Tag Archives: South Asia

Dilip Puri, Former Managing Director and Regional Vice President of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, South Asia, announced his new education venture – Indian School of Hospitality (ISH) with a promise to reimagine hospitality education in India. ISH has partnered with LHC in preparation for an academic certification by Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL), the world’s oldest and top ranked hospitality management higher education institution worldwide. Located at Sector 83, Gurgaon, ISH will be housed within a commercial campus that boasts of state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities. The campus, which is under development, will be ready by May 2018 for the first intake of students in August 2018. Puri said, “Education in hospitality is the beginning of a journey into a diverse and exciting range of career opportunities, not limited to hotels and food and beverage, or even the corporate world. While more and more businesses in the service sector are reaching out to professionals with a qualification in hospitality, a large number of young graduates are also pursuing entrepreneurial ventures straight out of college.”

Marriott International announced the opening of its brand new hotel- Fairfield by Marriott in Coimbatore. Neeraj Govil, Area Vice-President, South Asia, Marriott International, says, “We believe the market is ideal for Fairfield, which is a brand that enables purpose driven travel and delivers optimised value at a great price. As Marriott further expands its brand portfolio across the growing Tier II markets in India, we definitely see great potential and the opportunity for Fairfield by Marriott becoming a favourite with business and leisure travellers in the city.” The property offers 126 guest rooms, amenities include an inviting living area in the lobby, smart, contemporary interiors and high speed Wi-Fi connectivity. The hotel also has an all-day dining restaurant plus a 24/7 Market where one can shop for an assortment of drinks and snacks when required. The hotel has both banqueting and meeting room facilities with modern technology and a fitness centre.

Marriott International has announced the opening of Fairfield by Marriott, Visakhapatnam. The 121-room Fairfield by Marriott Visakhapatnam offers a Business Centre and meeting rooms equipped with audio-visual facilities. All public areas and guest rooms have high-speed Wi-Fi. It is located in the heart of Visakhapatnam city and about 2km from the Visakhapatnam International Airport. It is the latest addition to the brand’s footprint in South Asia with four hotels in India currently open, including Fairfield by Marriott Bengaluru Rajajinagar, Fairfield by Marriott Bengaluru Outer Ring Road, Fairfield by Marriott Lucknow and Fairfield by Marriott Belagavi. Neeraj Govil Area Vice President, South Asia, Marriott International Inc, says, “Recognised as one of the ‘smart cities’ in India, Visakhapatnam holds tremendous potential for high economic growth, infrastructure development and further evolution of the services sector, we are excited to open our 5th Fairfield by Marriott in India. With our hospitality expertise, in conjunction with our owners K. Subba Raju, CMD, KSR Developers, we are confident in delivering a seamless hotel experience at great value.” “Adorning a contemporary style and pastel hues, Fairfield by Marriott Visakhapatnam is the newest addition to the port city of Andhra Pradesh. The property and staff aim to provide a comfortable and convenient stay to both business and leisure travellers,” said Sudhanshu Singh, General Manager, Fairfield by Marriott Visakhapatnam. “There is a lot of excitement and enthusiasm as we launch the Fairfield by Marriott brand in Visakhapatnam. As a Marriott International brand we strive to set the standards of delivering a great hotel experience through consistent and reliable service.”

Park Plaza Noida has announced its rebranding as Radisson Noida, the first Radisson hotel to be inaugurated in Delhi-NCR. Strategically located, within proximity of Noida’s corporate hub as well as the central business districts of Ghaziabad and New Delhi, the hotel has completely reinvented itself to better serve its discerning guests with its signature Yes I Can!  service. “I am delighted to welcome this hotel to the Radisson brand family. Delhi NCR is a key market for us and Noida remains a promising destination due to its thriving corporate suburb. We appreciate the investment that our strategic partner, Bestech Group have made in upgrading this hotel and the trust they have demonstrated in the Radisson brand” said Raj Rana, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. “We have enjoyed working with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group for 15 years where a high level of dedication and expertise is demonstrated in managing brands and hotels successfully. We are confident that the rebranding of Park Plaza Noida to Radisson Noida with new facilities and services would be greatly appreciated by our guests” said Dharmendra Bhandari, Managing Director, Bestech Hospitalities.

In a latest development regarding agency commission, Cathay Pacific and its subsidiary Cathay Dragon has withdrawn its IATA commission to travel agents applicable for any/all tickets issued in India. It will go from five per cent to zero commission with effect from May 1, 2017. In a letter signed by Rajesh Menon, Regional Sales and Marketing Manager, South Asia, Cathay Pacific Airways and Cathay Dragon, to all its trade partners, reasons, ‘Market dynamics for the aviation industry have changed in the recent times and has resulted in making the operating environment for our airline very challenging. The projections for the aviation industry and for our airlines remain to be volatile in the future.’ All tickets issued prior to May 1, 2017 will be eligible for a five per cent IATA commission. It adds, ‘We request you to kindly make a note of the change in commission structure and the effective date as this change might require a change in your business model too.’

