One step up from absolute economy chains and true budget hotels, these brands are now vying to offer services and amenities from the next level (see ‘Value on the up and up’) that the motel on the corner is unlikely to have.
Major points:
1. Tariff typically around Rs 2,500–4,000, depending on location and season.
2. Smaller rooms with modest décor.
3. Usually simple ‘complimentary’ breakfast or a room-only tariff.
4. Streamlined technological facilities. Some offer free wi-fi; others may have a pay-per-use computer for guests.
5. In-room amenities typically include a TV, basic toiletries and tea/coffee kit.
6. May not have a fitness centre.
7. May stipulate limited hours of service; may not have in-room dining or laundry; friendly, often casual service style.
8. Typically one, maybe two, F&B venues offering café-style or multi-cuisine options.
9. May not have parking facilities; but typically located in areas with good access to public transport.
Best Western
One of the first mid-market chains, Best Western’s rebranding has split it into three flavours. (Best Western Plus, the upscale mid-range option, is not yet operating in India; Best Western Premiere is in the luxurious five-star set.) Concentrated in tier-II cities and beyond, this base category has facilities more common in higher-end properties — pool, bar, game and cocktail lounge, gym and sauna, as well as business spaces. Locations: Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Baddi, Goa (Cansaulim and Quepem), Gurgaon, Hyderabad (Jubilee Hills), Neral, Shirdi, Surat and Zirakpur; also coming up at Ajmer, Bengaluru, Chennai, Dhanbad, Hyderabad (second location), Indore, Kodaikanal, Kolkata, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Pune.
Tariff Rs 2,000–8,300 Contact bestwesternindia.com
Candy by Peppermint
Still in development, this youthful and economical sub-brand from Peppermint will have limited service and F&B, maybe the option of non-AC rooms for the more cost-conscious. Locations: Expect to see them in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Goa, Gurgaon, Jodhpur and Mangalore.
Contact pepperminthotels.com
Check-Inn
Crisp, textural design motifs balance the modern gadgetry at this newborn select-service hotel, and it plans to spawn siblings soon. The price is a tad higher than others in the class, but then location is prime. Check-Inn trims public areas (no restaurant) and boosts in-room value (in-room dining, ample workspace). Locations Delhi; a Mumbai property is rumoured, maybe Bengaluru, too.
Tariff Rs 5,000 onwards Contact checkinnhotels.in
Comfort Inn, Sleep Inn (& Econo Lodge)
A businesslike bunch of full-service properties run by the bewilderingly varied Choice Hotels, Comfort Inn steers clear of rooftop restaurants and poolside bars. There are one or two F&B options and few frills, but the décor is cheerful, the beds comfortable (predictably) and the breakfast square. The still more economical Sleep Inn chain is yet to make its bed in India, and there are rumours of budget brand Econo Lodge also arriving next year. Locations Comfort Inns at Ahmedabad (two), Bathinda, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Haldwani, Lucknow and Mumbai; to open soon in Ludhiana. Sleep Inn expected in the NCR soon.
Tariff Rs 3,000–9,200 for Comfort Inns Contact choicehotelsindia.com
Country Inns & Suites
With its iconic peaked porch and double-height lobby, Carlson’s value chain suggests family-friendly holiday residence more than businesslike rent-a-room. It then layers on pools, bars, spas, helipads, Jacuzzis and presidential suites at a very competitive price, with not a lot of hoopla. Locations Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Delhi & NCR (Chhattarpur, Ghaziabad, two in Gurgaon), Haridwar, Indore, Jalandhar, Jaipur and Katra; also opening this year in Ajmer, Delhi (Saket), Gurgaon (UdyogVihar), Mussoorie and Mysore; and subsequently Agra, Dharuhera, Mumbai, Pune.
Tariff Rs 1,650–15,000 (mostly under Rs 7,000) Contact countryinns.com
Fairfield Inn
Marriott’s new tie-up with SAMHI Hotels customises this international brand for India with a three-meal-service restaurant, bar lounge and 24-hour snack shop, colour schemes based on peacock feathers and warm-hued spices, and indigenous materials, besides the usual MICE and gym facilities. Locations Expect addresses in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Noida as well as tier-II or even tier-III cities.
Tariff Rs 3,500–4,000 onwards Contact marriott.com/india
Ginger
The Tatas’ pioneering value chain has the deepest penetration countrywide, equipped with just the Smart Basics (limited-hours eatery, meeting room, laundry, gym, ATM) and rooms for as little as Rs 1,000 if you’re a smart booker in the right place, at the right time. Locations Agartala, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi & NCR (two), Goa, Guwahati, Haridwar, Indore, Jamshedpur, Ludhiana, Manesar, Mangalore, Mysore, Nashik, Pantnagar, Pondicherry, Pune (two), Surat, Tirupur, Trivandrum and Vadodara; also coming up in Amritsar, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Jaipur, a second one in Bengaluru, and three more in the NCR (Noida, Greater Noida, Faridabad).
