pride’s hallmark’ – S.P. Jain

“Our 38-year endeavour to establish a hospitality empire and create as many as 70 hotels spread over the entire country has been a journey of passion, perseverance and deep commitment to Indian hospitality, with the aim of making Pride Hotels the best hotel chain in the country,” maintains SP Jain, the visionary and dynamic architect of the Pride hospitality empire and Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Pride Hotels Ltd. In an interview to Corporate India, he stresses, “We are determined to redefine the sector with innovation, resilience and deep-rooted commitment to delivering true Indian hospitality.” Excerpts from the interview:

Corporate India: No doubt your hotel chain’s journey so far has been nothing short of spectacular. But hotels are hotels, whether they are in London or New York or Singapore or Hong Kong or in Delhi or Chennai. How does one distinguish a Pride Hotel as an Indian hotel?

SP Jain: Every Pride hotel reflects Indian fragrance and Indian culture. At every Pride hotel, every day begins with tradition. Guests are welcomed with a heartfelt ‘Namaskar’ along with an ‘aarti’ and ‘tika’, capturing the essence of Indian hospitality. We celebrate the five senses of Pride’s hospitality philosophy with local Indian floral fragrance, Indian music, traditional ‘aarti’ and regional cuisine to craft an experience that is impressive, cultural and unforgettable. Our trained and dedicated team of professionals combines professionalism with warmth, ensuring that every guest enjoys an all-modern, luxurious and soulful stay.

A frequent global traveller who stayed in our Delhi hotel had told me, “I don’t find much difference in my experience when I stay in hotels in various countries. But when I come to India and stay in a Pride hotel, I feel I have visited an Indian hotel. I enjoy staying in a Pride hotel here as compared to any other hotel abroad.”

CI: No doubt this is a remarkable achievement. It is highly praiseworthy that a chartered accountant-turned-hotelier can create such a hotel empire of 70 hotels at breakneck speed and emerge as one of the leading hoteliers in the country. So now, are you planning to hang up your boots?

SPJ: No way! This is only the first phase of my business career. I have still miles to go. In my second phase, I would like to complete 133 hotels by fiscal 2033. My growth plan includes tapping niche markets like adventure, wildlife and spiritual tourism, while expanding our footprint in business and leisure travel.

CI: Are you planning to extend the Pride hotel footprint overseas?

SPJ: We have not thought of spreading our footprint abroad as yet. First, we would like to cover all of India.

CI: At this rate, you may emerge as the largest hotel chain in the country!

SPJ: No doubt, numbers are important. We are keen to widen our horizons and spread our footprint in every nook and corner of the country. But at the same time, we know that more important than numbers is the quality of services that enrich customers’ experience. Pride hotels have gone a long way redefining hospitality with innovation, resilience and deep-rooted commitment to delivering not only world-class facilities but also true Indian hospitality. Little wonder that from 1988, when from nowhere we entered the hospitality sector, till now there are over 70 Pride hotels which are well-recognised and trusted hotels in the country. Our success lies in constantly innovating to meet the evolving needs of our guests. This blend of trend and modernity, along with our unwavering focus on quality, has marked us out in the Indian hospitality sector.

CI: How are your business hotels doing? What are your plans for this segment?

SPJ: We pay special attention to business hotels, which we have branded Pride Biznotel. Hoping to cash in on the growing number of business travellers, we are scaling our operations to focus more on this segment. In order to encourage business travel, Pride Biznotels are moderately priced. They are mid market, full-service hotels that cater to the discerning business traveller. We already have 17 properties under the Biznotel brand with a host of banqueting and F&B facilities. As part of our national expansion plan, we aim to expand the number to 100 properties and cover 10,000 keys under the brand by 2033.

CI: When you decide to venture abroad, which countries would you like to enter?

SPJ: We have not thought of that as yet. But certainly, we will start with a neighbouring country like Nepal.

THE BRANDS

According to Mr. Satyen Jain, CEO of Pride Hotels, the company operates under four brands:

Pride Plaza: Pride Plaza is the company’s upscale brand, with hotels located in major cities like New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Jaipur and Indore. This brand’s hotels are created for high-income individuals, C-suite executives and elite leisure travellers, combining timeless Indian traditions with sophisticated contemporary design. Pride Plaza delivers world-class hospitality, bespoke services and a setting that celebrates elegance, luxury, business travel, high-profile events and destination weddings. Each Pride Plaza hotel is a haven for guests who value exclusivity, comfort and culturally rich experiences.

Pride Premier: Dynamic, stylish and connected to India’s evolving urban lifestyle, Pride Premier is the company’s upper mid-scale brand and is designed for affluent business executives and high-income families. Focused on accessibility, convenience and premium value, Pride Premier blends contemporary comfort with personalised amenities to meet the needs of guests who seamlessly combine work and leisure. Whether it is a corporate stay or a regional conference, every Pride Premier stay is refined, rewarding and effortlessly hospitable. These hotels are in regional hubs like Nagpur, Pune, Indore, Udaipur and Mussoorie.

Pride Elite: Mid-scale hotels for leisure travellers in cities like Surat, Vadodara and Bharuch, Pride Elite hotels are serene, scenic and authentically Indian. It is a mid-scale boutique brand designed for professionals, entrepreneurs and social travellers seeking enriching leisure experiences. Located in charming tier-2 and tier-3 cities, Pride Elite hotels and resorts mirror the natural beauty of their surroundings and are perfect for extended weekends, festive holidays and cultural escapes.

