Category Archives: Hotels

Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo will be warmly welcoming guests back from Wednesday 12 June 2019 onwards. The Shangri-La Group is grateful to the local authorities and the global community for their outpouring of support and messages of commendations received these past seven weeks. We remain deeply appreciative of the selfless service and courageous spirit demonstrated by our colleagues and the Sri Lankan community in the face of such adversity.   Our heartfelt sympathies and support continue to be with those who have suffered injuries and lost loved ones on 21 April 2019. They will always be remembered.   Shangri-La stands united as one with the Sri Lankan community. With everyone’s support, we will come back stronger.   Our team’s passion for service remains undiminished and we look forward to welcoming the public back to Shangri-La Colombo.  

Royal Orchid Hotels Regenta & Royal Orchid Hotels recently opened three new hotels- Regenta Central Cassia in Zirakpur (Chandigarh), Regenta Central RS OMR in Chennai and Regenta Inn Blossoms, Kullu-Manali. Chander K. Baljee, Managing Director, Regenta & Royal Orchid Hotels said, “We’re extremely elated to announce that we now operate 50+ hotels in India. Our Vision for 2022 is to operate 100+ profitable and responsible hotels where guests love to stay, dine and celebrate. We wish to create hotels which have a soul, a reflection of our distinctly warm Indian hospitality.” The Regenta Central Cassia is strategically located near the international airport, offering a convenient location for those travelling for business or for leisure. The newest hotel in Zirakpur, the Regenta Central Cassia is a business hotel with 50 well-appointed rooms, a resto-bar and well-equipped banquets cum board room facilities. Expert chefs at the hotel specialize in authentic local as well as international cuisine.   The Regenta Central RS is strategically located on the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR), and is the first ‘in-mall’ hotel project on OMR, providing ‘within-the-complex’ access to the Marina Mall for its guests. The Regenta Central RS is a luxurious business hotel with 120 rooms including 24 impeccably designed suites, a lively multi-cuisine restaurant, Sky Lounge which is a roof-top pan Asian restaurant, well-equipped banquet and board room facilities, a full-service bar, and an infinity pool.   The Regenta Inn Blossoms, Kullu-Manali is strategically located on NH21, leading to Manali. An ideal starting point for exploring the charming hilly destination, the hotel features comfortable rooms with a view of the Beas river, an in-house multi-cuisine restaurant, and offers several adventure activities to its guests.  

Singapore-based The Residence by Cenizaro Hotels & Resorts has announced that its new 173 only-villa resort – The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah – is now open. The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll is connected to its other property – The Residence Maldives at Falhumaafushi – via a bridge and is at a walking distance. Wendy Mok, Director, Marketing for Asia Pacific, The Residence Maldives & The Residence Bintan, says, “The new property has 173 villas with a private pool in every villa. It is a very exclusive property. We always tell our agent partners to suggest their clients to come for three or four or five nights. And we even see the market going beyond five nights sometimes from India. We are looking at attracting honeymooners, families, and corporates of small groups like 10-20 people. We aren’t equipped for big weddings but it will be a perfect destination for family events like anniversaries, birthdays, etc.”   The Residence is promoted by Outbound Konnections in India. The Residence Maldives at Dhigurah is an all-inclusive resort meaning guests have access to all six restaurants and six bars across both Dhigurah and Falhumaafushi, creating a two-island inclusive experience. Paddle boarding, Kayaking, windsurfing and other non-motorised sports are also included, as well as access to the spa, fitness centre and Turtle Kids Club.  

Sarovar Hotels & Resorts has expanded its presence in Delhi-NCR with the signing of a new hotel in Surajkund, Faridabad. This will be Sarovar’s third hotel in Haryana after Gurugram and Faridabad. Sarovar Portico, a mid-scale hotel located in Surajkund-Faridabad, is scheduled to open by the end of this year. The hotel has 60 well-appointed rooms including suites, multi cuisine dining, bar and a wellness centre. It has a multiple banqueting and conferencing facilities with a capacity to accommodate 600 guests. The hotel offers a wide range of venues to host trainings, workshops, product launches, exhibitions, weddings and other social events. Commenting on the development, Anil Madhok, Executive Chairman, Sarovar Hotels says, “We are delighted to expand our business and boundaries further in Delhi-NCR. This is our third hotel in the state of Haryana. With our focus on providing quality accommodation and services, priced attractively, the hotel will ensure a pleasant stay for all our guests travelling to this region.”  

