In a significant push to strengthen Sikkim’s premium hospitality sector, Chief Minister of Sikkim Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) laid the foundation stone for the upcoming Hyatt Regency Gangtok, a 150-room five-star hotel, at a formal ceremony held at Chintan Bhawan in Gangtok.
The project marks a strategic move to position the capital city as a high-value tourism hub catering to luxury travellers, destination weddings and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE). The Chief Minister described the foundation ceremony as a symbol of trust and partnership, congratulating the SM Group and Poddar Group for their investment and expressing appreciation to Hyatt Hotels Corporation for selecting Gangtok for its global brand expansion.
Highlighting tourism as a vital pillar of the state’s economy, Tamang noted that visitor numbers consistently exceed twice the state’s population. He expressed confidence that the new hotel would reflect Sikkim’s cultural identity by promoting local art, cuisine, produce and talent.
The hotel will be located in the Mintokgang area within the Suryavilas mixed-use development, approximately 2 km from MG Marg. The site offers close access to major landmarks such as Enchey Monastery and the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology and lies along State Highway 310, the key route to Nathu La Pass, ensuring convenient connectivity for both leisure and business travellers.
Gangtok recorded over 17 lakh tourist arrivals in 2025, including more than 71,000 foreign visitors. With the state currently capable of accommodating around 42,000 to 45,000 tourists per day, the addition of 150 luxury rooms in the city centre is expected to address the demand-supply gap in the premium segment and attract higher-spending domestic and international guests.
The project will be developed by Gyalshing Hotels Private Limited, a special purpose vehicle under SM Hotels and Resorts Pvt Ltd, the hospitality arm of SM Developers. According to Vikas Agarwal, MD and CEO of SM Developers, the hotel has been designed to global standards by Singapore-based SCSY Studio and will deliver experiential luxury along with modern event infrastructure.
Spread across a 3.27-acre master-planned site, the property will feature an all-day dining restaurant with alfresco seating, a specialty restaurant, bar and lounge, Regency Club, temperature-controlled outdoor swimming pool, spa, gymnasium and family activity zones. It will also offer approximately 13,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, positioning it as a key anchor for MICE tourism in the Eastern Himalayas. The integrated development will include a licensed casino facility, further strengthening Gangtok’s appeal in regulated entertainment hospitality.
The hotel is expected to support large-format events, destination weddings, conventions, cultural showcases and corporate summits, aligning with national tourism initiatives such as Swadesh Darshan 2.0. The project is also anticipated to generate substantial employment, boost local supply chains and catalyse allied sectors including transport, handicrafts and cultural tourism.
With this initiative, the Government of Sikkim aims to attract responsible private investment while enhancing Gangtok’s global positioning as a sustainable, inclusive and future-ready tourism destination.
