Category Archives: Hotels

IHG started its journey with SAMHI with the signing of 14 hotels within their India hotel portfolio to renovate and rebrand Holiday Inn Express on par with the global brand standards in November 2017. To achieve this target, SAMHI recently has announced an investment of Rs 100 crore. Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, IMEA, IHG shared, “Our partnership with SAMHI and launch of the new Holiday Inn Express portfolio has given us a solid foothold in the mid-scale hotel segment in India. With the recent openings, we now have 27 operating hotels under the Holiday Inn brand family in the country, and a robust pipeline of 33 hotels due to open in next 2-3 years. Through this venture, we have realised that in a market like India, it is imperative to forge partnerships with partners such as SAMHI. Together we will continue to contribute by building a robust hospitality market in the country.”

The Fern Hotels & Resorts has opened two hotels- The Fern Residency, Manali (Himachal Pradesh) and The Fern Sattva Resort, Polo Forest (Gujarat), thereby taking the tally to 58 hotels managed by the company. Commenting on the opening of both the hotels, the COO of the hotel, Suhail Kannampilly said, “The people visiting Manali and Polo Forest can now enjoy our eco friendly hospitality. Manali hotel is the second hotel which we are managing in HP. In Gujarat we are now at 15 locations”. The Fern Residency, Manali is a 37 room property situated in the picturesque hill state of Himachal Pradesh. Nestled far away from the hustle and bustle of the cityscape, the hotel is enveloped by a panoramic view of the magnificent Kullu Valley dotted with spectacular streams, apple orchards and rugged snow peaked mountains. The Fern Sattva Resort, Polo Forest (Gujarat) is a 30 room resort located in Abhapur Village, Taluka Vijaynagar of Gujarat and is two and half hours drive from Ahmedabad. Surrounded by the lush green forests at one side and the gentle flowing Harnav River on the other, the resort is a perfect place to unwind and chill. The hotel has three different room categories Winter Green Cottage, Fern Club Villa and Hazel Suite.

Rapid urbanisation in India is increasingly making Tier-III markets more relevant in the eyes of the hotel brands, according to a ‘India Hospitality Industry Review’ report by HVS Anarock. Nearly a third of new hotel signings emerge from these markets despite hotels being much smaller than those located in Tier-I markets. This is also happening on account of newer hotel management companies setting shop as also the smaller ones looking to grow rapidly through franchise or management agreement of smaller stand-alone hotels in Tier II, III cities.  

Marriott is expected to reach more than 30,000 rooms in India by end 2023. Right now the brand has an inventory of 25,000 rooms. Given India’s robust economy and rising middle class, the country continues to present exciting growth opportunities, leveraging strong demand for Marriott’s select-service brands and growing demand for its upper upscale and luxury portfolios. The company expects to debut the Tribute Portfolio brand in India, with the opening of Port Muziris, Kochi, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel slated for the second quarter of 2019. “As important as our size is our commitment to deliver seamless and quality experiences for our guests at on-brand properties. Today’s traveller demands authentic, personalized and transformative experiences, whether for work or for pleasure, as a way of broadening their individual horizons and achieving a deeper understanding of the world. As the world’s leading hospitality company, it is in our DNA to strive to be part of our guests’ favorite moments and memories. We are dedicated to Marriott International remaining Asia Pacific’s favorite travel company,” says, Craig S. Smith, President and Managing Director, Marriott International Asia Pacific.

As the Radisson Hotel Group enters the second year of Destination 2022, its five-year strategic road map, extensive expansion is underway across South Asia. The Group has signed 15 hotels in India in 2018 and it has already signed four more properties in 2019: Park Plaza Amritsar, Radisson Greater Noida, Radisson Gurugram Sohna Road City Center, and Park Inn by Radisson Kashipur. Seven new hotels were opened in India in 2018, and the group is on track to reach the landmark of opening its 100th hotel in India this year. Leveraging its first-mover advantage in the country, Radisson Hotel Group intends to introduce international hospitality to a series of fast-growing Tier II and III cities, as well as emerging areas such as North East and Central India.

