Category Archives: Hotels

MakeMyTrip expects 70% of its revenue from hotels, accommodations by 2022

MakeMyTrip said it is looking at the hotels and accommodations segment to contribute around 70 per cent to its overall revenue by the end of 2022. Currently, hotels and accommodations account for around 54 per cent of the company’s total revenue. “By the end of 2022, 70 per cent of our revenue will come from the hotels and accommodations segment,” Deep Kalra, Founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip. Currently, around 33 per cent of revenue comes from air travel and the rest is roughly from redBus, travel insurance and experiences, he added. “Going forward, the hotels and accommodations will contribute a bigger share of revenue, as there is still a lot of headroom in hotels. Still, only around 15 per cent of hotels are booked online, so there is a big market to be tapped,” Kalra said. On the trend of more Indians opting for overseas travel, he said, “The focus area for us and where Indians are going right now is overseas. Middle class has the money and is travelling overseas as it is aspirational.” The growth in international travel will be higher and it will grow faster than the domestic segment, he added. The company has recently posted its third-quarter results with a growth of over 30 per cent. When asked about the growth road map, Kalra said, “We are looking to moving on to twin path of growth and at the same time of reduction of losses.” He, however, did not provide any future guidance on growth numbers. Source: PTI

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ADR for Indian mid-scale hotels crosses Rs 3,000 for the first time

The Average Daily Rate (ADR) for Indian mid-scale hotels crossed 3,ooo for the first time in 2018, according to a latest report by Horwath on ‘India Hotel Market Review 2018’. Mumbai is the only market at the top right hand corner – unfortunately, it fell back from strong occupancy position, without materially gaining in ADR. Several occupancy shifts have been in the negative direction. Bengaluru, Goa and Jaipur dropped Occ between 2.7 pts and 4 pts. Bengaluru is particularly surprising because there is no supply growth in this segment. Bengaluru and Goa at least made up on the ADR front; the former added over Rs 300 to comfortable cross the Rs 3k level. Goa ADR growth was more modest but is now pushing the Rs 4k level. Jaipur dropped rate as well – only Rs 60 but that’s material when one is in the low Rs 2k level. Delhi, Gurugram, Pune and Chennai moved up to the right, gaining both Occ and ADR. Occupancy gains varied from 0.8 pts to 1.5 pts; while ADR gains spread significantly between 3.3 per cent and 12.6 per cent. Improving product quality at the mid-scale level (e.g. the revitalised Ginger and Park Inn by Radisson) could enable improve performance for this segment. It really needs Occ growth in key markets to compensate softer initial period results from smaller cities and towns in which this segment must penetrate.

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Sarovar to open hotels in Auxum in Ethiopia and Somaliland

Sarovar Hotels & Resorts is set to come up with a project in Auxum in Ethiopia and one in Somaliland. Ajay K Bakaya, Managing Director, Sarovar Hotels and Resorts, is extremely positive about the brand’s international presence, especially East Africa. He says, “Both the properties will start operating by mid-2020. With humble beginnings in Tanzania, we are now operating in Nairobi (Kenya), Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and Lusaka (Zambia).” Sarovar is one of the fastest growing hotel chains in India with over 80 operational hotels across 50 destinations in India and Africa.

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J&K Governor reconstitutes Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board; K B Kachru on board

Jammu & Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik reconstituted the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) for a period of three years with immediate effect on February 5, 2019. Malik, who is also chairman of SMVDSB, nominated chairman of emeritus of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group K B Kachru, former IPS officer Ashok Bhan, Justice Permod Kohli, Major General Shiv Kumar Sharma, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, renowned educationist Vijay Dhar and chairman-cum-managing director of AIMIL Pharmaceuticals K K Sharma as board members. Source: PTI

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Taj forays into Himachal Pradesh with Taj Theog Resort & Spa, Shimla

The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is introducing the iconic Taj brand in Himachal Pradesh with the opening of Taj Theog Resort & Spa, Shimla. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, said, “We are delighted to open our first hotel in Himachal Pradesh. This will be the company’s first mountain resort. With this new addition, we have expanded our resort portfolio which is the largest in India. The state has great tourism potential and we look forward to expanding our footprint to showcase the pristine beauty of this region.” Nestled amidst thick Cedar forests and spread over five acres, every nook and corner of the hotel offers mesmerising views of the mighty Himalayas. Taj Theog Resort & Spa’s design and architecture echoes colonial charm reminiscent of hill station appeal. Each of the 99 rooms, with warm wooden furniture, traditional rugs and tall French windows offer spacious balconies overlooking snow peaks and quaint villages. “Taj Theog Resort & Spa is a sanctuary amidst conifers, cedars and tiny hamlets with the stunning skyline of the Himalayan range as a backdrop. It serves as an ideal location for guests seeking a mix of adventure and relaxation coupled with Taj’s legendary service.” said Naveen Barthwal, General Manager, Taj Theog Resort & Spa, Shimla. Guests have a choice of distinctive culinary options which include an all-day diner – Tragopan that offers the robust Pahari cuisine along with global cuisines and comfort food; Peony, the oriental restaurant offers Sichuan and Cantonese cuisines.

