ITC to follow asset-light strategy for expansion of hotel biz: Sanjiv Puri

Move will help it scale up room capacity faster; will take total strength to 12,000 rooms in 131 hotels, from 9,500 rooms in 107 hotels at present

Diversified business conglomerate ITC Limited said on Monday that it would pursue asset-light strategy in its hotel business to reach the next milestone of 30:70 ratio between owned and managed hotel properties, from the present 40:60 mix, as it seeks to scale up the room capacity faster.

Without giving a definite time frame in this regard, ITC managing director Sanjiv Puri said the asset-light path would help the company scale up the room capacity faster besides enhancing the productivity of capital being deployed in the hospitality segment by the group. "Our next milestone should be 30:70 between owned and the