Category Archives: Hotels

New hotels that have commenced operations over the last five years averaged 66.4 per cent occupancy last year, according to a recent study by Hotelivate. While hotels that opened in 2013-14 through 2015-16 consistently displayed stronger occupancies, it dipped slightly in 2016-17 only to show a burly rebound last fiscal. First year ARRs, on the other hand, were more a function of the positioning mix of the new supply across the five-year period. As more budget, economy and mid-scale hotels open their doors for business across the nation, it is only natural that their blended ARRs would be lower than the nationwide average. Overall, absorption of new supply has been robust in recent years and the sector displays signs of being in the pink of health.

Lords Hotels & Resorts has announced the launch of its new property at Govardhan Vilas in Udaipur. To be launched as Lords Inn, Udaipur the 41-room property is designed for travellers seeking hassle-free and contemporary experience. Travellers can easily commute from the nearest Maharana Pratap Airport to the hotel as it is located in heart of city and easily approachable from all locations. Udaipur Railway Station is just 3 kms from the hotel. Pushpendra Bansal, COO, Lords Hotels and Resorts said, “This tie-up will further strengthen our presence in Rajasthan. We endeavour to offer unmatched services and accommodation at very competitive prices.” Rishi Puri, Vice President, Lords Hotels and Resorts further added, “Lords Inn, Udaipur will differ in a way that it will offer tourists a more relaxed atmosphere.” Other than offering luxurious rooms and suites, Lords Inn, Udaipur will also offer recreational facilities like swimming pool, spa and gym. While the hotel will host all modern amenities and full-services to its guests, the room tariffs will be maintained at budget-friendly prices. Guests will also be able to enjoy exquisite dining options at its multi-cuisine restaurant – Blue Coriander.

Hilton has expanded its footprint in the country by launching DoubleTree by Hilton in Goa – Panaji. A unit of Goldfinch Hotels and managed by Hilton, the hotel reiterates Hilton’s aim to double its presence in the country over the next few years. Navjit Ahluwalia, Senior Vice President and Country Head, Hilton India, said, “This property has a number of standout amenities that could offer all our guests unmatched experiences. We are committed to India for the long-term and will continue to make significant investments to expand our presence and further enrich our operational and management capabilities.” Prakash Shetty, Chairman, MRG Group, says, “This resort is testimony to my vision to bring world-class hospitality to Goa by partnering with Hilton. We have augmented a number of products and services across the property to deliver bespoke guest experiences to cater to the needs of global citizens. This resort will also be the first in Goa to offer Mangalorean cuisine at its specialty restaurant Feliz.” With 160 guestrooms including nine suites, equipped with signature DoubleTree by Hilton amenities, the resort features environmentally friendly smart lighting. DoubleTree by Hilton Goa – Panaji offers indoor and outdoor venues for conferences and events – a grand ballroom, two boardrooms and sunset lawns along with state-of-the-art audio-visual technology.

Sarovar Hotels expands its footprint in Rajasthan, with the opening of Sairafort Sarovar Portico, Jaisalmer. The property offers 53 deluxe rooms and six suites, all equipped with state-of–the-art amenities and comfort. The other facilities offered are spa, gym, nosh- all day dining, suroor- the bar, conference and meeting rooms, swimming pool and a kids’ zone. The hotel is made of golden sandstone, which has become a unique identity of the town. Intricately designed stone carvings, jharokhas and arches create a design that is a token of the rich history of a bygone era. Anil Madhok, Executive Chairman, Sarovar Hotels and Resorts, said, “I am delighted to welcome guests to the Sairafort Sarovar Portico in Jaisalmer. For us, it is one of the most significant destinations in Rajasthan, and our sixth in the state. We have ensured the inclusion of everything necessary to make each stay an upscale experience for our guests.”

OYO has announced its entry into the long-term fully managed housing rentals – OYO Living, geared to provide upgraded living experiences at an affordable price for India’s growing population. Perfectly suited for the changing housing needs of India, OYO Living will offer a first-of-its-kind, end to end managed and high-quality living experience that eliminates the hassles of finding, accessing and managing everyday housing. These accommodations are easy to find and easier to live in, where all OYO Living residents can experience the benefits of shared spaces while enjoying financial independence. With this, OYO aims to become the leading brand in the long-term housing rental and accommodations business and the biggest provider of housing in India. At the time of launch, OYO Living will have 35+ live properties, with over 2000 beds in Noida, Gurgaon, Bangalore and Pune, targeted at millennials and young professionals. With most assets currently operating already resulting at full occupancy, OYO Living will aim to expand to the top 10 metros by the end of 2019 and will offer over 50,000 beds. Commenting on the launch, Ritesh Agarwal, CEO & Founder, OYO Hotels & Homes, said, “OYO Living represents our ongoing commitment to continue innovating and creating world-class stay experiences from India. With the launch of OYO Living, we are all set to offer something new while remaining true to our core mission of creating beautiful living spaces. This launch marks a key milestone as we embark on our journey towards becoming India’s biggest provider of housing, consolidating our position as a category innovator and leader.” Piloted in mid-2018, OYO Living offers residents fully managed independent residential units, inclusive of contracting, furnishing, cleaning, maintenance, and in-stay services.

