Hotels, cafes ramp up expansion, set to unleash hiring boom in H2 2026

New Delhi: A dramatic expansion in the number of hotel launches for some chains and a considerable uptick in cafe and restaurant openings in the second half of this year and the year-end season are likely to lead to a substantial jump in hiring requirements in the hospitality sector, said companies and HR experts.

For instance, on current schedules, Radisson Hotel Group expects to open 14 hotels comprising approximately 1,560 keys across 12 states in India during H2 2026. This compares with eight hotels and 659 keys opened in H2 2025, representing a 75% growth in hotel count, said Nikhil Sharma, MD and COO (South Asia) at the chain.

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Sharma said based on an average operating benchmark of approximately 1.3 team members per key, the 14 hotels will require a total operating workforce of around 2,030 professionals, up from approximately 860 roles in H2 2025. "This near-term expansion forms part of our India Vision 2030 ambition to reach 500 hotels and support an estimated 65,000-80,000 employment opportunities across the country," he added.

For H2 2026, ITC Hotels anticipates inducting over 2,000 entrants for new hotel openings, compared with around 700 professionals during H2 2025. This represents an increase of approximately 200%, said ITC Hotels MD Anil Chadha. The chain has a target of opening more than one hotel every month.

For financial year 2027, IHCL's guidance is for 60 hotel openings, of which 11 hotels opened in the first quarter. "This is expected to generate about 6,000 direct employment opportunities, contributing to local economies and the growth of the hospitality sector," said Suma Venkatesh, executive vice president, real estate and development at IHCL.

Barista's new store additions are approximately 10-15% ahead of the corresponding period last year, including its network in Sri Lanka, said Rajat Agrawal, CEO, Barista Coffee. The chain anticipates its overall workforce to grow by approximately 15-20%.

Natwar Nagar, founder of The Job Plus, said on an annualised basis, the company helped hire 1,200 professionals at the entry level across roles such as housekeeping and food and beverage services last year.

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"This year that figure is likely to touch 4,000 professionals. Chains such as Oberoi Group, Marriott International, Radisson, Leela and IHG are looking at hiring more professionals," he said. "Markets such as Delhi have big hotel openings coming up, and by April 2027, The Job Plus would have directly created 10,000 new jobs."

HR experts said the growth is driven by a number of factors, including the festive season and changing socio-economic conditions in favour of tourism and destination weddings.