Category Archives: Hotels

AccorHotels and Brigade Group, Bangalore announced the opening of Grand MercureMysuru in South India’s Mysuru. The hotel has 146 spacious rooms and suites and is located within close proximity of all major tourist attractions as well as the central business district. The Grand MercureMysuru is situated on the legendary new SayajiRao Road. The sixth floor of the hotel features a viewing gallery overlooking the Dasara procession. To celebrate the opening, the hotel is offering a Deluxe rooms stay with breakfast for two inclusive of any one main meal from Rs 7,250 per night. This offer is valid from now until 30th June, 2016. The rate for a Standard Room is from Rs 6,000.

HNA Tourism Group, a division of HNA Group Co, a Fortune Global 500 company with operations across aviation, tourism, hospitality, finance, and online services among other sectors, and Carlson Hospitality Group has announced that they have entered an agreement for the acquisition of Carlson Hotels. The combination of HNA Tourism Group and Carlson Hotels will have increased ability to accelerate growth through investments in areas such as digital, owned assets in major gateway cities, building of Radisson RED and other new brands. The Transaction is subject to receipt of regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in the second half of (calendar) 2016. Under terms of the Agreement, which were unanimously approved by the Carlson Board of Directors, HNA Tourism Group will acquire all of Carlson Hotels, including its approximately 51.3 percent majority stake in Rezidor Hotel Group.

The Oberoi Al Zorahis all set to open in 2016 as one of three new luxury properties for The Oberoi Group this year. The other two properties include The Oberoi Marrakech, Morocco and The OberoiSukhvilas, Chandigarh. The Oberoi Al Zorah is a luxury eco-destination resort, only 30 minutes from Dubai International Airport. The property is nestled amidst the natural surroundings of Al Zorah which boasts a beautiful long beachfront, azure lagoons, lush mangroves and 247 acres of natural forest with exceptional biodiversity. All three of The Oberoi Group’s luxury hotel openings this year will be located in stunning natural environments and offer the impeccable standards of luxury and service associated with the group’s worldwide portfolio. The Oberoi, Al Zorah is nestled alongside a beautiful untouched coastline, perfectly framed by natural mangroves and boasts an ultra-modern layout that harmonises with the natural environment. Each of the 113 villas, suites and penthouse are elegant and modern with an abundance of natural light and breathtaking sea views. The spacious and luxuriously appointed rooms and suites all have private balconies, while the villas offer terraces and temperature-controlled private pools. The Oberoi, Al Zorah in Ajman offers al–fresco, beachside and indoor dining venues all serving the finest cuisine. Synonymous for offering some of the world’s finest spa and wellness experiences, the spa at Oberoi offers signature therapies as well as a traditional hammam, a 80–metre pool, a fully equipped gymnasium, and daycare facilities for families. Earlier this year, the Group announced two new properties in Qatar – a 250 key luxury hotel in the West Bay area of Doha, and a 148 key luxury serviced apartment located in Lusail, Doha.

Sarovar Hotels & Resorts’ has announced the signing of two new hotels in north India. The group has signed an 81 room Sarovar Portico at Kapashera New Delhi and a 43 room Sarovar Portico at Palampur in Kangra Valley, HP. These developments represent the group’s focus on both the business and leisure segments. Focusing on expanding to newer markets this year, further openings are expected in Dehradun, Amritsar, Raipur, Jaisalmer, Ajmer, Bhavnagar, Jalandhar, Greater Noida and Bekal. Commenting on the development, Ajay K. Bakaya, Executive Director, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, said, “We are focusing on our expansion plans and the signing of these two properties boost the company’s strategic efforts to expand our brands even further across the region. With business as well as leisure travel continuing to rise in this region, we aim to grow our presence to meet the demand over the coming years in different markets including Dehradun, Raipur, and Amritsar. Through our distinctively recognized brands, we aim to offer value for money accommodation and superior hospitality to today’s travellers.” Owned by Palm Land Hotels & Resorts LLP, the hotel in Kapashera will be named The Muse Sarovar Portico, New Delhi Kapashera. The hotel is strategically located close to the Delhi airport and in proximity to the Delhi-Haryana border and will offer all modern facilities including an all-day dining restaurant, bar, gym, meeting rooms, swimming pool, banquet and conference facilities. The resort in Palampur which is owned by R. S. Belvedere offers a virtual bonanza for nature lovers, unearthing the most exciting views of the divine Dhauladhar mountain range, which forms the backdrop of this beautiful town. Located in an important town in the Kangra Valley, also …

