Thomas Cook (India) Limited submitted a regulatory filing under SEBI Listing Regulations Regulation 30 regarding a press release from its wholly owned subsidiary, Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, dated August 28, 2026.
The press release announces the launch of Sterling Holiday Resorts' 80th property in India, marking the company's entry into Chhattisgarh. The new resort, named Sterling Naman Bastar, Jagdalpur, is the first property in Jagdalpur to operate under a national hospitality brand.
Property Details
- Location: Chitrakote Road, Jagdalpur, Bastar region, Chhattisgarh
- Land area: Approximately 3.21 acres
- Room inventory: 45 rooms across five categories including garden-facing rooms, spacious suites, and a private pool villa
- Facilities: Indoor swimming pool, spa, recreation facilities, expansive lawns, and banquet spaces
- Dining: Amravan (multi-cuisine vegetarian restaurant) and Little Bites (café)
- Target market: Family holidays, celebrations, destination events, and group travel
Strategic Significance
The Bastar opening represents an important dimension of Sterling's destination-led growth strategy. The company aims to enter emerging markets early, establish a credible hospitality base, and use its reach to introduce more travelers to underdiscovered destinations with compelling reasons to visit.
Destination Highlights
Bastar is positioned as a destination offering:
- Spectacular waterfalls (Chitrakote and Tirathgarh Falls)
- Forests and limestone caves of Kanger Valley
- Vibrant weekly tribal haats (markets)
- Distinctive Dhokra craftsmanship
- Unique culinary traditions shaped by rice, bamboo shoots, and forest produce
- Improved accessibility through Jagdalpur airport with direct connectivity to Hyderabad and Raipur
Management Commentary
Vikram Lalvani, Managing Director & CEO, Sterling Holiday Resorts stated that Bastar represents an extraordinary combination of natural and cultural attractions that remains under-discovered by mainstream Indian travelers. He emphasized Sterling's role as a "Destination Architect" in helping travelers understand why they should visit Bastar and making the destination easier to experience.
Partnership Structure
The resort operates through a partnership with Jayesh Sangani and Rachit Sangani, owners of Sterling Naman Bastar Jagdalpur, a unit of Dishi Resort Pvt. Ltd. The owners highlighted that their association with Sterling combines local understanding of the region with the brand's reach, distribution, and hospitality expertise.
Corporate Context
Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited is a 100% independently managed subsidiary of Thomas Cook (India) Limited and part of the Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited. The company has a portfolio across more than 66 unique destinations with over 3,800 keys operational.