Category Archives: Hotels

The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts will now operate and manage the Mahatma Mandir, the country’s largest convention and exhibition centre after winning the competitive bid and management contract. The brand will also launch The Leela Gandhinagar, a 300 room property expected to be the largest property in Gujarat’s capital city, informed Vivek Nair, Chairman and Managing Director, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. Commenting on the development, Nair said, “The addition of Mahatma Mandir and The Leela Gandhinagar to our MiCE portfolio reinforces our plans to expand further into the international conferences and events space. Together with the support of the Government of Gujarat, our endeavour is to help transform Gandhinagar into the convention capital of India.” The agreement, effective from April 1, 2018 has been signed with Gandhinagar Railway and Urban Development Corporation (GARUD)—a special purpose vehicle formed by the Government of Gujarat with the Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC). R K Beniwal, Managing Director, Gandhinagar Railway and Urban Development Corporation said, “We are confident that The Leela Gandhinagar and Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre will be ably managed for a wider global distribution and accentuated positioning in the international and domestic MiCE market.” The 34-acre Mahatma Mandir Convention and exhibition Centre is a world-class facility for national and international conferences, exhibitions and events.

AccorHotels along with the MuthootPappachan Group, has opened its Novotel Kochi Infopark located in the IT Hub of Kakkanad Infopark, making it one of the first international mid-scale brands to debut in the industrial zone. The hotel is a 40-minute drive from the Kochi International Airport and 30-minute drive from the Ernakulam Railway Station. It features 128 rooms including eight suites and a room designed specifically for the specially-abled. “We are delighted to launch our first Novotel property in the commercial capital of Kerala. This is our second brand in the city, ibis Kochi City Centre being the first. We are excited to be associated with the MuthootPappachan Group for Novotel Kochi Infopark given their 131 years of legacy of trust and service excellence.” said Jean-Michel Cassé, Chief Operating Officer – India & South Asia, AccorHotels. Thomas John Muthoot, Chairman & Managing Director, MuthootPappachan Group said, “We are delighted to partner with AccorHotels on the opening of the first Novotel hotel in Kochi. We look forward to working with our partners and ensuring our company’s continued growth in the hospitality segment and the best for all our customers in all diverse businesses initiatives MuthootPappachan Group is into.” Recreational facilities include an infinity pool, gym and a dedicated kid’s corner.

VITS Luxury Hotels has rolled out three boutique properties in the island of Phuket in Thailand. VITS had recently signed a joint venture with Exhicon Group in Thailand. Located near Patong beach, the new launches are VITS Alfresco Hotel, VITS New Life Classic and VITS Luxur Boutique Hotel. Announcing the launches, Chandrakant Shetty, Director, VITS-Exhicon (Thailand) says, “We are delighted to extend the VITS luxury experience in Thailand with the launch of three properties located in the heart of Phuket. Each of the three hotels distinctive in its own right offer unparalleled hospitality experiences and contemporary amenities. Phuket with its serene beaches, historic museums and vibrant nightlife is ranked as favourite from travellers in India and around the world. With the launch of our properties in the region, we aim to tap the growing potential of tourist inflow. As part of our future expansion, we plan to take over 15 hotels primarily in Thailand and Malaysia within the next two years.” While the 33-key hotel VITS Alfresco is located an hour from the Phuket International Airport, the VITS New Life Classic is about a six-minute walk from Patong beach with 20 rooms. VITS Luxur Boutique Hotel, with 33 rooms, offers guests various activities in the surroundings, including golfing, cycling and fishing.  

In a bid to enhance customer experience, Hyatt Amritsar has rebranded itself as Hyatt Regency Hotel. The property, which was established in 2013, offers a full range of services and amenities – remarkable restaurants and bars; technology-enabled ways to collaborate with associates; and space to work, engage and relax.  Featuring 248 adorned rooms (including 10 Regency Suites), Hotel Hyatt Regency is the idyllic holiday retreat to unwind at. The culinary professionals of Hyatt Regency Amritsar take visitors on a gastronomic expedition not just to the different nooks and crannies of the country but also to the different cities of the world with their numerous eclectic recipes. Hyatt Regency Amritsar is ideal for all sorts of events, both social and corporate. Keeping up with the brand’s identity, Hyatt Regency Amritsar has exclusive facilities for rejuvenation in the form of a spa, a fitness centre and a swimming pool. The beautifully appointed spa rooms offer the perfect ambience to unwind and destress. The facility equips a total of eight rooms that are divided into two Ayurvedic Therapy Rooms, four Western Therapy Rooms, one Couple Therapy Room and one Oriental Therapy Room.  

Cygnett Hotels & Resorts has recently launched Cygnett Lite Ramachandra at Visakhapatnam, adding 42 keys to its repertoire. The hotel is strategically located at a distance of just 30 minutes’ drive from Visakhapatnam International Airport. The hotel emphasises on approachable design, has spacious and modern rooms and offers an all-day dining service. With its latest addition, the chain will now have a total of 15 operating hotels under its wings. Moreover, nine new properties are scheduled to open by December 2018, including Vishakhapatnam. Another seven to eight hotels will be lined up for opening by this financial year. “Our vision is to reinvent the definition of leisure and business travel, transforming the hotel into a preferred choice for guests. We are committed to creating memorable guest experiences by combining the Cygnetture brand experience and the city’s local attractions. Cygnett hotels are further expanding its brand portfolio, across the growing Tier-I and II cities in India and we foresee a great potential in becoming the favourite hospitality brand for travellers in the city,” said Sarbendra Sarkar, Founder & Managing Director, Cygnett Hotels & Resorts. “Reflecting the brand’s promise to provide what matters most to today’s independent travellers, the hotel offers the brand’s defining touches, including the Cygnett Comfort Bed, complimentary bottled water, free Wi-Fi and Cygnetture breakfast,” said Alok Verma, CEO, Cygnett Hotels & Resorts.

