Sterling Holiday Resorts Delivers Record FY26 Performance with Highest-Ever Q4 Revenue and Accelerated Expansion
Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Thomas Cook (India) Limited, reported record FY26 results with total revenue of ₹5,487 million, EBITDA of ₹1,701 million, and PBT of ₹1,142 million, while Q4 FY26 revenue grew 14% YoY to ₹1,409 million. The company expanded to 78 resorts across 65 destinations with over 3,800 rooms, maintained a debt-free balance sheet with cash reserves of nearly ₹3,400 million, and targets 95 resorts and 4,500 rooms by 2027.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited , a wholly owned subsidiary of Thomas Cook (India) Limited, reported a record-breaking FY26 performance, delivering its highest-ever Q4 revenue, EBITDA, and Profit Before Tax (PBT), while extending its streak of profitability to 25 consecutive quarters. The results were disclosed via a press release intimation filed under Regulation 30 of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, dated May 14, 2026.
Record Q4 and Full-Year FY26 Financial Performance
Sterling posted strong financial results across both Q4 FY26 and the full fiscal year. The company maintained healthy EBITDA margins of 25% in Q4 FY26 despite continued investments in expansion, technology, and customer experience enhancements. For the full year, EBITDA margins stood at 31%.
The following table summarises the key financial metrics:
| Metric: | Q4 FY26 | FY26 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue: | ₹1,409 million (14% YoY growth) | ₹5,487 million |
| EBITDA: | ₹348 million (10% YoY growth) | ₹1,701 million |
| EBITDA Margin: | 25% | 31% |
| PBT: | ₹206 million | ₹1,142 million |
Resort-Led Growth Drives Revenue Momentum
The resort business remained the primary engine of Sterling's growth during FY26, demonstrating the success of the company's strategic shift towards a focused hospitality-led operating model. Resort Revenue now contributes 85% of total revenue, compared to 79% in the previous year.
Key resort business highlights for FY26 and Q4 FY26 are outlined below:
FY26 Resort Business Performance:
- Resort Revenue grew 15% YoY to ₹4,678 million
- Room Revenue increased 21% YoY
- F&B Revenue grew 14% YoY
- Resort Revenue share rose to 85% of total revenue from 79% last year
Q4 FY26 Operating Metrics:
- Room Revenue grew nearly 40% to ₹672 million
- Occupancy improved to 64%, up from 58% last year
- ARR increased 12% to ₹6,347
- Total RevPAR increased 16% despite a 20% increase in room inventory
With two record quarters, H2 revenues outperformed H1 by 21%.
Rapid Expansion Across India
Sterling crossed the milestone of 78 resorts, hotels, and retreats across 65 destinations, with over 3,800 rooms during FY26, adding nearly 1.5 resorts per month and 31 resorts over the last 24 months. The company expects to cross 95 resorts and 4,500 rooms in 2027, with more than 20 sign-ups in the pipeline. Sterling remains focused on high-growth Tier 2 and Tier 3 business-cum-leisure corridors.
| Expansion Metric: | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Resorts: | 78 resorts, hotels and retreats |
| Total Destinations: | 65 |
| Total Rooms: | 3,800+ |
| Resorts Added (Last 24 Months): | 31 |
| Addition Rate: | Nearly 1.5 resorts per month |
| Target Resorts (2027): | 95 resorts and 4,500 rooms |
| Pipeline Sign-ups: | More than 20 |
Strong Balance Sheet and Cash Generation
Sterling maintained a completely debt-free balance sheet, with cash reserves growing at a multi-year CAGR of 55% to nearly ₹3,400 million. Operating Free Cash Flow grew 49% year-on-year to ₹1,140 million, reflecting strong capital discipline alongside high growth.
Brand, Technology, and Awards
Sterling continued to strengthen its customer proposition and operating capabilities during the year. The company's proprietary digital platform, Sterling ONE, powered by Distributed Ledger Technology and AI, now provides direct access to over 7,000 travel partners and 360 corporates.
The company received a wide range of industry recognitions during the period:
| Awarding Body / Event: | Award |
|---|---|
| Today's Traveller Awards 2025: | Fastest Growing Hospitality Brand / Hotel Chain |
| TripAdvisor: | Sterling Kanha – "Best of the Best" (3rd consecutive year); 30 Resorts (incl. 10 for the 3rd time in a row) – Travelers' Choice Awards; The Doon Diner (at Sterling Mussoorie) – "Best of The Best" – Dining; 10 restaurants – Travellers Choice Awards – Dining |
| 2025 CMO Asia – Odisha Leadership Awards: | Sterling Puri – Best Family Resort of the Year |
| RCI Green Awards (14th edition): | Sterling Munnar – Gold |
| Agoda.com: | Sterling Kodai Lake – Agoda Gold Circle Award 2025 |
| Booking.com: | 33 Resorts – Traveller Review Award 2025 |
| Hospitality Horizon + NDTV Profit: | Sterling Jaisinghgarh Udaipur – Boutique Luxury Awards at Top 50 Hotel Awards; Slate & Pearl (at Sterling Kodai Lake) – Top 50 Restaurants of The Year |
| Travel + Leisure India – Best Awards 2025: | Sterling Ooty – Fern Hill – Best Family Resort |
| IRCTC (Indian Railways): | Sterling Resorts (at Darjeeling, Gangtok, Kalimpong) – Outstanding Partner in North-East Hotels |
| Economic Times: | Amo Odisha (at Sterling Puri) – ET Restaurant and Nightlife Awards 2025 |
| Hospitality Horizon + Mickey Mehta, Spa & Wellness Summit 2025: | Subuthi Spa (at Sterling Lake Palace Alleppey) – Top 10 Resort Spas in India – Excellence in Spa Leadership Award |
| Future of L&D Summit & Awards 2025: | Best in Digital Learning Initiative; Best Learning Culture in an Organization |
Commenting on the performance, Mr. Vikram Lalvani, Managing Director & CEO, stated: "Q4 FY26 was a record-breaking quarter across all key operating and financial metrics. Sterling delivered its best-ever Q4 Revenue, EBITDA and Profit Before Tax while completing its 25th consecutive profitable quarter. FY26 has been a defining year for Sterling. We have delivered record revenues, sustained profitability, expanded our resort footprint aggressively and strengthened our balance sheet — all while remaining debt-free. India's domestic leisure travel opportunity remains extremely strong and Sterling is well-positioned to capitalize on this opportunity through our expanding network, stronger brand proposition, digital capabilities and customer-centric operating model."
Historical Stock Returns for Thomas Cook
| 1 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +2.58% | -4.97% | -8.56% | -38.70% | -34.03% | +100.93% |
How will Sterling Holiday Resorts fund its expansion to 95 resorts by 2027 while maintaining its debt-free balance sheet, and could acquisitions accelerate this timeline?
As Sterling deepens its focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 leisure corridors, how might rising competition from budget hotel aggregators like OYO or Treebo impact its ARR and occupancy targets?
With the Sterling ONE platform now connecting 7,000+ travel partners, could Thomas Cook (India) leverage this digital infrastructure to cross-sell its broader travel and forex services at scale?


































