Category Archives: Hotels

The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) has recently announced the launch of its new hotel brand- SeleQtions and Ambassador New Delhi has been rebranded and joins the SeleQtions family. The property is now called as Ambassador, New Delhi IHCL SeleQtions. Rajindera Kumar, Director of the hotel, said, “Today, the hotel has come under the SeleQtions brand of IHCL and we are very proud of the same. I must compliment Puneet Chhatwal for this endeavour.” The new brand has launched 12 hotels across the country and the first phase include properties present in seven key lodging markets of India: President, Mumbai; Ambassador, New Delhi; The Connaught, New Delhi; Blue Diamond, Pune; Cidade de Goa; Tajview, Agra and Devi Ratn, Jaipur. The other hotels are Pratap Mahal Ajmer; Savoy, Ooty; Gateway Coonoor; Gateway Chikmagalur and Gateway Varkala.

The pipeline data for the Asia Pacific region by STR- a provider of premium data benchmarking, analytics and marketplace insights for global hospitality sector, showed 1,892 hotel projects accounting for 423,343 rooms in construction as of April 2019. This represented a 23.3% year-over-year increase in the number of rooms in the final phase of the development pipeline. Five countries reported more than 20,000 rooms under construction including India- 21,068 rooms (7.4%) .

THE Park Hotels has announced the opening of its new hotel located at Juhu Tara Road, THE Park Mumbai. The 60-room property will offer six categories of rooms; with views of either the Arabian Sea or the city while some overlook the historic Juhu airfield. The rooms and studio suites have been designed with a monochromatic colour palette with world-class amenities. The room rates start from INR 17,000 onwards.  

Sarovar Hotels has announced that it will open its Dalhousie property in September, 2019. The brand has also announced its plan to open a Hometel in Jalandhar by 2022. Talking about the brand’s expansion spree in India, Middle-East and Africa, Ajay K. Bakaya, Managing Director, Sarovar Hotels and Resorts, says, “Besides, Saraovar’s pipeline, we would really like to be in are Varanasi, Bhopal and Patna. Our pipeline includes properties in Dehradun, Dahisar, Goa, Dibrugarh, Morbi, Junagarh, Bodhgaya etc.”

In a survey of 7,500 people in 12 markets globally, an Amadeus-IHG study titled ‘Drivers of Change in Hospitality’ reports that 40 per cent of Indians have stayed in a personalised room that was customised to their needs (e.g. furnished with preferred furniture and room accessories). Traditional room types will no longer be the core product offered by hotels. Instead, guests will choose from room configurations that match their needs, the report states. This is known as attribute-based booking. In-room amenities, non-room inventory, and even tickets for out-of-hotel attractions can be flexibly included in bookings, and this very much represents the way that consumers want to be able to buy. Attributes that can be added into rooms include functional items, both low-tech and high-tech – a cot for infants or smart room technology. For example, some 64% of global travelers are interested in having access to a voice assistant (e.g. Alexa, Google Home) in their hotel room. Choosing which floor you stay on is also a customizable option.

Accor has introduced the concept of ‘Day Stays by Accor’ at its 51 hotels across India. Through this concept, guests can make bookings for 12 hours or less and pay with a discount of 60 per cent on the best available rate of the day and can shorten their stay, rest and save time. Whether you are in transit and have ample time to relax or attending a seminar in the city, or have something to celebrate an occasion, come and experience the impeccable hospitality with Day Stays by Accor. Le Club Accor Hotels members can also earn points through this programme.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has recently reported first-quarter 2019 financial results. The brand’s net income decreased 84.6% to $63 million in the first quarter of 2019 vis-à-vis 2018. Comparable system-wide RevPAR increased 1.8%, including an increase of 2.7% at comparable owned and leased hotels. Excluding the benefit from the timing of the Easter holiday, comparable RevPAR at system-wide hotels and comparable owned and leased hotels would have increased 1.4% and 2.2%, respectively. Comparable U.S. hotel RevPAR decreased 0.3%; full service hotel RevPAR increased 0.1% and select service hotel RevPAR decreased 1.3%. Net rooms growth was 13.7%, or 7.3% excluding the acquisition of Two Roads Hospitality LLC in the fourth quarter of 2018.

Global Hospitality Conclave will now take place on 12 October at The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel. The conclave is a strong platform for participants to project their capabilities and opportunities to the industry elite from across the global hospitality spectrum. The trends and opportunities in the current hospitality landscape of the country and the world at large.

Ginger has signed a new property in Dwarka, Gujarat, taking its count to 11 hotels in the state. The 99-rooms property will have an all-day diner, a meeting room and a fitness centre offering a truly seamless stay experience to its guests. The hotel is a management contract agreement with Bluerock Hospitality Ventures Pvt. Ltd and is slated to commence operations by the end of May 2019. Deepika Rao, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ginger said, “We are happy to partner with Blue Rock Hospitality Ventures in the pilgrimage city of Dwarka. With this hotel, we will expand our footprint to 795 keys in the vibrant state of Gujarat.” Dwarka is an ancient city and is well known for its many temples. The city also has a beautiful beach overlooking the vast expanses of the Arabian Sea, a wildlife sanctuary and many more tourist attractions.  

Marriott International has opened the Port Muziris, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Kochi, the first ever Tribute Portfolio hotel in South Asia. The hotel marks the fifth Marriott International property in Kochi located at just 300 meters away from the Cochin International Airport. Commenting on this launch, Neeraj Govil, Area Vice President, South Asia- Marriott International, says, “The addition of the Tribute Portfolio in Marriott International’s brand footprint for South Asia reinforces our continued focus on providing a diverse collection of prime, distinctive properties across high potential markets in the region. Port Muziris, a Tribute Portfolio hotel is set to exemplify the brand’s vision, offering travelers a unique blend of old-world charm and contemporary amenities, topped off with signature Indian hospitality. The hotel presents guests with the opportunity to spark connections and experience the taste of surrounding communities in the state of Kerala.” “Port Muziris is going to add to the efforts to make Kerala a world-class tourism destination. I believe that it is where Kerala starts. The property’s uniqueness is visible through the soulful art spread across the property, the homely local food and the untypical rooms that bring out the vibrancy, vigor, and life of Kerala. At Twenty14 Holdings, we strive to keep our peerless hospitality growing by ensuring that each of our hotels is unique in its identity, intent, and immersion,” said Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director of Twenty14 Holdings. Port Muziris, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel features 54 artistically designed rooms, including three Executive Suites. The hotel design evokes grandeur and is reminiscent of the heritage residences found in Kerala. The hotel offers an exciting range of dining options, each with its own unique flavours and identity. With …