With the growth of the hospitality sector in India, hoteliers are making big investments in the sector for future. According to a report titled Hospitality Insights from the Indian CEO-desk, Tier I cities, primarily Mumbai and Delhi, continue to be the most preferred locations for expansion. However, more than one-third of the respondents did indicate a willingness to invest in Tier II towns to capitalise on the growth of domestic travel. Although most players are not looking for international locations actively, some (especially the larger Indian chains) are open to expanding internationally, provided there is opportunity available.

With over 10 full-inventory – franchised and operated hotels and more than 1100 rooms in 3 emirates – Dubai, Sharjah and Fujairah, OYO Hotels has launched its operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The property is ready to offer the benefits of its full-stack technology-led hospitality model to hoteliers across the country, with room rates starting 150 dirhams. OYO plans to host guests in over 12,000 rooms, 150 Hotels and all 7 emirates across UAE by 2020. According to data from Dubai Corporation of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), overall, Dubai hotel room supply is set to reach 132,000 by the end of 2019. The Dubai Tourism also forecasts the hospitality sector to experience sharp, sustained growth over the coming years, with occupied room nights set to reach 35.5 million annually in 2019, representing a 10.2 per cent compound annual growth rate over the next 24 months. Commenting on the developments, Ritesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO, OYO Hotels, said, “With over 170 countries committing to the World Expo 2020, the hospitality sector in the Middle East, and more specifically the UAE, is poised to grow substantially and with our market learnings and expertise, we are ready to tap this opportunity. We’ve been at the forefront of the budget and mid-segment hotels revolution in the markets we operate in, and can bring in our operational expertise and technology edge to the benefit of independent hotel owners. As per a recent report, Dubai alone will host over 20 million visitors and currently records approximately hotel keys per resident at 29.9 per 1,000 people.” Vartika Goel, Country Lead, OYO Hotels, UAE, said, “The country is an attractive market with sizeable internet …

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement with Bhumika Enterprises for Holiday Inn Udaipur Urban Square. The 195-room hotel will be the first Holiday Inn hotel in the city and is expected to be operational by 2022. Boasting of an excellent location, Holiday Inn Udaipur Urban Square will be an integral part of the upcoming ‘Urban Square’, an integrated hospitality, retail and family entertainment destination spread over 1.8 million square feet. Sudeep Jain, Vice President—Development, South West Asia, IHG said, “We are delighted to partner with Bhumika Group to mark IHG’s debut in Udaipur, under the Holiday Inn banner. Urban Square is set to develop as a landmark destination for hospitality, retail and family entertainment in Udaipur and we are pleased to be a part of this prestigious development. The Holiday Inn brand family is our growth driver in the midscale hotel segment in India, and we have accelerated our expansion this year with a number of signings across the country.” Uddhav Poddar, Managing Director, Bhumika Group, said, “IHG is a leading hospitality player, globally and we are very pleased to partner with the company to launch Holiday Inn Udaipur Urban Square. We are confident that the Holiday Inn brand will further enhance the bouquet of services that the Urban Square has to offer to travellers.’’  

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced an agreement to acquire Two Roads Hospitality. In India, Alila Diwa Goa and Alila Fort Bishangarh are the two properties that belong to Two Roads Hospitality. Through the addition of Two Roads, its established lifestyle brands and the management agreements for the majority of its 85 properties in eight countries, Hyatt will expand its brand presence into 23 new markets while enhancing its offerings in lifestyle hotel experiences and well-being. With Two Roads and its collection of lifestyle hotels, resorts and vacation residences, Hyatt will offer an expanded and more powerful portfolio of brands with best-in-class offerings to deliver compelling experiences and benefits for guests and World of Hyatt members, expand its relationship with valued hotel owners, and drive growth for shareholders. “Hyatt and Two Roads are dedicated to learning from each other and taking the best of both organisations forward,” said Mark Hoplamazian, President and CEO, Hyatt Hotels Corporation. “Two Roads’ passionate team members, strong brands, global footprint and robust development pipeline will expand our lifestyle offerings and grow Hyatt’s brand presence in more places where our guests and World of Hyatt members want to travel.” After the close of the transaction, which is expected later this year, Hyatt will create a dedicated lifestyle division as a catalyst to bring together the operations of Two Roads’ and Hyatt’s lifestyle brands. “Hyatt’s unique position in the marketplace brings with it the powerful benefit of global scale while maintaining meaningful personal relationships with team members, guests and owners,” said Jamie Sabatier, CEO, Two Roads Hospitality.

Sarovar Hotels and Resorts has announced its plans to open a hotel in Hargeisa, the capital city of Somaliland, which is a growing economy in East Africa. Ajay K Bakaya, Managing Director, Sarovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd. says, “In order to maximize further growth opportunities in Africa, we are delighted to announce another milestone in Sarovar’s expansion plan. This hotel is located in one of the prime locations of Somaliland close to the getaway port of Berbera and has good connectivity from Hargeisa Egal international airport as well for travellers to the country. Having successfully operated hotels in other countries of Africa, we now look forward to provide our signature hospitality in this growing country as well”. The hotel is very near to Somaliland’s Port of Berbera. There are plans for the port to be upgraded, the country’s commercial hub. Owned by Upper Hill Hotel, Sarovar Premiere Hargeisa, upon completion in 2020 will have a total of 123 rooms and suites; conferencing & meeting, an all-day dining restaurant and a swimming pool.