Accor recently disclosed its aggressive expansion plans for the Indian market. Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Accor, says, “India is a very important market for Accor. In order to ensure our consistent commitment for the market, we will be getting Raffles brand to India. We will open the first property in Udaipur by mid 2020 which will have 101 rooms and suites and then we will venture into the Jaipur market by 2022 which will open with 55 suites.

WelcomHeritage has added one more property to its existing portfolio – WelcomHeritage Kalyan Bhawan in Jaisalmer. WelcomHeritage Kalyan Bhawan was the former home of the Ruler of Jaisalmer – Maharawal Jawahir Singh ji and was called as ‘Kanwar Pada’, meaning Princes’ Residence in local parlance. It is a centrally located property amidst the walled city of Jaisalmer. The property features 22 exquisite rooms and has been refurbished in the original art deco style to meet the requirements of the modern traveller and caters to both leisure and business travellers who want to enjoy the local flavors of town. The former haveli was an old mansion which is now recreated so as to make the property contemporary to the present day times. Along with many recreational services like Roof-Top Dining, traditional Massage Services and Swimming Pool available at the nearby WelcomHeritage Mandir Palace, the hotel offers three unique categories of rooms to choose from. Sanjeev K Nayar, GM, WelcomHeritage shared, “This is the 34th operational property of WelcomHeritage and we are extremely happy with the new addition. Out of 34 operational properties, we have now 12 in Rajasthan. This property has its own unique charm and caters to both leisure and business travellers who want to stay within the walled city of Jaisalmer and enjoy the local flavours of the town. Very soon we will be adding few more properties in Rajasthan, South and North-east region. We are looking at adding around 3-4 more properties by the end of this financial year”. For a sumptuous culinary experience, guests can choose to dine at nearby WelcomHeritage Mandir Palace’s Roof-Top Restaurant (which offers a panoramic view of the Jaisalmer Fort). The cuisine includes …

Lords Hotels & Resorts has announced its latest property in Lucknow which will be named as Lords Eco Inn. The hotel will be operational by mid 2019 and will have 30 rooms along with an F&B outlet and a banquet hall. It is Located in the heart of Lucknow in Hazratganj and the nearest airport is Lucknow Airport which is at a distance of 14 kms and the nearest railway station is Lucknow Railway Station which is just 4 kms from the hotel.

Furaveri Island Resort & Spa enters India market through a market representation agreement with India Sales Associates. “Regarded as a Truly Maldivian resort with modern facilities, Furaveri Island Resort & Spa is the perfect getaway in Maldives. Expansive green landscape in 23 hectors, overlooking a white sandy beach and panoramic ocean views are the setting for a relaxing holiday in the most beautiful surroundings. Furaveri Island Resort & Spa is located 151 kilometers (95 miles) north from Malé International Airport, is accessible by direct scenic seaplane flight or domestic flight followed by a 45-minute speedboat journey, offers an unmatched experience for individuals, couples and families. Whether you are an adventurer seeking the underwater experience, an explorer looking for a remote exotic island or a fishing enthusiast ready for the big catch” – said Manas Sinha, Director, INDIA SALES ASSOCIATES. Led by one of the Maldives most celebrated chef, resort is geared to serve the authentic Indian cuisine and Jain meals, aside the wide variety of International and specialty Fusion Asian and Casual Mexican cuisine.

Sarovar Hotels and Resorts expands its portfolio in Delhi- NCR region with the signing of another project in Ghaziabad. This will be Sarovar’s eighth property in Uttar Pradesh. The other hotels of the group are in Agra, Vrindavan, Lucknow, Jhansi and a recently signed hotel in Greater Noida West. Commenting on the development, Anil Madhok, Executive Chairman, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, said “In order to maximize further growth and expansion opportunities, we are delighted to consolidate on our presence in Delhi NCR. With the opening of Sarovar Portico, we aim to cater to these markets by offering best value to business and leisure travellers in sync with Sarovar’s signature hospitality.