100-room Leela, 150-room AIANA to open in Agra

The Al Sawari Group will purchase a six-acre site near the Taj Mahal from The Leela Group in the historical city of Agra to develop a hotel complex, marking the group’s entry into India. Al Sawari Holding has also entered into a management agreement with the Leela Group to operate a 100-room Leela Palace Hotel on this site. Another management agreement has been signed with AIANA Hotels and Resorts, a global hotel management company, to operate a 150-room Aiana Hotel on the same plot.
An MoU was signed between H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman of Al Sawari Holding and Al Faisal Holding and Vivek Nair, Chairman & Managing Director, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts.
“We are delighted to partner with Al Sawari Holdings, and view this agreement as a forerunner to several other developments in India and overseas. The proposed Palace hotel will combine unparalleled views of the Taj Mahal with a truly luxurious hospitality experience in Agra. We are also looking forward to further strengthening our presence within the golden triangle by adding a Palace hotel in Jaipur and will continue our efforts to expand in Jodhpur and Jaisalmer,”said Vivek Nair, Chairman and Managing Director, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts.
“We are delighted to announce the expansion of the AIANA portfolio in India with the signing of a management agreement with A Sawari Holding to operate AIANA Agra – a 150 room hotel in one of the most visited leisure destinations in India.”, said Amruda Nair Joint Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Aiana Hotels & Resorts L.L.C.“With the signing of our 6th hotel in India, we will continue to follow the cluster strategy that has been successful for the AIANA brand in India. Our next focus will be to complete the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur and further enhance our existing developments.”
“Qatar has a long history of bilateral relations with India and there is a lot of synergy between the two cultures. We are delighted to enter into these landmark agreements with The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts and Aiana Hotels and Resorts during the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Qatar. We are confident that Al Sawari Holding’s foray into the Indian hospitality industry will further enhance the economic and culture relations between the two countries”, said H. E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman of Al Sawari Holding and Al Faisal Holding.