RARE India to scale global visibility following investment

August 11, 2026 Casey Mead

RARE India is aiming to expand the visibility of The RARE Collection portfolio of boutique hotels following recent investment by India-based SAMHI Hotels and amid increasing demand for experiential travel in India, Nepal and Bhutan. 

Founder of RARE India, Shoba Rudra, continues to lead the business, and is hosting the BRIDGES for Conscious Travel (BRIDGES) event in Delhi for delegates to learn more about the collection in-person from hoteliers, many of whom are pioneers in ecotourism and conscious travel. The three-day conference, which is in its ninth year, will be held at The Imperial Hotel from September 16-18, 2026. 

BRIDGES is an annual gathering dedicated to advancing conscious, sustainable, slow and meaningful travel, and the event brings together hotels, travel designers, conservationists, storytellers, policymakers, and change-makers shaping tourism as a force for good.

It is open to travel advisors and tour operators from around the world, and is specifically aimed at those keen to promote sustainable travel. International operators interested in attending are encouraged to speak to their local partners / DMCs for more information.

Rudra says BRIDGES is the perfect introduction to conscious tourism across the Indian subcontinent. For fuller immersion in the destination, both pre- and post-familiarisation trips will be available, featuring accommodation and experiences from the participating groups of hotels.

“When attending BRIDGES, delegates will have the opportunity to hear stories from our hoteliers firsthand, and to network with thought leaders in conscious travel, some of whom will be guest speakers at the ‘Catalyst’ talks taking place on the opening day.   

“The RARE Collection’s properties champion a distinct way of experiencing travel through community, art, culture, gastronomy and sustainability, and this event brings these concepts to life as attendees form lasting relationships with the people and places delivering experiences to guests. 

“We believe tourism’s primary beneficiary must be the community, while remaining true to the destination. This continues to be a strong theme for BRIDGES in 2026 and is increasingly important and relevant today,” says Rudra.

Attendees will meet hoteliers from The RARE Collection, as well as others who deliver on similar principles of destination discovery and sustainable travel at their individual design-led hotels, palaces, forts, wildlife lodges and retreats. Delegates will also hear from an inspiring line-up of speakers, including:

• Amanda Ho, co-founder and CEO, Regenerative Travel
• Arati Rao, author, Marginlands: Indian landscapes on the Brink
• Atul Khanna, founder, Vivaana Heritage Hotels
• Mahesh Natarajan, CEO, Ananda in the Himalayas 

For more information on BRIDGES, please visit https://bridges.travel/. For more information on RARE India and The RARE Collection please visit https://www.rareindia.com.

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