The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, India’s only pure play luxury hotel brand, has agreed a management deal with The Godwin Group to operate The Leela Jaisalmer, an 80-room desert resort and spa scheduled to open in 2026. The signing takes the group into Rajasthan’s Golden City for the first time.
For UK firms with growing Indian interests, the announcement adds a credible incentive and reward option to a state that already anchors most high-end itineraries in the country. Jaisalmer has its own airport and is easily reached from Jodhpur, which makes the resort a workable bolt-on to meetings in Delhi or Mumbai rather than an expedition in its own right.
Tented villas, a ballroom and a man-made lake
The property will occupy 30 acres of the Thar Desert close to Jaisalmer Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Plans pair conventional rooms with tented villas, alongside an extensive spa, a salon, a kids’ club, a swimming pool, multiple dining venues, a large man-made lake, a ballroom, and generous lawns and courtyards intended for destination weddings, milestone celebrations and curated gatherings.
That events capacity is the detail worth noting for SMEs weighing up incentive trips or client hospitality. The group also expects the new resort to slot into combined itineraries with The Leela Palace Udaipur and The Leela Palace Jaipur, deepening its hold on Rajasthan’s leisure circuit as part of wider expansion plans across India. Over the coming months the property will adopt The Leela’s signature brand touchpoints and programming before taking the Jaisalmer name in 2026.
What the partners say
Anuraag Bhatnagar, whole-time director and chief executive of Leela Palaces Hotels and Resorts Limited, said: “We are delighted to announce our foray into Jaisalmer with our first Desert Resort and Spa. Rajasthan continues to hold immense potential for luxury travel, with Jaisalmer emerging as a preferred destination for global travellers. This signing strategically expands our footprint in one of India’s most evocative landscapes and aligns with our vision to curate distinctive properties that celebrate the essence of India. With both domestic and inbound travel gaining momentum, The Leela is poised to be at the forefront of welcoming discerning travellers seeking meaningful and transformative experiences.”
Chiranjeev Singh Bajwa, director of Godwin Palace and Hotels Pvt Ltd, said: “We are excited to partner with The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts to bring their distinguished legacy of luxury hospitality to Jaisalmer. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to showcasing India’s rich heritage through experiences that blend world-class standards with a deep sense of place.”
His fellow director Tanveer Singh Bajwa added: “Jaisalmer has long enchanted travellers with its golden landscapes and living history. Together with The Leela, we look forward to creating a desert sanctuary that captures the Golden City’s timeless allure and reimagines luxury for today’s traveller.”
Timing and practicalities for UK travellers
The practical case for UK business travellers is straightforward. Corporate traffic between Britain and India is climbing, with airlines adding capacity on India routes as trade ties deepen, and a desert resort with a ballroom gives travel bookers a fresh venue for incentive groups and post-conference wind-downs.
Timing matters, though. The cooler months are the best window for travel to Rajasthan, when desert temperatures are at their most forgiving, so a 2026 opening points to peak-season availability from the outset. As with any India trip, companies should check the latest FCDO travel advice and visa requirements before committing budgets.