Louvre Hotels Group is all set to announce the launch of its fifth property- the 110-room Golden Tulip Suites, Gurgaon, in Delhi NCR region. Golden Tulip Suites Gurgaon is in close proximity to the main Gurgaon city and to the international airport. The location of the hotel provides easy connectivity to Faridabad, Delhi and Gurgaon. The hotel also boasts two meeting rooms well equipped with state of art technology and conference facilities for all corporate functions. Golden Tulip Suites Gurgaon offers world class facilities and services for both leisure and corporate clients, with a fitness center and a swimming pool, the property promises a premium product available at an attractive price bands. Gwalapahari as a location is away from the  hustle and bustle of the city traffic with  an easy access to the business centers of the region, Golden Tulip Suites Gurgaon will provide an array of facilities and services to take away the best spots. The hotel is right opposite TERI Golf Course and is at a walkable distance from the ASF IT SEZ in Gurgaon. The other four properties in Delhi NCR by Louvre Hotels Group are Golden Tulip Chattarpur, Golden Tulip Vasundhara, Golden Tulip Hari Nagar and Golden Tulip Galgotia’s.Louvre Hotels Group is a subsidiary of Jin Jiang International Holdings Co., Ltd. one of China’s largest tourist and travel conglomerates. Vimal Singh, Managing Director, Golden Tulip Hotels and Resorts, South Asia said, “The launch of our second property in Gurgaon is a strategic decision of the group to expand our brand presence in the  Delhi NCR region. In Gwalpahari, Gurgaon, there is a requirement of quality accommodation and our property promises to deliver the international standard of …

Carlson Rezidor announced the opening of its new hotel-Radisson Blu Atria Bengaluru, featuring 167 guest rooms and suites with modern amenities. The hotel is located 45 minutes away from the Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) and 10 minutes from the City Railway Station. The hotel has four F&B outlets for guests. The hotel has over 1,250 square meters of flexible room configurations with its six meeting spaces and two boardrooms, capable of accommodating large wedding receptions or intimate team meetings complemented with state-of-the-art presentation and audiovisual tools. Other facilities available at the hotel include the Business Class Lounge, business center, swimming pool, spa and fully-equipped fitness center. Raj Rana, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, said, “Bengaluru is a progressive market and continues to thrive on high economic activity, an international focal point of India’s growth momentum. The opening of Radisson Blu Atria Bengaluru is a testament of our footprint in the region and a reflection of the unique brand identity that we bring to the city. We are proud to be in partnership with A.S.K. Brothers Ltd. to launch this upper-upscale hotel.” The new hotel is set to introduce the brand’s internationally renowned, Yes, I Can!SM service philosophy with sophisticated design and premier accommodation. Commenting on the opening, Sunder Raju, Executive Director, A.S.K. Brothers Ltd, said, “Radisson Blu, a new addition to Bengaluru’s hospitality landscape, brings fresh vibrancy to the marketplace. The brand stands out in creating experiences that constantly reflect the modern traveler’s needs, desires and aspirations. We are pleased to collaborate with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and look forward to a mutually beneficial relationship in delivering hospitality services and enhancing the brand in Bengaluru.”

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s  Radisson Blu Jammu, opened with 119 rooms and suites with modern amenities, for corporate and leisure travellers. The room rates per night start from Rs 6750. The hotel is a 14 minutes drive from Jammu Airport (IXJ) and six minutes by car from Jammu Tawi Railway Station, the city’s main railway station. The hotel features flexible meeting spaces including a 25,000 sq. ft. Royal Ballroom that accommodates up to 2,000 guests with additional pre-function space and a lawn for pre-event cocktails. Located at the epicenter of Jammu’s economic activity, the hotel is within close proximity to the corporate hub, Bahu Plaza, industrial estates, Bari Brahmana, Gangyal and Samba, several leading educational institutions and multi-specialty hospitals. The hotel features other facilities including the Business Class Lounge, business center, swimming pool, spa and fully equipped fitness center. Raj Rana, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group said, “Jammu is a region that enjoys strong domestic leisure demand and is home to some of the most visited destinations in India. Integral to our India growth strategy, is expanding in leisure markets and state capitals. With the opening of Radisson Blu Jammu, we will make inroads into the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir; we are delighted to be partnering Skyline Hotels in this iconic hotel.”

124-room Radisson Blu Faridabad opens in the north Indian state of Haryana, one of India’s largest business and industrial hubs in the National Capital Region (NCR). The hotel offers spacious meeting facilities with state-of-the-art technology and a pillar-less grand ballroom that accommodates up to 1,000 guests. Raj Rana, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, said, “We are honoured to be partnering with Eros Group to bring this iconic hotel to Faridabad. We are confident the hotel will have a strong appeal to business and leisure travellers and redefine expectations. We welcome this stylish addition to our growing portfolio of 140 hotels in operation and development. This reinforces Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group’s position as one of the leading and fastest-growing international hotel companies in India.” Akshay Sood, director, Eros Group added, “In the last 70 years, Eros Group has built a legacy, diversifying our business into real estate development and hospitality. We are confident and delighted to be working with Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. Their proven experience and marketing expertise in this region will benefit the hotel. The team is proud to be the first to introduce an international upper-upscale brand into the market.”

Golden Tulip Hospitality group, South Asia has announced the opening of its first 5-star luxury hotel Royal Tulip Kufri, Shimla. This will be the group’s first property in the Himalayas. Royal Tulip Kufri features 54 guest rooms and suites, offering panoramic views overlooking the beautiful Kufri valley. Located at 8,600 feet above sea level in the charming town of Kufri, Royal Tulip Kufri offers the majestic views of the Himalayas exquisitely spread over acres of Cedar forest range. Vimal Singh, Managing Director, South Asia-Golden Tulip Hotels & Resorts/Louvre Hotels Group, said “We are excited to present Royal Tulip Kufri, the first international luxury hotel in Kufri that will offer the highest standards of luxury, comfort and world class services to its customers.” Singh further added, “The opening of the hotel is significant for us. Royal Tulip will be the perfect destination hotel for leisure travelers and family holidays. In keeping with the Group’s motto Royal Tulip, Kufri brings an ethos of International Standards with local flavors. The company is looking to expand aggressively in the next few year across South Asia thereby adding significant value to the hospitality sector.”