Leisure Hotels has entered Himachal Pradesh with the launch of 7 Pines – “An English Retreat” in Kasauli. With this launch, Leisure Hotels are now available at four sates in India including Uttar Pradesh and Goa. “7 Pines – “An English Retreat”, is located in the quaint hill town of Kasauli, home to one of the largest breweries in the world.  A quintessential English Retreat, The ‘7 Pines’ is built with a British colonial décor and is a perfect weekend getaway. Kasauli has a colonial ambience which is complemented by windy paths, quaint shops, lovely homes with charming exteriors and rows of neat little gardens and orchards. While making the announcement, Vibhas Prasad, Director, Leisure Hotels said, “With travel to Kasauli on the rise and attractive hospitality opportunities in high demand, we are happy to add our luxury retreat in the city. Arguably, this new branded bespoke retreat will be a prestigious address in town, situated right across the hills of Shimla.” The luxury retreat in the Kasauli hills offers a populous range of luxurious rooms with comfortable double beds and verandahs overlooking the Shimla Hills. The Dining at 7 Pines- Kasauli comprise traditional homely meals prepared by in-house chefs.

The newly rebranded Radisson Hotel Group announced its expansion plans at Hotel Investment Conference South Asia (HICSA) 2018. The company aims to expand its portfolio to more than 200 hotels in operation and under development by 2022 in South Asia. The group has already signed Radisson Blu Resort Visakhapatnam, Radisson Panipat City Centre and Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Agra in the first quarter of 2018. Radisson Gwalior opened last month and the group is on track to open another eight more hotels in India this year. “This is the most exciting period in our company’s long history,” said Katerina Giannouka, President, Asia Pacific, Radisson Hotel Group. “With the rebranding of our company, we are positioning Radisson Hotel Group for a bright future. India has been a key market for us for many years. We look forward to working with hotel investors, owners, developers and other stakeholders across the country as we accelerate the expansion of our portfolio to India,” added Giannouka. “With a robust performance, ahead of industry average and continued investment in technology and revenue driving platforms, we are optimistic of meeting our five-year goals. I am delighted that India is leading the way in Asia Pacific with a total of seven global brand offerings,” said Raj Rana, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group.

Marriott International has marked an important milestone in India with the opening of its 100th hotel in the country – the Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center in Bengaluru. Arne Sorenson, President and CEO, Marriott International, who is on a week-long visit to the country, attended the opening ceremony of the hotel. The company is poised to further grow its profile in the country in years to come, with more than 50 signed projects in the pipeline. The Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center has 360 rooms with 39 suites. It also features the Sheraton brand’s signature amenities and facilities like Shine Spa for Sheraton, Sheraton Club Lounge, Sheraton Fitness and Sherato Signature Sleep Experience. “India is one of Marriott International’s most important markets in Asia with the second highest number of hotels and rooms after China. Given India’s robust economy and rising middle class, we see an incredible opportunity to continue working with owners to open hotels from across Marriott’s extensive array of brands, particularly in the upper midscale, upscale and luxury segments,” said Paul Foskey, Chief Development Officer, Marriott International.

Indian Hotels Co Ltd (IHCL) has announced that Rahul Pandit, MD and CEO, Roots Corporation, a subsidiary of IHCL that owns and manages Ginger Hotels, has resigned effective April 2, 2018 due to personal reasons. Pandit has been with the company for around three years. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director, IHCL and CEO, Roots Corporation, said, “The Board respects Pandit’s decision and thanks him for his leadership. During his tenure, Ginger expanded its portfolio  in line with the company’s growth strategy whilst achieving its highest customer satisfaction ratings . We wish him the very best with his endeavors. There is a stable leadership team in place at Roots Corporation and we will continue to pursue our aggressive plans for the company.” Pandit stated, “It has been an honour to lead Roots Corporation over the last few years. It was an exceptional learning experience which added value to my professional journey. I would like to thank my board members and colleagues for their support during my stint.”

Ginger Hotels has opened its second hotel in Goa with the launch of Ginger Goa, Dona Paula. The move is in line with Indian Hotels Company Limited’s (IHCL) focus on increasing its footprint across segments to meet the consumer demand at various price points. The hotel offers 24 rooms with a choice of a private terrace or a balcony. Rahul Pandit, Former MD & CEO, Roots Corporation says, “We are delighted to expand brand Ginger in Goa with the opening of Ginger Goa, Dona Paula – our second hotel in Goa and the 17th in the western region. This move will only add momentum to the city’s thriving tourism and is in line with IHCL’s commitment to Goa.” Ginger Goa, Dona Paula enjoys a prime location and is situated between the Dona Paula beach and Vainguinim beach. The hotel is within a 40-minute drive from the airport and is near Panjim city centre as well as the Karmali railway station (Old Goa). It features a multi-cuisine restaurant, fitness centre, swimming pool, meeting facilities and complimentary Wi-Fi.