Spear’s Review

Dillip Rajakarier sits at the helm of Minor International’s portfolio of more than 640 hotels over the world, which includes the likes of Anantara, Tivoli and The Wolseley. 

Under Rajakarier’s leadership, 2024 marked Minor Hotels’ strongest financial year on record, and hit TV show The White Lotus featured three of its Thai properties in its third season. 

Rajakarier has announced ambitious expansion plans, aiming to open over 200 new hotels in the next three years, including at least 50 more in India, while also targeting growth in China and Nordic countries. 

The group CEO joined Minor Hotels in 2007 as chief finance and investment officer and was promoted to COO within a year. In 2011, he was made CEO of Minor Hotels, and subsequently became group CEO of the Minor International group in 2020. The hotelier previously worked at Orient-Express, where he was deputy chief financial officer for close to six years.

Rajakarier is responsible for the group’s expansion of its core businesses, ensuring that they are ‘globally recognised leaders’ across the fields of hospitality, restaurants and lifestyle. 

Read next: The 2025 Spear’s Power List – who made the cut

Adviser Profile

Dillip Rajakarier is the chief architect of Minor International’s ‘asset-right’ strategy, a sophisticated investment model that balances global scaling with financial resilience. While the group’s recent operational successes are well documented, Dillip’s true distinction lies in his mastery of cross-border M&A and his ability to revitalise heritage brands for a modern, global audience.

He is a leading authority on the East-meets-West hospitality model, expertly navigating the nuances of introducing Asian luxury standards to European markets and vice versa. By evolving the group’s core businesses into globally recognised leaders across hospitality, restaurants and lifestyle, Dillip has positioned himself as the go-to adviser for investors seeking to bridge regional gaps in the high-end leisure sector.

Dillip’s reputation as a ‘turnaround specialist’ was solidified by the strategic rescue and subsequent expansion of The Wolseley Hospitality Group and the €2.3 billion acquisition of NH Hotel Group. He is frequently sought out for his insights into the de-risking of hospitality portfolios through diverse geographical exposure and brand diversification, making him a pivotal figure for global capital seeking stable, high-yield luxury assets.

His strategic vision provides a sophisticated roadmap for transforming core businesses into globally recognised leaders across hospitality, restaurants and lifestyle. Having steered Minor International to its strongest financial year on record in 2024, he remains the pre-eminent adviser for investors seeking to bridge the gap between Asian hospitality excellence and Western market growth.