SAMHI Hotels Limited said its board has approved the acquisition of a 70 per cent stake in RARE India, marking the group’s entry into the experiential leisure segment through an asset-light platform. The company expects to enter into definitive agreements by May 2026 and has indicated the transaction will be structured to involve both primary capital and a small secondary purchase. The move is described as an adjacency to SAMHI’s existing branded hotel ownership and asset management platform and aims to diversify its exposure without altering core balance sheet strategy.

In parallel, SAMHI and RARE have signed a memorandum of understanding for an affiliation with Marriott International that would allow RARE to operate its portfolio under the Outdoor Collection brand by Marriott Bonvoy across India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka with distribution through Marriott’s global channels. The companies said the affiliation and combined distribution strength aim to help RARE evolve from a representation platform into a fully integrated business-to-consumer brand. The founder and the existing management team will continue to operate RARE independently and focus on curating heritage and experiential properties.

RARE India was founded in 2003 and is one of India’s earliest curated experiential hospitality platforms. The platform has a portfolio of 67 hotels with 990 rooms and a presence across more than 15 states in India as well as international presence in Nepal and Bhutan. Over two decades, RARE has developed a reputation for responsible tourism, local employment and carefully selected heritage palaces, wildlife lodges and boutique retreats. The company’s curation discipline and community ethos are positioned as its key differentiators in a crowded market of homestays and villa aggregators.

SAMHI’s commitment is expected to be about Rs 470 million (mn) and will be used for strengthening management, technology and distribution as well as marketing to support growth. The structure is asset light and intended to limit capital exposure while offering long-term upside. SAMHI will continue to scale its hotel portfolio in key office and gateway markets.