In an exclusive interview to Tourism Breaking News, JB Singh, President & CEO, says, “We are currently up to 19 hotels and we have exhibited strong growth. We have a committed pipeline of 5-6 hotels. In another 3 years, we will cross 4000 rooms. We continue to look at Tier-1 markets very aggressively. We have also started to look at strong Tier-2 markets as well.”

According to a report titled ‘Hospitality insights from the Indian CEO’s desk’ by CII and PwC, the biggest driver in the growth of domestic travel in India is high disposable income. With the buoyant growth in the Indian economy, the Indian middle class has higher disposable income. This has been identified, by about 94 per cent of the respondents as a key factor for the increased domestic travel across the country. Over 40 per cent of the respondents believed that the increased demand would come from new locations largely due to better access and improved infrastructure. Therefore, a significant supply is being developed and likely to develop at such locations. Higher disposable income is driving domestic tourism. In terms of promotion, all the options available today can be seen online and it is very convenient for customers to access the available options. This has made a huge difference to the industry. Growth in the domestic travel has also accentuated the demand for different categories of hotels. Affordability and quality of experience are key factors in defining this shift away from five star to more budget category hotels. Although travellers value loyalty programmes and promotional schemes, the survey participants do not see it as a key determinant in selecting their accommodation. Other factors that are contributing to the growth in domestic tourism include access to online travel and hotel bookings.

Hans Hotels is looking at opening new properties in Rajasthan and Goa. Rita Shah, CEO, Hans Hotels, said, “We are currently in the planning stages and want to expand the company further. We are deciding on the destinations and are looking at Rajasthan and Goa for opening new properties. Things need to coordinate and combine with the hotel company profile. Currently, our three hotels are running and doing well, and that’s why we are looking to go further. The new properties will be either build by us or will be acquired. The company believes in owning their own properties and running it, and not go for management contracts.”

Trulyy India Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of- The Maharana Bagh in Udaipur. This luxurious resort hotel set in the lap of mountains of Aravalli range to provide a perfect retreat and holiday experience to those who are seeking for some retreat from city life. Ideally located a few kilometers away from the hustle-bustle of the main city of Udaipur, The Maharana Bagh comes across as a gorgeous looking property inside out. While there is abundance of nature all around, the hotel houses comprehensive range of amenities, regal hospitality and a highly pampering stay that will make you want to come back again.

Located in the heart of the city, Mövenpick Hotel Colombo has been in operation for two years. It’s also the first international five-star property to open in the city in 25 years, a milestone that reflects the country’s new-found energy and optimism. With 219 stunning rooms and suites offering panoramic views of the city or Indian ocean, this cool urban hotel offers unparalleled charm and beautiful spaces. The rooms are spacious, ranging from 33 sqm to a whopping 254 sqm. Furnished in contemporary style, the rooms allow guests to rejuvenate and unwind. All guests enjoy complimentary access to the infinity pool and Jacuzzi located on the roof top to soak up the sunshine or just laze around with a good book and watch the sun go down. The Presidential Suite of the Mövenpick Hotel Colombo is one of a kind with two elegant bedrooms, 1 King and 1 Twin, a comfortable living room, large bathroom with a Jacuzzi and a fully equipped pantry. The large 254 sqm offer the perfect space for up to 4 adults.

As a part of the expansion of its luxury portfolio, Accor will open its second Fairmont hotel in India. Though the timeline has not been disclosed by the group, the hotel is said to be under construction. The property will have 646 luxury rooms. Earlier this year, Accor has also announced the entrant of its new luxury brand- Raffles in the Indian market which will make its debut in 2020 in Udaipur. India’s first Fairmont in Jaipur is an ode to the pink city through awe inspiring architecture and decor, inspired by the Mughal dynasty and Royal Rajputs of yore.