Pride Group of Hotels will invest over Rs 600 crore over the next 2-3 years to strengthen its portfolio through greenfield projects and acquisitions, a top company official reportedly said. The investments will include a new project in Goa, acquisition of a hotel in Mumbai, and addition of inventory to its existing property in Nagpur. “When we started off in the 1980s, we grew by greenfield projects and by acquiring existing properties and renovating them to our specs. In the past five years, we went into management model for faster growth and have built a portfolio of 12 operational hotels,” said SP Jain, Managing Director, Pride Group of Hotels. The company has all its hotels under three brands —Pride Plaza (5-star), Pride Hotel and Resort (4-star) and Pride Biznotel (3-star). Jain said the company has already acquired a land parcel in Goa to build a luxury property with an investment of about Rs 225-250 crore. This will be the group’s second property in Goa. The hotel firm is also adding additional inventory of 72 rooms to its existing property in Nagpur for about Rs 60 crore. “In Mumbai, we want to have a presence near the airport as the area is getting well connected. Since greenfield projects take a long time, mainly on account of approvals, we are looking to acquire an existing asset in the four or five-star category with an investment of about Rs 300 crore,” said Jain. Over the next three years, the company will also be opening three properties under management contract in Bengaluru, Nashik and Indore. Jain said the investments for expansion will be funded through a mix of debt and equity. The company also …

Best Western Hotels & Resorts has inked a master franchise agreement with Delhi-based Sorrel Hospitality. Led by a team of seasoned hospitality industry veterans with extensive experience building and managing hotel portfolios, Sorrel will be responsible for Best Western’s future positioning, growth and development across India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka. “We see tremendous potential right now in India and we are delighted to have aligned with a company like Sorrel Hospitality, which has an outstanding track record of success, as we work to expand our footprint in India,” said Ron Pohl Senior Vice President, Brand Management, Best Western Hotels & Resorts. “We are confident that Sorrel is the right partner to help us move closer to our very ambitious international expansion goals, and we look forward to working with their team.” Sorrel has put together a team of leading experts to guide Best Western’s efforts in India, including Gurmeet Singh Uberai, Promoter Director; Atul Jain, Chief Operating Officer; and Tajinder Singh, Vice President Sales & Marketing. Together, the team will execute a multi-pronged, multi-year development initiative. Sorrel has already begun an analysis of the Best Western portfolio in India, which currently includes 22 properties.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced that on March 10, 2016 it received a non-binding proposal from a consortium of companies to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Starwood for $76.00 per share in cash. Pursuant to separate agreements entered into by Starwood, stockholders would additionally receive consideration in the form of Interval Leisure Group (“ILG”) common stock from the previously announced spin-off of its vacation ownership business, Vistana Signature Experiences, and subsequent merger with ILG, currently valued at approximately $5.50 per Starwood share, based on the 20-day VWAP (volume weighted average price) of ILG common stock ending March 11, 2016. As announced on November 16, 2015, Starwood entered into a definitive merger agreement with Marriott International, Inc. under which Marriott would acquire Starwood in a stock and cash transaction. Starwood has received a waiver from Marriott enabling it to engage in discussions with, and provide diligence information to, the Consortium in connection with its proposal. Starwood commenced discussions with the Consortium on March 11, 2016. The Marriott waiver expires at 11:59 pm Eastern Time on March 17, 2016. Starwood’s Board of Directors has not changed its recommendation in support of Starwood’s merger with Marriott. The Board, in consultation with its legal and financial advisors, will carefully consider the outcome of its discussions with the Consortium in order to determine the course of action that is in the best interest of Starwood and its stockholders. The Consortium has not completed diligence and there are a number of matters to be resolved in the Consortium’s proposal. There can be no assurance that discussions will result in a binding proposal from the Consortium or that a transaction …

