Category Archives: Hotels

Conrad Hotels & Resorts has expanded in India with the opening of Conrad Bengaluru. The 24-storeyed hotel is owned by Prestige Group and managed by Hilton. Featuring 285 guestrooms including 21 suites, Conrad Bengaluru offers five dining and bar experiences, a full-service spa and salon, 17,000 square feet of event space, a 24-hour fitness centre and an outdoor temperature-controlled infinity pool overlooking the expanse of the city as well as a dedicated kids’ pool. “Conrad Bengaluru is an outstanding addition to our luxury portfolio in Asia Pacific and we are delighted to be partnering with the Prestige Group on this project. The timely arrival of Conrad Bengaluru in India demonstrates Conrad Hotels & Resorts’ commitment to growing the brand’s presence in the country, complementing its sister property Conrad Pune,” said Daniel Welk, Vice President—Operations, Luxury and Lifestyle, Asia Pacific, Hilton. “Conrad Bengaluru enhances our fast growing portfolio of 34 properties and underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional hotels in key gateway locations to meet the growing needs of global luxury travellers,” said John T. A. Vanderslice, Global Head, Conrad Hotels & Resorts. “Conrad Bengaluru will delight guests with customised service, as well as provide them access to a world of connections and inspired experiences.”

The Fern Hotels & Resorts has added another property to its portfolio of hotels with the launch of The Fern, Akota-Vadodara. Situated 2 kms from Alkapuri, the commercial hub of Vadodara, this is the second Fern property in the city with 72 rooms in two categories, namely, Winter Green and The Fern Club Rooms. Dining options include Zeste-a multi cuisine all-day-dining restaurant and 24 hours in-room dining service. The banqueting facility comprises Magnolia and Terraco banquet halls along with a meeting room. Suhail Kannampilly, COO, The Fern Hotels & Resorts, said, “The Fern, Akota-Vadodara gives us another opportunity to host our guests in Vadodara. We have a strong presence in Gujarat with nine hotels operational in seven cities and we look forward to further consolidate this.”

India Sales Associates has been appointed by Singapore-based Far East Hospitality & Management (FEHMS) as their Regional Sales Office (RSO) for the Indian subcontinent market. “Far East Hospitality Group (FEHMS) is a premier owner and operator of hotels and serviced residences.” It has a combined portfolio of close to 14,000 rooms under management across 90 hotels and serviced residences in seven countries. Far East Hospitality’s stable of 10 unique and complementary brands present excellent opportunities for cross-selling initiatives across different brands and geographic markets, offering guests with a greater diversity of choices and locations. In Singapore, the holding company’s hospitality management arm, Far East Hospitality Management, operates a portfolio comprising 22 hotels and serviced residences. Toga Far East Hotels, its joint venture in Australia, is a leading hotel operator across Australia, New Zealand and Europe managing nearly 70 strategically located hotels within this portfolio.  

Cygnett Hotels Group has announced the signing of a new hotel in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. Sarbendra Sarkar, Founder & MD, Cygnett Hotels Group, said, “We are delighted to announce the signing of a new hotel in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, a brilliant location, proximity to the new upcoming airport, ‘Cygenett Inn’ marking our farther foray.” Cygnett Inn is the budget brand of the Group that does not adhere to the “budget” definition in any way except in it’s prices. It is a full service hotel with modern design, next generation in-room technology among other offerings.

Sarovar Hotels announces the signing of a new hotel deal in Dahisar, a 112 suites Royal Hometel Suites. Owned by Lion Pencils, Royal Hometel Suites is expected to open in 2018. With a key location, the hotel under development will offer all facilities of an international standard hotel. Allowing guests a comfortable stay and pleasant experience, Royal Hometel Suites will feature All Day Dining, Bar, Banquet Halls, Conference & Meeting Facilities, Swimming Pool, and Gymnasium. Commenting on the development, Anil Madhok, Executive Chairman, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, said, “We are delighted to sign yet another hotel in Mumbai which is one of our most significant markets. We are already present in Mumbai with all of our three brands Sarovar Premiere, Sarovar Portico and Hometel. With this new addition, we look forward to further growth in this city.  It is an important location for us and a significant addition to our portfolio.”

