The Rare Deal: SAMHI’s ₹470 Million Bet on Heritage Hospitality

SAMHI Hotels has announced the acquisition of a 70 percent majority stake in RARE India, a leading platform for heritage hotels, retreats, and experiential stays.

The move marks SAMHI’s entry into the experiential leisure hospitality segment through an asset-light investment model. The transaction is expected to be completed by May 2026. As part of the development, SAMHI and RARE have also signed a memorandum of understanding with Marriott International to affiliate RARE’s properties under Marriott’s Outdoor Collection brand.

The partnership will grant RARE exclusive rights to operate under the brand across India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, while benefiting from Marriott’s global distribution and marketing network. With the acquisition, SAMHI aims to expand its portfolio to around 100 hotels across ownership and affiliation models.

The company plans to invest approximately ₹470 million to strengthen management capabilities, upgrade technology platforms, and enhance brand visibility to support RARE’s future growth. Meanwhile, RARE India will continue to operate independently under the leadership of its founder while evolving into a fully integrated experiential hospitality brand.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.