Lemon Tree Hotels (LTH) inaugurated its first resort hotel in Delhi-NCR at Tarudhan Valley, Manesar. Lemon Tree Hotel, Tarudhan Valley, offers 70 contemporary well-appointed rooms including 18 studio apartments, with introductory rates: Rs 7499++ on weekends and Rs 5499++ (Monday to Thursday). Together with a club house, that comprises of Skinners- a themed bar and restaurant, a Spa- Tattva, a Fitness center, an Archery Range, a Billiards room, Kids zone and a play area; the resort also offers numerous games courts and outdoor activities along with a lap-size swimming pool, to captivate its guests and enthrall its multi-faceted visitors, of all ages. Carnation Hotels, the hotel management joint venture partner of Lemon Tree Hotels has taken over the management of the resort, developed and owned by the Group Silverglades. The management agreement was signed by Rattan Keswani, Deputy Managing Director – The Lemon Tree Hotel Company and Chairman- Carnation Hotels Pvt. Ltd, and Anubhav Jain, Director– Group, Silverglades. The resort hotel also has an exclusive Banquets Arena that comprises of three large conference rooms and manicured gardens to host a variety of events, destination weddings and conferences.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the launch of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, a global collection of unique and independent stay experiences. The Unbound Collection by Hyatt will include a portfolio of new and existing upper-upscale and luxury properties that will maintain a distinct character while providing guests and owners Hyatt’s award-winning customer loyalty program, robust operational and marketing resources and trusted, quality brand. The properties within The Unbound Collection by Hyatt – which will include historic urban gems, contemporary trend-setters, boutique hotels, resorts, and more – will have their own individual brand identities, free from constraint or convention. “The Unbound Collection by Hyatt provides us with a myriad of opportunities to grow, not only in new markets, but also in places we know our guests want to go. The collection of properties will allow us to reach the modern traveler who seeks one-of-a-kind experiences, but also wants the reassurance and loyalty program that comes with our brand,” said Mark Hoplamazian, President and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corporation. The Unbound Collection by Hyatt launches with properties around the world, including The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas; the Hôtel du Louvre in Paris, France; the Carmelo Resort & Spa in Carmelo, Uruguay; and the Coco Palms Resort in Kauai, Hawaii, which is expected to undergo a revitalization and re-open in spring 2018. Future hotels in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt will be equally story-worthy, whether it be through a fascinating past, an exclusive location, famous architecture and design, or an award-winning dining experience. “We are committed to creating a portfolio that works for owners and provides them with flexibility, agility, and support, all while accentuating the best of each property and …

The Oberoi Group and Subramanya Construction & Development Company Limited (SCDCL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Maldives to build a luxury resort on the island. The MoU was signed in the presence of Moosa Zameer, the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Government of Maldives. The investment for acquisition and development of the resort will be undertaken by SCDCL, a Bangalore based Real Estate Development Company. P.R.S. Oberoi, Executive Chairman, The Oberoi Group, said, “We are extremely pleased to partner and assist SCDCL in the design and management of the proposed luxury resort. We look forward to bringing the Oberoi hospitality to Maldives. The resort will reflect the legendary Oberoi service delivered by an attentive and caring team, making it the preferred choice for luxury travellers.” K.N. Balasubramanyam, Chairman and MD, SCDCL said, “A luxury resort in Maldives requires expertise in design and operations of world class standards. The Oberoi Group, which is rated as the best luxury hotel brand in the world, is well suited for this development. We look forward to working with The Oberoi Group to create more of such luxurious offerings globally and would like to say that this extraordinary project will make a major contribution to our long term partnership”.