Biznotel by Pride: It offers smart stays tailored for business travellers in key locations. Efficient, modern and value-driven, Biznotel by Pride caters to corporate travellers looking for seamless business hubs and transit points. Elaborates Atul Upadhyay, Executive Vice-President of Pride Hotels, “Biznotel is a brand which is a moderately priced, upscale, full-service hotel that meets the discerning needs of a business, adventure and leisure traveller. The company today operates 17 Biznotels with a host of banqueting and F&B facilities.”

OTHER BRANDS

Reveals Satyen Jain, CEO of Pride Hotels, “Having finalised the categories, we undertook a concerted exercise to fit in our existing hotels into these categories with essential renovations, change in décor, adding opulence where necessary. Mind you, this rebranding is not merely a change in identity but a strategic evolution to better cater to the diverse needs of guests by creating distinct brands.”

In line with this rebranding plan, the Jaipur Resort was transformed into Pride Plaza, reflecting opulence and the Indian ethos in every detail. “The Jaipur property now stands as a true testament to luxury and cultural richness,” maintains Ashish Kaul, General Manager.

Similarly, Pride Pune was transformed into Pride Plaza. Reveals Gaurav Bhattacharya, General Manager, “Our flagship Pune property underwent extensive renovations to align with Pride Plaza standards. This transformation symbolizes our journey and commitment to delivering unparalleled luxury.”

Pride Nagpur was also converted into Pride Plaza. Comments Prantik Ray, General Manager, “The extensive upgrades at Pride Nagpur ensure that it today stands proudly in the Pride Plaza category, offering a world-class experience.”

Pride Hotels are doing very well in north India. Says Mr Mohammad Shoeb, Vice President of Pride Hotels – northern India, “Our Pride Plaza Aerocity – with 385 keys in the upper up-scale segment – is shining as an Indian brand among a number of foreign brands present in Aerocity. It is our flagship upper-upscale hotel enjoying high occupancy rates throughout the year. In our northern region, we are doing well in Jaipur, Dehradun, Mussoorie, Rishikesh, Haridwar, Rudraprayag, Haldwani, Jim Corbett, Udaipur and Jodhpur. These hotels are getting more and more popular among corporate travellers, leisure guests, pilgrims and destination travellers.”

Pride has successfully entered eastern India. According to Mr Binoy Kumar Thakur, Vice President, Pride Hotels eastern region, “Our hotel chain has established a strategically diversified presence across eastern India through metropolitan, leisure, pilgrimage and business destination properties. Pride Plaza Kolkata acts as the group’s flagship regional anchor, catering to corporate travellers, MICE groups, weddings and leisure guests. The Pride eastern regional portfolio also includes Pride Biznotel Canopus, Digha, serving West Bengal’s coastal tourism market, Pride Ananya Resort Puri, positioned within Odisha’s important pilgrimage and leisure circuit, Biznotel by Pride Deoghar, addressing the growing religious tourism market in Jharkhand, and Pride Premier Darjeeling, the group’s presence in the Himalayan leisure segment.”

Among others, Pride Bhopal was transformed into the Pride Premier category. “Our Bhopal property’s transition to Pride Premier showcases our commitment to accessible luxury,” says Garbir Singh, General Manager. Likewise, Pride Sunvillage Goa has been transformed into Pride Premier. Insists Rajdeep Jha, General Manager, “This transformation highlights the vibrant and modern hospitality that Goa’s travellers expect.”

Adds Satyen Jain, “By creating distinct brands, we have ensured that every traveller – from the luxury seeker to the business professional – finds his/her perfect fit with Pride.”

NICHE GROWTH

Since its inception in 1988, Pride Hotels Ltd has grown at a fast pace to reach 70 properties from just one. Now, it is on a mission to accelerate the pace of growth and reach 133 hotels by 2033. This ambitious growth plan focuses on tapping into niche markets like adventure, wildlife and spiritual tourism, in addition to expanding its footprint in business and leisure travel.

Elaborating on the subject, Atul Upadhyay says, “Our vision of 133 by 2033 is not just a goal in numbers, it is a testament to our ambition, resilience and a forward-thinking approach to redefine hospitality. By embracing an asset-light model, leveraging technological advancements and prioritising sustainability, we aim to meet the evolving needs of our guests while maintaining operational excellence. Our foray into spiritual tourism is a strategic initiative to cater to the growing demand for faith-based travel. We are expanding in key pilgrimage hubs like Varanasi, Rameshwaram, Somnath and Ayodhya, ensuring guests experience the perfect blend of spirituality and luxury.”

Pride Hotels’ expansion in the spiritual tourism sector is complemented by its strong presence in wildlife destinations such as Gir, Polo Forest and Jim Corbett, as well as emerging leisure markets like Shivpuri and Haldwani. These initiatives align with the Pride group’s vision to provide guests with diverse and meaningful travel experiences.

INDIAN ETHOS

According to Satyen Jain, “Pride Hotels’ remarkable success is anchored in its unique ethos, summed up by ‘truly Indian’, traditionally luxurious initiatives like ‘five senses of pride’ and ‘Indian Dekho with Pride’. These showcase the Pride group’s dedication to celebrating India’s rich heritage while providing impressive guest experiences. From signature ‘namaskars’ to locally inspired cuisine, every detail resonates with warmth and authenticity.”

Avers SP Jain, the architect of the Pride hospitality empire, “As the Indian hospitality industry experiences robust growth, Pride Hotels is perfectly positioned to capitalise on emerging opportunities. With its strategic expansion, innovative rebranding and unwavering commitment to excellence, Pride Hotels is not just growing, it is transforming the landscape of Indian hospitality.”