Nandini Taneja - Developers Are Embedding Hospitality-Led Thinking Into Residential, Office & Retail Formats

Mixed-use developments are the flavour of the season, with real estate developers increasingly integrating retail and hospitality(hotel and service apartments) as part of their strategic development approach where blending of hospitality and real estate creates vibrant lifestyle and experiential destinations. In this exclusive interview with Torbit Realty, Nandini Taneja, CEO, Bhumika Enterprises, talks about the fast evolving retail and hospitality landscape, growing trend of mix-use hospitality -led developments with curated amenities and seamless integration of design, service and technology to attain operational excellence and optimise returns.

Q. How do you look at the blending of hospitality and real estate as real estate developers are increasingly going into hospitality-led developments?

The lines between hospitality and real estate are no longer blurred; instead, they’re intentionally being erased. Today’s buyer or occupier is not just evaluating a physical asset but the experience it enables. Developers are increasingly embedding hospitality-led thinking into residential, office, and retail formats, whether through concierge services, curated amenities, or managed living. Major markets in India like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad are seeing this growth fuelled by increasing desire for global lifestyles and preference for living spaces that priortize hospitality. As seen in Knight Frank’s Residence Report, India ranks sixth globally in terms of active branded residential projects. The country also accounts for almost 4% of the world’s supply, and the pipeline is anticipated to grow in future. It’s a shift from “build and sell” to “build, operate, and engage.” This also helps developers unlock recurring revenue streams and stronger brand recall.

Q. Which of the hospitality formats- luxury hotels, mid-segment hotels, boutique hotels, service apartments, branded suites, you find growing fastest?

While luxury will always command aspiration, the strongest growth is clearly emerging in the boutique hotels and serviced living formats. There’s a structural demand coming from business travellers, millennials, and long-stay professionals who prioritise flexibility over opulence. Service apartments and branded suites, in particular, are benefiting from this shift—they combine the comfort of a home with the reliability of a hotel. Mid-segment hotels are also carving a niche through differentiated experiences.

Q. With the rise of e-commerce and quick commerce, how are brick-and-mortar retail spaces redefining their relevance?

E-commerce hasn’t diminished physical retail—it has sharpened its role. Stores today are far more than transactional endpoints; they’ve become immersive touchpoints for brand storytelling, discovery, and deeper customer engagement. What’s emerging is a clear convergence: digital platforms spark intent, while physical spaces drive experience, trust, and ultimately conversion. In response, retailers are reimagining store formats, integrating technology, curating environments, and prioritising high-impact locations. The focus is shifting from chasing volume footfall to attracting the right consumer with higher purchase intent. In many ways, the store is evolving into a stage where brands don’t just sell, they perform and connect more meaningfully.

Q. Experiential retail is a buzzword today. How are retail centres evolving from pure shopping hubs to lifestyle and entertainment destinations?

Experiential retail is not a trend; it’s the new baseline. Malls and high streets are evolving into social and cultural hubs where shopping is just one part of the journey. A JLL report showed that shopping malls captured 45% of the total leasing activity in 2025, while high streets commanded a dominant 48% share. In calendar year 2025, fashion & apparel (34%) and food & beverage (20%) together comprised more than half of the annual leasing. This shift is also driving higher dwell times and, interestingly, better retail performance. Thus, the idea is simple—give people a reason to stay longer.

Q. Going forward, how do you see the role of technology, AI and data analytics in shaping the future of retail and hospitality?

Technology is increasingly becoming the backbone of both retail and hospitality, fundamentally reshaping how decisions are made and experiences are delivered. AI and data analytics are enabling far more precise demand forecasting, deeper personalisation, and leaner, more efficient operations. Whether it’s dynamic pricing in hotels or predictive footfall analytics in retail centres, intuition is steadily giving way to data-led strategy. More importantly, these tools are allowing us to build stronger, more meaningful consumer engagement. By leveraging data insights, we can better understand customer preferences, optimise tenant mixes, curate targeted experiences, and design more effective loyalty programmes that drive repeat visits and long-term retention. This shift is not just about efficiency—it’s about creating a more responsive, intuitive ecosystem where every interaction feels relevant and thoughtfully designed.

Q. How is the entry of global brands impacting design, scale and overall retail and hospitality landscape?

The entry of global brands is steadily raising the bar across the retail and hospitality sectors. Their presence is influencing not just tenant mix, but also design standards, project scale, and overall asset positioning. Developers today are compelled to align with global benchmarks, whether in façade articulation, circulation efficiency, or backend infrastructure. This shift is pushing the ecosystem towards greater sophistication and long-term thinking. At the same time, global brands bring a sense of consistency, trust, and aspirational value, which helps attract a more discerning consumer base and enhances the overall positioning and performance of the development within its micro-market.

Q. How do you look at the prospects and challenges in the retail and hospitality sector?

The outlook for retail and hospitality remains structurally strong, underpinned by rising consumption, rapid urbanisation, and a consumer base that increasingly values experiences over transactions. However, the real challenge lies in execution discipline: choosing the right location, curating a balanced tenant mix, and building a resilient operational model. Capital today is far more selective, favouring assets that are thoughtfully designed and future-ready. At the same time, consumer expectations are evolving quickly, requiring continuous innovation in both offerings and engagement strategies. In this environment, long-term success will depend less on scale alone and more on relevance, adaptability, and consistent delivery.

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