Category Archives: Hotels

The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, Sultanate of Oman, along with Kempinski Hotel Muscat, Zahara Tours, and SalamAir, invites the Indian travel trade to attend a webinar on the destination and the product offerings. Get valuable insights and updates for your clients today at 3pm IST. Join the webinar and stand a chance to win exciting prizes! For more information, write to jaspreet.kaur@ddppl.com or 9650196532.

Ahsan Shervani, Vice President, Star Hotels, shared insights into the company’s growth, expansion plans, and strategic focus on the domestic travel market. Shervani Hotels, the brand operated by Star Hotels., currently boasts four properties, with ambitious plans for further expansion. Shervani, an integral part of Star Hotels, oversees the operations of Shervani Hotels. The brand, which currently includes four distinct properties, aims to cater to both business and leisure travellers. With a strong presence in Uttarakhand and recent expansions into other regions, Shervani Hotels is poised for significant growth in the Indian hospitality sector. “Currently, we have four hotels under our portfolio,” Shervani explained during an exclusive interview at their Hotel in New Delhi. “This is a boutique 30-room business hotel, primarily catering to business travellers, with facilities like a conference room, a boardroom, and a banquet hall.” Shervani Hotels’ flagship property, Shervani Hilltop in Nainital, features 48 rooms, an in-house restaurant, and a unique specialty cafe called the Nursery Cafe. “The Nursery Cafe is a greenhouse setup where we serve food and beverages as well as sell plants,” Shervani added. “It’s a big part of our charm, offering little souvenirs that our guests can take home.” The two newest additions to the Shervani portfolio are in Jim Corbett National Park and Mukteshwar. “Our Jim Corbett property has 48 rooms and a large banquet hall accommodating up to 300 people. In Mukteshwar, we have Te Aroha by Shervani, Mukteshwar, a boutique 18-room property with additional cottages for larger groups.” Focusing on the travel trade, Shervani emphasized the importance of both offline and online partnerships. “We participate in various trade shows and have strong relationships with travel agents. About 40-45% of …

Clarks Safari announces the opening of its flagship property, Clarks Safari Haridwar, strategically located in the heart of the city. This luxury property features 22 well-appointed rooms, designed to cater to spiritual travelers, corporates, and families seeking a comfortable stay at competitive rates. Spread over more than 9000 sqmt Clarks Safari Haridwar offers a range of amenities and facilities, ensuring a comprehensive and enjoyable stay for all guests. The property boasts four banquet halls with a combined seating capacity of 500 pax, making it an ideal venue for conferences, product launches, and corporate events.

Courtyard by Marriott, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announced the opening of Courtyard by Marriott Goa Colva, marking the debut of the Courtyard by Marriott brand in the state. Strategically located in one of the most popular parts of Goa, known for its white sand beaches, susegad lifestyle and Indo-Portuguese architecture, this 91-room hotel is an embodiment of the all things Goan. “We are thrilled to introduce the exceptional hospitality and top-tier facilities of Courtyard by Marriott brand to one of the most idyllic locations in India,” said Ranju Alex, Area Vice President South Asia, Marriott International. “Goa, especially the Southern region, is a well-known paradise for vacationers with its white sand beaches, stunning sunsets, and relaxed ambience. The opening of Courtyard by Marriott Goa Colva, marks Marriott International’s 10th property in Goa, and further compliments our commitment to growth in the region, bringing a diversified portfolio for different types of travellers to this popular leisure destination.”

Dimitris Manikis, President, EMEA, Wyndham Resorts and Hotels, said, “India wants to be one of the fastest-growing hospitality countries in the world. Its growth in infrastructure means that it will need brands like Wyndham. Thus, we plan to have 150 properties by the end of 2025 as India is the market with the biggest potential for us.”

