Polo Hotels & Resorts announces new brand identity, expansions in Nagaland, Mizoram & more
Deval Tibrewalla
The larger vision is to create a connected hospitality network, enabling travellers to explore the Northeast through a single brand ecosystem, contribute to tourism growth in the region while expanding its portfolio strategically.
From a single property in Shillong in 1991 to becoming one of Northeast India’s largest homegrown hotel chains, Polo Hotels & Resorts is reshaping the region’s hospitality landscape. The brand has unveiled a refreshed brand architecture, marking the beginning of its next growth phase with a sharper focus on experiential, destination-led hospitality.
At a recent media meet up in Delhi, Founder and CEO, Deval Tibrewalla outlined the brand’s evolution and its clear strategic intent: to build not just hotels, but immersive, culturally rooted destinations across India’s Northeast. He added that the rebranding exercise is designed to enhance brand recall and consistency as the group prepares to scale operations and increase its national visibility.
Founded with Polo Towers in Shillong, the group has expanded to nearly 15 properties over three decades, maintaining a strong regional focus. “We grew up from the Northeast, in the Northeast,” Tibrewalla noted, underlining the brand’s deep connection to the land and its people.
Unlike conventional hotel expansion strategies that target established markets, Polo has deliberately focused on emerging destinations. From Cherrapunji’s waterfall-facing stays to India’s only floating hotel in Kolkata, the brand has built a portfolio anchored in distinctive, location-led experiences, as per Tibrewalla.
Feeding the tourism growth in NE region
Looking ahead, the brand is accelerating expansion across the Northeast and Eastern India, with upcoming projects in Nagaland (Kohima and Dimapur), Mizoram (Aizawl), Assam, Tripura, more.
New developments include Planters Lodge in Dooars (West Bengal), Silchar’s first five-star hotel under Polo Group, other hillside boutique hotels, tea estate resorts, and culturally immersive stays, each designed to reflect the identity of its location. The larger vision is to create a connected hospitality network, enabling travellers to seamlessly explore the Northeast through a single brand ecosystem, contribute to tourism growth in the region while expanding its portfolio strategically.
“We've always believed that Northeast India is one of the most extraordinary regions on earth - its landscapes, its people, its cultures, its seasons. What we've done with this experiences launch is simply give that belief a sharper voice. Every experience we offer at Polo is one that only that property, in that location, at that moment in the year, can offer. That's not a feature. That's the whole point,” the CEO shared.
Domestic demand dominates
Tibrewalla highlighted that improved air connectivity and expanding highway networks have significantly altered travel patterns. “Reaching the North-East is far easier today. Travellers no longer want to spend hours in transit; they want seamless access to experiences.”
On demand patterns for his hotels, he shared that it is primarily split between intra-North-East travel and visitors from the rest of India. “While inbound travel is still a small segment, domestic tourism is growing rapidly, supported by better infrastructure and increased awareness. Also, as geopolitical uncertainties continue to impact outbound travel, the North-East is also emerging as a strong domestic alternative,” he added.
Cultural events and music-led tourism are also emerging as demand drivers. Cities like Shillong, known for their strong music culture, have seen heightened interest during concerts and festivals, creating what the company describes as a “distinct experiential pull.”
