What HiLITE Group does

HiLITE Group is a privately held, family-controlled diversified conglomerate headquartered in Kozhikode (Calicut), Kerala, India, founded in 1996 by Chairman P. Sulaiman. The group operates across 12+ wholly-owned subsidiaries spanning real estate development (residential, commercial, retail), construction and contracting, IT parks, interior design, education, healthcare, entertainment, food and beverage, coworking, and fund management. Its portfolio includes flagship retail destinations (HiLITE Mall Calicut, HiLITE Mall Thrissur at 744,787 sq. ft.), the World Trade Centre Kozhikode (12.5 million sq. ft. planned within HiLITE City), Grade-A IT infrastructure (HiLITE Business Park, HiLITE Cyber Hub, HiLITE Cyber Tower at Cyberpark Kozhikode, and YOO Hub Trivandrum at Technopark Phase III), residential developments (HiLITE Metromax, HiLITE Springdale, HiLITE Athena, HiLITE Residency), Kerala's only IB Continuum school (The White School International), Elanine Women's Hospital, Palaxi Cinemas multiplex with EPIQ-format screens, and the Hug A Mug cafe chain.

The company generates revenue through a mix of one-time real estate sales (apartments, villas, commercial spaces), recurring rental and lease income (IT parks, business parks, mall tenant leasing), subscription-style recurring streams (school fees, hospital services, coworking), and transaction-based revenue (F&B outlets, cinema ticketing). Pricing for real estate and commercial leasing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Distribution is anchored in physical retail and office infrastructure across Kerala (Calicut, Thrissur, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, plus Tier-3 cities including Kunnamkulam, Mannarkkad, Nilambur, Chemmad, and Thamarassery) with a global office in Dubai supporting Tucano Realty international property broking. Strategic partnerships with Government of Kerala entities (Technopark, Cyberpark) and global design brand YOO provide access to scarce government-promoted technology park land and international brand-led design capability.

The group employs 10,000+ people across 12+ corporate companies and claims a cumulative base of 100,000+ customers. In 2026, marking its 30th anniversary, the company announced a ₹25,000 crore five-year investment plan to develop 50 million sq. ft. of mixed-use space across Kerala, projected to generate 200,000+ direct and indirect jobs by 2030. The business is self-funded through operational cash flows with no disclosed institutional or private equity backing, and operates as a private limited company (HiLITE Holdings Pvt Ltd) under the Sulaiman family's ownership.

Name

HiLITE Group

Legal name

HiLITE Holdings Pvt Ltd

Website

https://hilitegroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

HiLITE Group is a privately held Kerala-based diversified conglomerate founded in 1996, operating across real estate development, retail malls, IT parks, education, healthcare, entertainment, and food and beverage, serving residential buyers, corporate tenants, students, and consumers across Kerala and Dubai.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mixed-Use Real Estate Development

NAICS

Real Estate Property Managers (53131), Corporate, Subsidiary, and Regional Managing Offices (551114)

SIC

Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), Real Estate (6500)

akta.pro primary industry

Transitional/Development Land Brokerage (Entitled, In-Path-of-Growth) (BPAJADAJ)

Keywords

• Mixed-use real estate development
• Commercial property development
• IT park infrastructure
• Retail mall operations
• Integrated township projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Calicut

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Real Estate Development: Development and sale of residential apartments, villas, commercial spaces, and mixed-use properties under brands like HiLITE Builders, HiLITE Properties, and HiLITE Contracting.
2. Retail Mall Operations: Operation of flagship malls (HiLITE Mall Calicut, HiLITE Mall Thrissur) generating revenue from tenant leasing, footfall-driven retail, and entertainment including Palaxi Cinemas.
3. IT Park and Business Park Leasing: Leasing of office spaces in HiLITE Business Park, Cyber Hub, Cyber Tower, and YOO Hub Trivandrum to IT companies, startups, and corporations.
4. Education Services: Operation of The White School International (IB Continuum), The White School, and The White School Kadalundinagaram offering nursery to diploma programs.
5. Food and Beverage: Operation of Hug a Mug cafes, Frostone ice cream, Khobcibo Indo-Lebanese eateries, and Pinchang Chinese cuisine outlets.
6. Healthcare Services: Elanine Women's Hospital providing maternal care, gynecology, pediatrics, dermatology, cosmetology, dental care, and infertility treatments.
7. Interior Design Services: HiLITE Interiors and Willow & Banyan manufacturing wing providing complete home and commercial interior design and renovation services.
8. Enterertainment: Palaxi Cinemas multiplex operations with 8 screens featuring EPIQ format technology for premium movie experience.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels11 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

HiLITE Group is a diversified real estate and construction conglomerate that develops, owns, and operates mixed-use integrated townships combining residential, commercial, retail, IT park, education, healthcare, entertainment, and food & beverage assets across Kerala, India. Revenue is generated through property sales, tenant leasing in malls and IT parks, and direct service operations across its 12+ subsidiaries.