Expanding upon its renowned commitment to offer guests an extensive selection of diverse destinations throughout the Asia-Pacific region, Cross Hotels & Resorts has signed a major hotel management agreement with PT Yetosa Pratama Sukses (Puri Group) for Cross Batam Antapura, a 340-key tropical island paradise. Developed under the ‘Luxury by Design’ concept and set amid stunning natural beauty, the resort is scheduled to welcome its first guests in 2027. Forging a new partnership with Puri Group, one of the bigger property developers on Batam Island, Indonesia, this is Cross Hotels & Resorts’ inaugural property on the booming island. Cross Batam Antapura is a hybrid resort, offering guests a choice of 250 contemporary hotel rooms and 90 luxury pool villas, all centered around a low-rise Water Courtyard. Seamlessly blending traditional Indonesian designs with modern refinement, the striking resort provides a serene setting that invokes personal wellbeing. Located only 13 minutes from Hang Nadim International Airport, a short drive from the international ferry terminal and close to three international golf courses, Cross Batam Antapura is sure to appeal to holidaymakers, day-trippers and event planners alike. The integrated resort offers a harmonious blend of tranquility and excitement, from secluded retreats to exceptional dining experiences. Adults can relax with rejuvenating spa services while juniors are presented with a vibrant recreational and entertainment scene. “It has been an honour working with Puri Group and to present our aspirational goal of being APAC’s hotel management operator of choice for owners seeking an innovative alternative to those offered by larger chains. While Cross Batam Antapura is our first resort on Batam Island, it becomes our eighth property in Indonesia. Batam Island is a gateway to the rest …

RateGain report revealed that 40 per cent of the bookings of mid-size hotel chains happen through Online Travel Agency (OTAs). In contrast, for large-scale hotels 32 per cent of bookings come through OTAs, concluding that large-scale hotels mostly use their brand name for bookings, while mid-size hotels take a balanced approach worldwide.

Ranjith Krishnan will be heading the Sales Department of Imperience Hotels & Resort as their new Director of Sales. Ranjith moved from Accor Group, where he was the Director of Sales at Novotel Kochi Info Park. Ranjith comes with twenty years of experience in hospitality industry that too in Sales and Marketing with leading international brands like Le Meridien, Starwood, Marriott and Accor Group. Ranjit started his career with Le Meridien Kochi in Reservations and while leaving them he was the head of room sales division as Associate Director of Sales. Imperience Hotels & Resorts currently handles the Sales & Marketing of six boutique resorts located in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Their product portfolio includes Chandy’s Windy Woods Munnar , Chandy’s Drizzle Drops Munnar Top Station, Reen Resort, Anavilasam, Thekkady and their associates Vythiri Resort, Wayanad, Vayal Veedu, Muthanga and Kaav Safari Lodge, Kabini. ‘Since Ranjith has got the opportunity to handle all major segments of Hotels Sales like Travel Trade, Corporate, MICE, Retail and Airlines, his joining will further strengthen the Salesforce of Imperience Hotels & Resorts and will benefit its member hotels in channelising business from all these major segments’ says Dileep Kumar P I, CoFounder & CEO of Imperience Hotels & Resorts.

IHCL further strengthens their footprint in Bhutan with the signing of an 83-key hotel in Thimphu. This hotel will be rebranded to an IHCL – SeleQtions. Speaking on the occasion, Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President, Real Estate & Development, IHCL said, “We are delighted to expand our presence in Bhutan. The country’s growing popularity as a short-haul international getaway, particularly amongst Indian travellers, presents a significant opportunity for us. Thimphu’s strategic location makes it a natural inclusion in the popular Paro – Thimphu – Phobjikha itinerary, allowing us to create a seamless circuit for those seeking to explore this Himalayan kingdom.”

The Hotel And Restaurant Association (Western India) – HRAWI is slated to host a conclave titled ‘Empowering Hospitality’ at The Grand Bhagwati in Ahmedabad on Friday, June 21, 2024. The conclave will have Nalinkumar Chaudhary, Director, Gujarat State Fire Prevention Services, Gandhinagar and Sukanya Pondugala, Assistant Director (Technical), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), GoI as the Chief Guests for the day. The event will feature speakers – Dr V. Pasupathy, Food Safety Expert & Founder of Parikshan FSS ; M Arunkumar, Managing Director of Envu India and Mr Hemant Khadse, CEO, East Corp Group who will share expertise in their respective domains and address critical hospitality matters including the opportunities and challenges in FSSAI compliance, pest management in the food industry and, fire and safety at hotel and restaurant establishments.