Tariff Rs 1,000–4,000 Contact gingerhotels.com
Holiday Inn Express
The economy sub-brand resulting from InterContinental’s recent revamp of this iconic chain is a key new launch in this category. In a tie-up with Duet India Hotels, IHG plans an ‘uncomplicated’ character for Express, which may prove one of the more upmarket limited-service options. Locations Starting next year, the first few of 19 should be Ahmedabad, Chennai, Indore, Jaipur, Kochi and Noida.
Tariff Rs 4,000–9,000 Contact hiexpress.com
Hometel
Sarovar’s colourful and economical chain has limited room service, but offers a bar, a 1:1 employee-to-guest ratio and a traditionally plush ‘hotel room’ experience. Locations Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune and Roorkee; Chennai, Guwahati and Jaipur are on the anvil.
Tariff Rs 2,500–4,500 Contact sarovarhotels.com
Ibis
Accor Hotels’ modern value brand has clean, youthful lines and a trim (but not slender) service bouquet — (paid) wi-fi in public areas, mini-bar, bar, concierge, travel desk, (paid) valet parking, laundry, golf lessons, even a pool (Bengaluru) and babysitting (Mumbai)! Locations Bengaluru (Techpark), Gurgaon, Mumbai and Pune; also opening at Bengaluru (Hosur Road).
Tariff Rs 3,000–6,800 Contact accorhotels.com
Keys Hotels
Berggruen’s full-service hotels are smartly kitted-out workhorses with free wi-fi, car rental and free parking, a bar with gaming consoles and pool table, tech helpdesk, vending machines for hygiene essentials, self check-in kiosks, laptop-sized in-room safes, and add-ons such as adventure activities in Chennai and a Tiffin to go at Bengaluru. Check out the daily rate displayed at the entrance. Locations Ahmedabad, Bengaluru (Hosur Road, near Electronic City, and Whitefield), Ludhiana, Mumbai, Trivandrum.
Tariff Rs 2,500–4,500 Contact keyshotels.com
Mango Suites
Offering ‘secretarial services’ along with a tech-savvy economy model, this year-old chain from Intellistay Hotels claims an ‘express business hotel’ format that avoids the complications of excessive choice. You won’t bump into many wait staff over breakfast and you can’t add an extra bed to sleep three, but you needn’t BYOB and you get sleek modern décor, a roof garden, laptop safe and MICE facilities. Locations Amritsar, Bengaluru (Koramangala and Hosur Road), Hyderabad and Mysore; also to open at Agra, Mangalore and Thane.
Tariff Rs 1,800–3,500 Contact mangosuites.com
Mercure
Another Accor brand, both family- and work-friendly, contemporary yet classic in style. Exceptional for this category are spacious rooms with walk-in closets, emphasis on accessibility and ample sports/fitness facilities. Locations Hyderabad and Lavasa.
Tariff Rs 2,000–5,000 Contact accorhotels.com
Park Inn
Collaboratively run by Sarovar Hotels and Carlson (it is ‘Park Inn by Radisson’ abroad), this chain’s ‘Sleep Well. Live Well’ motto and colourful logo advertise its focus on comfortable basics and cheerful spaces. Locations Goa (Candolim), Gurgaon (Civil Lines) and Jaipur; also opening in Gurgaon (Sector 29) next year.
Tariff Rs 2,000–7,000 Contact parkinn.com
Premier Inn
One of the newest on the block, the UK-based Whitbread group sweetens its (family-sized) room-only tariffs with a Good Night Guarantee (you sleep well, or your room is free) and free brekkie for kids when an adult buys their own, free internet, zero check-out time and a generous cancellation policy. Daily rates are prominently displayed on a totem outside the hotel. Locations Bengaluru and Delhi; coming soon to Chennai, Goa and Pune.
Tariff Rs 3,500–5,500 Contact global.premierinn.com/in
Red Fox
Sister to the Lemon Tree brand, this select-service chain wears a light-hearted attitude, but hides serious functionality (fitness centre, conference space, pay-to-use wi-fi, laundry, lockers, currency exchange) under its playful foxy coat. Locations Delhi (MayurVihar), Hyderabad (HITEC City), Jaipur; opening at Gurgaon later this year and near Delhi Airport next year, and then Hyderabad (Gachhibowli) and Agra.
Tariff Rs 2,500–6,250 Contact redfoxhotels.com
Royal Orchid Central
At the higher end of the spectrum for value chains, Ramada’s bling-loving kid sister from the Royal Orchid family doesn’t claim much paring down of luxury, but the prices don’t quite reflect the mash-up of travertine, ‘modern’ furniture, chrome, glass, gauze, giant candles and turbaned durwan. Locations Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hospet, Jaipur, Navi Mumbai, Pune; also to open at Shimoga and Vadodara.
Tariff Rs 2,500–8,000 Contact royalorchidhotels.com
Tulip Inn
This chain offers a pool, bar, turndown service and even suites at a very competitive price. Together with sister brand Golden Tulip, it boldly goes to tier-II and -III cities with quite a bit of local flavour. Locations Bhilai, Gurgaon, Lucknow and Mandawa; opening at Chandigarh (two properties), Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Navi Mumbai and Shimla.
Tariff Rs 2,500–9,000 Contact goldentulip.com