Product overview

HiLITE Group is a diversified real estate and construction conglomerate headquartered in Kozhikode, Kerala, established in 1996. The company operates across multiple sectors including retail (HiLITE Mall Calicut, HiLITE Mall Thrissur, HiLITE Countryside, HiLITE Centre, HiLITE Boulevard), IT parks (World Trade Center Kozhikode, HiLITE Cyber Hub, HiLITE Cyber Tower, YOO Hub Trivandrum), commercial real estate (HiLITE Business Park, HiLITE Properties, HiLITE Builders), interior design (HiLITE Interiors, Willow & Banyan), entertainment (Palaxi Cinemas), education (The White School International), healthcare (Elanine), food & beverage (Hug A Mug, Frostone, Khob Cibo, Pinchang), and coworking (The Workbook). The portfolio spans from large-scale integrated townships to neighborhood retail formats, positioning the group as one of Kerala's most comprehensive real estate developers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HiLITE Mall: Flagship retail mall brand with locations in Calicut and Thrissur
• HiLITE City
• HiLITE Business Park
• World Trade Center Kozhikode
• The White School International
• Palaxi Cinemas
• Hug A Mug
• Elanine
• YOO Hub Trivandrum
• HiLITE Cyber Hub
• HiLITE Cyber Tower
• HiLITE Boulevard
• HiLITE Centre
• HiLITE Countryside
• Tucano Realty

Products and services

• HiLITE Mall Calicut One of the largest malls in South India featuring international brands, food court, and premium facilities. It was the company's flagship retail development that revolutionized Kerala's mall culture and became one of the first malls in India fully powered by 100% renewable energy in 2025.
• HiLITE Mall Thrissur The largest mall in the Thrissur region with 744,787 sq. ft. of space, housing over 200 national and international brands with premium retail, dining, and entertainment options including Palaxi Cinemas. Fully powered by 100% renewable energy as of 2025.
• World Trade Center Kozhikode A 12.5 million sq. ft. World Trade Center development within HiLITE City, planned as one of the world's largest WTC facilities with mixed-use commercial, business, and educational spaces including a Learning Park.
• HiLITE Cyber Hub A next-generation IT development at Cyberpark Calicut spanning approximately 1.63 lakh sq. ft. across 6 floors with ₹70 crore investment, designed to accommodate multinational corporations, startups, innovation labs, and R&D centres under one advanced infrastructure framework.
• HiLITE Cyber Tower A next-generation IT development at Cyberpark Calicut spanning approximately 9 lakh sq. ft. across 2.5 acres, envisioned as a future-ready IT hub for multinational corporations, high-growth startups, innovation labs, and R&D centres.
• YOO Hub Trivandrum Kerala's first branded IT Park at Technopark Phase III, spanning 5.18 lakh sq. ft. across 18 floors on 1.88 acres. Developed in association with global design brand YOO, expected to generate 4,000 direct IT jobs.
• HiLITE Business Park An ultra-modern office complex within HiLITE City with 200+ premium office spaces, rooftop cafeteria, board rooms, multi-purpose halls, and parking facilities for 1200+ cars. Houses a wide array of IT companies, banks, and other premium companies, with a Phase 2 extension already started.
• HiLITE Builders Flagship construction company of HiLITE Group, known as one of the most trusted builders in India, designing living, office, and retail spaces that have become landmarks.
• HiLITE Properties One of Kerala's finest real estate developers focusing on bringing international-level malls to every region of Kerala, with landmark projects including HiLITE Mall Thrissur, HiLITE Boulevard, and HiLITE Kunnamkulam.
• HiLITE Interiors Interior designing wing of HiLITE Group offering personalized interior design services for residential and commercial spaces, now one of the most trusted brands for complete home interior design.
• Palaxi Cinemas Kerala's first and largest EPIQ format theatre with 8 screens at HiLITE Mall Calicut and 6 screens at HiLITE Mall Thrissur, featuring Dolby Barco 4K RGB laser projection with Dolby Atmos sound for immersive movie-watching experiences.
• The White School International Kerala's first and only IB Continuum School offering IB education from nursery to the Diploma Programme, along with Edexcel and CBSE syllabi. Founded by P. Sulaiman.
• Elanine Women's Hospital A healthcare facility in Calicut dedicated to women's health, beauty, and holistic well-being, offering services in Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Dermatology, Cosmetology, Dental Care, and Infertility Treatments.
• Hug A Mug Café A cafe chain with 9 outlets offering supreme coffee experiences with pastries, hot & cold beverages, sandwiches, wraps, and snacks. Popular with young crowds across Kerala.
• HiLITE Boulevard A landmark waterfront retail development in Kochi featuring a high-street retail format with snow-themed park, Eye of Kochi, 30-foot giant wheel, and entertainment attractions. India's first-of-its-kind waterfront retail destination.
• HiLITE Countryside A miniature version of HiLITE Mall bringing modern retail, dining, and entertainment to developing areas like Chemmad and Thamarassery, with nearly 3 lakh sq. ft. of retail and lifestyle space.
• HiLITE Centre Midsize city shopping malls designed for Tier-3 cities such as Kunnamkulam, Mannarkkad, and Nilambur, bringing the HiLITE retail and lifestyle experience to smaller towns in Kerala.
• Tucano Realty International property broking and investment venture launched in Dubai, backed by HiLITE's legacy, offering property evaluation and seamless transactions for global clientele.
• The Workbook Coworking A coworking space with the vision of creating environments where people and businesses can collaborate and do their finest work in flexible office spaces.
• Willow & Banyan The manufacturing wing of HiLITE Interiors, treating interior design as divine with each piece having a story of its own.

