A 50-key hotel at the gateway to the national park
IHG Hotels & Resorts is continuing the roll-out of Garner in India with the signing of Garner Hotel Jim Corbett, concluded in partnership with United Hospitality Management (UHM) India. The 50-key property will be owned by Victorian Corporation and operated by UHM India. Its opening is scheduled for the second quarter of 2027.
The hotel will be located in Ramnagar, in the state of Uttarakhand, the gateway to Jim Corbett National Park, one of the country’s most established nature and leisure destinations. The site extends over approximately 1.2 hectares. The destination enjoys good road connections from the main cities of northern India and attracts visitors all year round.
A new milestone for UHM and Garner in India
This signing marks Garner’s sixth location in India and strengthens the partnership between IHG and UHM, which have already worked together on several recent projects for the brand in the country, including Garner Hotel Jagdalpur, in the state of Chhattisgarh, and Garner Hotel Ahmedabad Motera. With Jim Corbett, the pair are this time venturing into a leisure market, whereas previous signings were aimed more at commercial and industrial hubs.
Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, South West Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts, noted that Garner’s rapid momentum in India reflected the strong fit between the brand’s proposition and the needs of owners and travellers alike. He added that, globally, Garner had become the fastest-growing brand in IHG’s history, momentum that was translating in India into growing owner confidence and a solid development pipeline.
A midscale conversion brand gathering pace
Launched in 2023, Garner is IHG’s newest midscale conversion brand. It has passed the milestone of 100 open hotels worldwide, making it the fastest-growing brand in the group’s history. Its positioning builds on IHG’s leadership in the essentials segment, offering quality at an accessible price.
The concept focuses on the fundamentals travellers expect: a convenient location, a good night’s sleep and a well-executed breakfast, backed by IHG’s standards, systems and loyalty programme. Its conversion-friendly model and operational flexibility explain its appeal to owners, as illustrated by its recent introduction in Malaysia with two hotels in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau.
Owner and operator bet on markets beyond the metros
For Deepika Arora, Managing Director of United Hospitality Management India, the collaboration with IHG combines UHM’s local operational expertise and market knowledge with the group’s brands, systems and distribution capabilities. She explained that UHM’s priority remains delivering consistently high-quality guest experiences while creating lasting, long-term value for owners. In her view, Garner Hotel Jim Corbett illustrates the operator’s confidence in the potential of well-positioned destinations beyond the traditional metropolitan centres.
On the ownership side, Parveen Saraswat, Director of Victorian Corporation, observed that Jim Corbett is establishing itself as a year-round nature and leisure destination, with growing demand for reliable, quality accommodation. He considered that Garner’s proposition, combined with IHG’s brand strength and distribution platform, made it the right choice for the project.
India, a priority market for IHG
India is among IHG’s priority markets worldwide. Garner is playing a growing role in expanding the group’s footprint there, in high-potential leisure destinations as well as in emerging commercial centres and fast-growing secondary markets.
Our view – By stacking up small-scale signings with a single third-party operator, IHG is rolling out Garner in India according to a replicable model, allowing it to move quickly into markets where branded hotel supply remains limited, without committing its own capital.
At a glance by The Hospitality Tribune
IHG signs Garner Hotel Jim Corbett in India
50-key midscale hotel in Ramnagar, Uttarakhand, gateway to Jim Corbett National Park
Owner: Victorian Corporation; operator: United Hospitality Management (UHM) India
Opening scheduled for Q2 2027
Garner’s sixth signing in India
Garner: IHG’s fastest-scaling brand, 100 open hotels worldwide since its 2023 launch
