Minor Hotels expands in India with Anantara Kolkata at World Trade Center Salt Lake, a Joint Venture between Aryan Realty and Merlin Group
Minor Hotels, a leading hospitality firm, has announced the signing of Anantara Kolkata Hotel, marking its entry into Kolkata. Scheduled to open in 2032, the hotel will be part of the 11-acre World Trade Centre (WTC) Salt Lake mixed-use development in Sector V, positioning the city as a growing hub for business, Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) and outbound travel.
In a press statement, Minor Hotels says that the signing represents a strategic expansion for the group in India and reinforces Kolkata’s emergence as a key business, outbound travel and MICE hub. The development will include Grade A premium office spaces and retail, positioning it as eastern India’s first World Trade Centre and supporting the city’s continued eastward expansion.
It adds that WTC Salt Lake is located approximately 10 km from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, offering convenient access for domestic and international travellers. Sector V, a prominent IT and corporate hub with a strong presence of national and multinational companies, along with its proximity to premium residential neighbourhoods, is expected to drive strong demand for business and lifestyle hospitality.
William Heinecke
According to the statement Anantara Kolkata will feature approximately 170 rooms and suites, two restaurants including an all-day dining venue and a speciality rooftop restaurant, as well as a lobby lounge. The hotel will also include flexible meeting spaces and a ballroom to cater to the city’s growing MICE demand, alongside leisure facilities such as an Anantara Spa and wellness centre, gym and swimming pool.
“Signing Anantara Kolkata as our first urban Anantara in India represents an important step in our growth in the country and reflects the brand’s versatility across both city and resort settings. We look forward to delivering a hotel that fits the scale and ambition of the World Trade Centre development,” says William Heinecke, Founder and Chairman of Minor International.
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The statement says that the World Trade Centre Salt Lake is a joint venture between Aryan Realty and Merlin Group, aimed at strengthening Kolkata’s position as a regional commercial and cultural hub.
“The World Trade Centre Kolkata is a landmark development for Kolkata and West Bengal, strengthening the city’s standing as a regional business and cultural centre. Partnering with Minor Hotels to introduce Anantara to Kolkata reflects our commitment to create a destination that will support the city’s long‑term commercial growth and raise its hospitality offering,” says Sanjay Saraf, Co-Chairman, Aryan Realty.
Sushil Mohta
“Our partnership with Minor Hotels and the introduction of Anantara at WTC marks a significant step in shaping a destination that not only meets international benchmarks but also redefines how business and hospitality converge in Eastern India,” says Sushil Mohta, Chairman, Merlin Group.
The statement adds that the Anantara Kolkata is the latest addition to Minor Hotels’ growing portfolio in India, following the recent signing of Avani+ Sunray Beach Visakhapatnam Resort and Anantara Zanti Coorg Resort, both slated to open in 2028. These developments follow the launch of Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur Hotel in 2025, with the group aiming to expand from its current one property to 50 properties across India over the next decade.