New Delhi, Nov. 1 -- Hotel chains and property developers have signed up as many as 10,000 rooms across India in October, and most of them are not in the big cities, according to Mint data.

Three listed companies, Indian Hotels Co. (IHCL), Lemon Tree Hotels and Brigade Group, account for more than 7,000 of those rooms.

The deals are aimed at smaller cities, airport districts and pilgrimage towns, where chains see their next stretch of growth.

Indians travelling within the country are behind the rush. The tourism ministry says India recorded 4.29 billion domestic tourist visits in 2025, up 45.6% from a year ago.

But a signed deal is not a hotel you can book. An expert at HVS Anarock consultancy said that a new hotel typically takes thr...