Category Archives: Hotels

Sterling Holiday Resorts is set to launch its latest resort, ‘Sterling Mysore’, thereby increasing its network to 35 resorts across the country. Sterling Mysore will be launched through a management agreement between Sterling Holiday Resorts and Tapovan Projects. The property is located in a peaceful enclave, within easy reach from Mysore city and Mysore Airport. Sterling Mysore features 16 well-appointed guestrooms, 16 one bedroom suites, 16 luxurious suites with private plunge pools and 24 two-bedroom villas with plunge pools. The resort offers amenities such as a 24/7 fitness centre, spa, holiday activity centre, swimming pool and a 200-seater best-in-class conference hall. Multicuisine dining options are available at the all-day dining restaurant, along with a poolside bar for guests to unwind. Speaking on the launch of Sterling Mysore, Ramesh Ramanathan, Managing Director, Sterling Holiday Resorts said, “In line with our strategy of establishing our presence across holiday destinations throughout the country, we are launching Sterling Mysore, shortly. Mysore is at the heart of heritage and cultural experiences and attracts tourists from different parts of the world. This resort will further bolster ‘Brand Sterling’ in providing experiential and immersive holidays to its guests.” Commenting on this partnership, K Sriram, Managing Partner, Tapovan Projects, said, “We are delighted to partner with Sterling and we believe ‘Brand Sterling’ brings immense leisure hospitality expertise, and with this launch we look forward to establishing Sterling Mysore as a premier resort in this vibrant holiday destination.”  

The Den, Bengaluru has announced the launch of Layla, a rooftop mediterranean restaurant, along with a grand opening reception of the first property by The DAN group (Israeli) in India. Located in the IT hub of Bengaluru, the 226-room property provides the right blend of service and luxury for business travellers as well as fulfils the requirements of the destination connoisseurs. On this special occasion, Ronen Nissenbaum, President and CEO, Dan Hotels said, “The Den is an urban oasis and at the heart of it is authentic hospitality and philosophy to do what you want with utmost comfort, panache and just a little edge.” Vinesh Gupta, General Manager, The Den, Bengaluru, added, “The launch of Layla has been much anticipated and we are ecstatic to bring to our guests one of the best mediterannean restaurant in the city. Layla is a beverage-centric restaurant with Mediterranean cuisine with a lively, light-hearted and fun-keeping atmosphere, reflecting a touch of fine dining. We are excited with the launch of Layla and welcome people from Bengaluru to experience a unique dining experience.” Located on the 21st Floor of The Den, Bengaluru, the breathtaking location of the rooftop restaurant makes it an ideal place for a high and fun-filled dining experience with the sky view.

Fortune Hotels has flagged off its first hotel ‘Fortune Park Pushpanjali’ in the Steel City – Durgapur. Marking the celebration, the chain’s senior leadership team including Samir MC, Managing Director; Rohit Malhotra, VP – Operations; Dhananjay Saliankar, Head – Sales & Marketing and Kovid Sharma – Head Human Resources was present at the ceremony. With the inauguration of this hotel, Fortune now has 46 hotels across 39 cities in India. The property offers 89 contemporary guest rooms with full services and amenities, including 24-hour room service, high speed WiFi connectivity, satellite LED TV, electronic safe, mini bar, tea/coffee maker, iron and ironing board, among other things. Commenting on the launch, Samir MC, Managing Director, Fortune Park Hotels, said, “Fortune Hotels is building momentum across India through the launch of smart hotels as well as growth of our portfolio. After Haridwar and Vellore, we are delighted to announce our brand new hotel, Fortune Park Pushpanjali in Durgapur.” He added, “Durgapur is one of the fastest growing smart cities in India, and with excellent location, contemporary design, first-class full services, we are confident that the hotel will see great success and offer best-in-class guest experience to the travellers visiting the city.”

Bali Mandira Beach Resort & Spa enters Indian market through a market-representation agreement with India Sales Associates. The property features 187 units of variety stay options from large superior rooms to deluxe cottages, deluxe club cottages and suites and Mandira Club Suite to Pool Club Villas. Besides the club lounge, it also boasts of four different restaurants and bars. Manas Sinha, Director, India Sales Associates, said, “It is located within close proximity to all that Legian and Seminyak is famous for, excellent shopping, traditional art markets, trendy restaurants and thriving beach clubs.” He further adds, “It’s a perfect location between Kuta and Seminyak, the vast range of on-property facilities and impeccable service makes it highly attractive choice for families, couples and also for MiCE and special groups. Led by one of Bali‟s most celebrated chef, resort is geared to serve the authentic Indian cuisine and Jain meals, aside the wide variety of International and Indonesian cuisine.” With well-appointed accommodation, delectable dining, rejuvenating spa therapies and pristine beaches, Bali Mandira offers a blend of Bali’s beautiful natural splendor with a vibrant theatre of music, dance, culture and other world-class facilities to ensure a wonderful stay for every guest.

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.