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InterGlobe Hotels to add six new properties to portfolio by 2022

With 16 hotels now open and six under development, InterGlobe Hotels is set to have a portfolio of 23 operational hotels with a room inventory of about 4,000 rooms by 2022. Shwetank Singh, Vice President—Development & Asset Management, InterGlobe Hotels, says, “We should be able to open six hotels by 2022; out of which one will be a Novotel, an ibis Style and four ibis hotels. IGH will continue to invest in key strategic locations. InterGlobe Hotels ensures that four to five hotels are under development at all points in time.”  The hotels will be opened across three cities – Bengaluru, Mumbai and Goa.    

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Paytm acquires NightStay to launch domestic hotel booking service

Paytm has launched domestic hotel booking service and will be investing Rs 500 crore for scaling its operations and expanding the portfolio. The company has also acquired Nightstay, a luxury hotel-booking platform for an undisclosed amount. In the first phase of the launch, the company has partnered with over 5000 hotels across the budget, luxury and business segments. These include the Zuri, Sarovar, Treebo, Vresorts, Sterling, Ginger and Bloomrooms across top cities. With the acquisition, Paytm will leverage Nightstay’s acumen to further expand its portfolio in this vertical. Nasr Khan, founder, NightStay will be leading this category at Paytm and will be responsible for the overall growth and development as well. Paytm Travel, which had started in 2014, sells over 60 million tickets a year, and has become the leading player for IRCTC tickets, bus tickets, and flight bookings. Earlier this year, Paytm Travel also started offering foreign exchange bookings for international travellers. “The momentum we’re building in our travel vertical is remarkable, with leading positions in rail, bus and flight bookings. The launch of domestic hotel bookings is an important step forward as it will help travellers around the country conveniently plan and book their perfect trip on Paytm. We want to offer the broadest travel selection on our platform, and look forward to continuing our expansion with the help of our trusted travel partners,” Madhur Deora, Chief Financial Officer, Paytm said. Paytm aims at having two million hotels and alternate accommodations globally, with the availability of 50 million rooms within the first 18 months.

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IHG signs Holiday Inn Goa Candolim; ready to welcome guests by November 2019

InterContinental Hotels Group has signed a management agreement with Tipping Point Hospitality for Holiday Inn Goa Candolim. Nestled amidst two of North Goa’s famed destinations – Candolim and Calangute, the hotel is expected to welcome guests in November 2019. Offering leisure and corporate travellers a perfect stay experience, the newly built , 110-room Holiday Inn Goa Candolim will be a 30-minute drive from the city centre and a 60-minute drive from Dabolim Airport. The hotel is also in close proximity to North Goa’s popular entertainment and nightlife destinations and is a 15-minute walk from Candolim beach and Sinquerim fort. In addition to featuring well-designed, fully-equipped guest rooms, Holiday Inn Goa Candolim will comprise expansive meeting spaces and a business centre to meet the rapidly growing MiCE demands in the city. Holiday Inn Goa Candolim will feature an all-day dining restaurant and a lobby bar, offering guests some great dining options at the hotel. The hotel will also feature leisure facilities such as an outdoor pool and a gymnasium for guests to enjoy their time during their stay.  

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Occupancy rates for five-star hotels witnesses growth of 240 basis points YoY during FY18

Occupancy rates for five-star hotels witnessed the sharpest growth of about 240 basis points y-o-y during FY18. This was followed by three-star hotels that registered a growth of about 200 basis points and four-star hotels that registered a growth of 180 basis points during FY18, while the five-star hotels witnessed lower growth of only 110 basis points y-o-y. Two-star hotels however, witnessed a decline of about 10 basis points in their occupancy rates during the year. Also, two-star hotels witnessed the maximum growth in the group in average room rates increasing by about 8.5 per cent y-o-y during FY18. This was followed by three-star hotels that registered a growth of about 5 per cent y-o-y in FY18. Four-star and five-star hotels recorded a growth of 3 per cent y-o-y each in average room rates. Apart from that, each star category witnessed a y-o-y increase in RevPAR in FY18, with the three-star category leading the pack, recording a 8.2 per cent growth during the year.

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Fortune Park Hotels unveils Fortune Select Forest Hill, Solan

Fortune Park Hotels has unveiled its 47th hotel, ‘Fortune Select Forest Hill, Solan. Owned by M/s Forest Hill Resort, the property is located amid a forest and on a hill that offers a wide range of guest services and facilities to today’s traveller. Set in the Solan Valley, the hotel is 300 km from Delhi and 50 km from Chandigarh. With easy navigation by Google Maps, the property can be reached in less than 20 km of hilly drive. Commenting on the launch, Samir MC, Managing Director, Fortune Park Hotels, said, “We are extremely delighted to partner with the Owning Board of M/s Forest Hill Resort. This is a crown jewel in the brand’s collection of hotels in leisure destinations. We are excited to present a new destination for holidays and are confident of its success as a preferred destination for family getaways and social celebrations. Fortune, member ITC’s hotel group, is known for providing contemporary accommodation and great value for business and leisure travellers.” The hotel offers guest rooms that are grand and spacious. It is planned with a fusion of classical, colonial and contemporary architecture, with a tasteful sprinkle of art deco. Guests can enjoy majestic mountain views from the rooms and live in the comfort of idyllic bliss. It offers 3 signature food and beverage destinations – Zodiac an astral coffee shop, Neptune bar and lounge, and Fortune Deli. It also has plenty of recreational activities like trekking, cooking classes, bonfire and more to keep the guests engaged. Other in-house facilities include: infinity swimming pool, pool table, football, table tennis, lawn croquet set and board games, among others.

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