Quantifiable outcome

• First malls in India fully powered by 100% renewable energy
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Technopark (Government of Kerala)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 February 2026MoU signed with Technopark to develop YOO Hub Trivandrum, Kerala's first branded IT Park at Technopark Phase III. The 5.15 lakh sq. ft. project spread over 18 floors on 1.88 acres is expected to generate approximately 4,000 direct IT jobs and will be completed in three years. This marks YOO's first globally branded IT Park collaboration.
• YOO (Global Design Brand)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 February 2026Strategic partnership with internationally renowned design brand YOO for YOO Hub Trivandrum - the first branded IT Park globally for YOO. The partnership brings internationally recognized, design-led excellence into Kerala's technology ecosystem. Investment of ₹300 crore.
• Cyberpark Kozhikode (Government of Kerala)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment of two IT complexes at Cyberpark, Kozhikode - HiLITE Cyber Tower and HiLITE Cyber Hub - with total investment of ₹570 crore. Strategic location within Kerala's government-promoted technology park to strengthen North Kerala's position in India's technology landscape.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Phoenix Mills Limited: Indian developer-operator of high-end malls (Phoenix MarketCity) and commercial offices under the "Phoenix" brand. Highly comparable to HiLITE Mall and HiLITE Business Park as an integrated mall and Grade-A office landlord.
• Sobha Limited: Indian real estate developer focused on premium residential and commercial developments with backward-integrated construction capabilities, similar to HiLITE Builders' in-house contracting model.
• Brigade Group: Bengaluru-headquartered Indian developer with residential, commercial (Brigade Tech Parks), retail, and hospitality verticals. Comparable to HiLITE's IT park and mixed-use development strategy in South India.
• Prestige Group: Large Indian developer operating across residential, commercial, retail (Forum malls), hotels, and integrated townships. Directly comparable to HiLITE's mixed-use model and southern India footprint, with substantially larger scale.
• Nexus Select Trust: India's first listed retail REIT, owning and operating a portfolio of 17+ malls including Nexus Forum and Nexus MarketCity. Closely comparable to HiLITE Mall Calicut/Thrissur as a mall operating platform, though HiLITE is privately held and vertically integrated with development.

Regional players

• Oberoi Realty: Premium Indian developer of residential and commercial office space (Commerz, Oberoi Garden, Tech Park) primarily in Mumbai. Comparable to HiLITE Builders and HiLITE Business Park as a developer of premium office stock, though focused on a different geography.
• Mahindra Lifespace Developers: Indian developer of integrated residential townships and Grade-A commercial projects under the Mahindra brand. Comparable to HiLITE City as an integrated township developer with strong institutional governance and a different geographic mix.
• Lulu Group International: UAE-headquartered Indian-origin conglomerate with hypermarket retail and mall developments across the Middle East and India. Comparable to HiLITE as a peer Indian-rooted retail and mixed-use developer, with greater Middle East retail exposure.

Broad incumbents

• Godrej Properties: National Indian residential and commercial developer with pan-India mixed-use projects. Comparable in business model to HiLITE's residential-plus-commercial approach, with materially greater scale and capital markets access.
• DLF Limited: India's largest real estate developer with residential, commercial (DLF Cybercity), and retail (DLF Malls) operations. A much larger broad-market incumbent serving as a benchmark for HiLITE's national ambitions from its Kerala base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/lifeathilite
• Facebookfacebook.com/hilitegroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hilitegroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles26 records

Subsidiaries22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HiLITE Group