Global hospitality major Wyndham Hotel Group is looking to add 40 new hotels in India by 2020 as part of its expansion plans in the country. The company currently has 35 operational hotels with 3,258 rooms under the Ramada, Ramada Encore, Howard Johnson and Days brands in India. “We aim to have 75 operational hotels in India by 2020 and plan to further expand our footprint in other high potential countries in the region by exploring new opportunities,” Deepika Arora, Eurasia Regional Vice President, Wyndham Hotel Group. Emphasising that India is a key market for the Group, she said the company is also planning to introduce some new brands in the coming years such as Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, Wyndham Grand and Wyndham in India. Wyndham Grand is scheduled to open in Bengaluru in 2020. Elaborating on the growth strategy, Arora said, “In India, as part of our development strategy, we look to provide global connectivity and brand recognition with further expansion into secondary and tertiary cities as well as leisure destinations.” The company’s upcoming openings will add leisure locations like Kasauli and Lonavala, pilgrim destinations like Tirupati and Dwarka in Gujarat and business locations like Ghaziabad, Trivandrum, Bhubaneswar among others, she added. Wyndham Hotel Group has two global business models but it primarily follows franchise models for its hotel brands although in many markets, the company also operates properties under management contract. In India, the company has largely grown through the franchise model, she added. “The franchise model has worked well for us and within a short time frame, we grew in India from eight hotels in 2010 to 35 operational hotels to date in 2018,” Arora said. When …

InterGlobe Hotels and AccorHotels has announced the opening of ibis Pune Hinjewadi (IPH). The launch of ibis Pune Hinjewadi marks AccorHotels’ third property in the city. Featuring 136 well-appointed rooms, the hotel offers unparalleled comfort and convenience with its range of in-room amenities and signature Sweet Bed bedding concept by ibis. To celebrate its opening, ibis Pune Hinjewadi is offering a special price of Rs. 3,699 per night, with breakfast for two from now until 31 March, 2018. Strategically located within 5 km of the Mumbai-Bangalore highway, the hotel is in close proximity to the International Biotech Park and with various multinational corporations such as Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Wipro, Accenture and IBM located nearby. The hotel is situated approximately 20km from Pune Airport and the railway station. The hotel also offers complimentary high speed Wi-Fi access to ensure that guests can enjoy a relaxing stay. For food aficionados, ibis Pune Hinjewadi features the signature ‘Spice It’ restaurant – a culinary concept tailor-made for India serving Indian, Oriental and European cuisine prepared from the freshest locally sourced ingredients. It also offers well-priced, quality home style and healthy food and beverages with both buffet and a-la-carte options – including an eight hour all-day breakfast concept starting from four in the morning until noon. J.B. Singh, President & CEO, InterGlobe Hotels said, “InterGlobe Hotels is committed to continue its rapid expansion over the next few years in key locations across the country. Specific to Maharashtra, Ibis Pune Hinjewadi is our 5th hotel to commence operations in the state. We also have 3 additional properties within Maharashtra in various stages of development which will be operational by 2021. As a destination, Pune sees a …

The Park Hotels enters Jodhpur with the launch of its second hotel in Rajasthan – ‘Zone by The Park’. With 90 guest rooms, the latest Zone by The Park Jodhpur is located at the city centre in close proximity to popular tourist destinations such as Umaid Bhawan Palace and scenic Kalyana Lake. The city airport and railway station are minutes away from the hotel making it convenient for the guests. Zone Jodhpur boasts of 7,600 sq. ft. banquet hall with a spill over 14,000 sq. ft. outdoor lawn for large weddings, exhibitions, social gatherings, celebrations and conferences. The hotel has two restaurants and a discotheque. Speaking at the launch, Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels said, “We are extremely delighted to launch our second property in Rajasthan, especially in Jodhpur as it is a discerning tourist’s destination with a reflection of history. The hotel is designed to meet the requirements of the price-conscious, design-conscious urban traveller. Witnessing the success of Zone Jaipur, we are confident that this hotel will play a key role in strengthening the brand. We are certain that the hotel will appeal to customers with its design and format.” Zone Jodhpur has 90 rooms in three categories at an average tariff of Rs. 3,000 – Rs. 7,400 per night. Zone by The Park is present in Coimbatore, Jaipur, Chennai ORR, Raipur, Bengaluru with upcoming hotels in Pondicherry, Igatpuri & Goa. The brand will have 17 properties by the year 2020; this will be about 1,500 keys in the next 4 years.

Kapil Chopra has stepped down as the President of The Oberoi Group. He began his journey with the group in 1994 as a Management trainee with OCLD. Chopra has run the group efficiently and has always been admired by his peers and colleagues. He will be leaving a legacy behind as he has run the group successfully for more than two decades. It is believed that Chopra will be starting his own venture post his stint with The Oberoi Group.

The Oberoi, New Delhi reopens after an extensive renovation of two years. The interiors of the hotel have been redone including the refurbishment of its soft furnishings. The hotel is open for reservations and the basic room category is available from Rs. 18,000 onward. Despite being contemporary, the hotel has managed to retain the essence of heritage within its premises.