Category Archives: Hotels

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced the opening of the Holiday Inn Chennai OMR IT Expressway. The 202-room hotel marks the fifth IHG Hotel in Chennai and the first Holiday Inn in the city. Strategically located in Chennai’s IT hub (also known as Old Mahabalipuram Road, OMR), and only 20 minutes from Chennai International Airport, the hotel aims to cater to corporate and MICE travellers as well as leisure travellers exploring Chennai. The hotel has 5,000 sq ft of flexible meeting space and a wide range of food and beverage outlets. The company also expressed that it is on track to having 150 hotels open or in our pipeline within the next 10-15 years. This growth will largely be driven by the Holiday Inn brand family with a distinct focus on Crowne Plaza and InterContinental Hotels and Resorts in key gateway cities. Most recently, IHG has signed three Holiday Inn Express hotels in India with existing owners. This includes the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in the Delhi & NCR area, Holiday Inn Express and Suites Gurgaon Sector 90 with Crowne PropBuild Pvt. Ltd. who currently own Crowne Plaza Rohini as well as Holiday Inn Express Kolkata Airport with DS group who currently own Crowne Plaza Jaipur Tonk Road with IHG. All the three Holiday Inn Express hotels are set to open in the next 2 to 3 years. Sudeep Jain, Vice President, Development, South West Asia, IHG said: “We are delighted to sign three new properties that expand our Holiday Inn brand family portfolio in India. Moreover, signing these properties with existing owners is indicative of IHG’s strength in building strategic partnerships and the growing recognition of the Holiday Inn …

Preferred Hotels & Resorts has launched a new mobile app and member rate program as major enhancements to its points-based hotel rewards program, iPrefer. “The new mobile app and member rate program are designed to better connect today’s travellers with the unique appeal of the independent hotel experience through a seamless loyalty program that delivers exclusive, on-the-go access to an attractive rate, points, and valuable on-property perks,” said Casey Ueberroth, Chief Marketing Officer, Preferred Hotels & Resorts. “These enhancements are a testament to our continuous commitment to making iPrefer the most compelling loyalty program for independent-minded travelers.” In celebration of iPrefer and the pursuit of independent travel, Preferred Hotels & Resorts is gifting 25,000 bonus points to iPrefer members who make a booking within the app by April 21, 2017. “India is one of the fastest growing travel markets globally, and innovations in technology are significantly influencing the way Indian travelers can explore unique destinations and find independent hotels around the world that offer immersive experiences. The noteworthy benefits of the iPrefer mobile app and member rate program shall further strengthen the rising popularity of the iPrefer program in India, as well as encourage discerning luxury travelers to conveniently book their holidays directly through iPrefer channels for access to competitive rates and valuable benefits upon every stay,” said Saurabh Rai, Executive Vice President, Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Through the app, which was built in collaboration with American Express, members can search and book stays at more than 600 iPrefer participating hotels worldwide, access exclusive offers such as member rates and the iPrefer Last-Minute Escapes, update their profiles, view  past/upcoming stay history and related points earnings, and immediately access and redeem …

Hyatt has announced the opening of its Hyatt Place Rameswaram, the first Hyatt Place hotel in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the fifth Hyatt Place hotel to open in India. The hotel offers 101 guestrooms and suites, 4,757 square feet of high-tech meeting space, free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, 24-hour gym, and an outdoor swimming pool. “The opening of Hyatt Place Rameswaram is a significant milestone for the Hyatt Place brand as it continues to expand in India and across the globe,” said Kurt Straub, Hyatt’s vice president of operations, India. “Rameswaram’s first Hyatt Place hotel will be a vibrant and dynamic hotel that combines comfort and style that fits right into the region’s religious tourism.” Hyatt Place Rameswaram is situated in the heart of the Rameswaram, close to the holy Ramanathaswamy Temple and Agni Theertham, one of Rameswaram’s sacred bodies of water, as well as the house of former Indian president Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalamvarious. The holy city of Rameswaram is located on an island connected through the famous Pamban Bridge to mainland India. It is one of the four renowned “Chaar Dham” pilgrimage spots in the country and a place of great interest for both domestic and international travelers. “We are delighted to announce the opening of Hyatt Place Rameswaram in South India. The Hyatt Place brand offers an innovative service concept and a modern design, and we are confident this hotel will provide a wonderful new lodging option to those visiting the area. JKR remains highly committed to providing modern and affordable accommodation and services that cater to the needs of those visiting the holy city,” said Sharda Deepa, managing director, JKR Enterprise Limited, …

Marriott International has expanded its portfolio in India with the recent opening of the Jaisalmer Marriott Resort & Spa. The property offers 135 exquisitely designed rooms with 9 suites featuring breathtaking views of the magnificent Jaisalmer Fort and beautiful central oasis. The resort has mobile Check-in/Check-out facilities to ensure that guests have a seamless experience. This application enables Marriott Rewards guests to check-in to their upcoming reservation up to 24 hours in advance, select an estimated arrival time, receive a room-ready alert notification from the hotel, and check out through their mobile device as well. The resort is situated just3.3 km away from the Jaisalmer Railway Station, with Jodhpur being the closest airport at a distance of 284 km. “We want our guests to experience forward-thinking, aesthetically pleasing spaces that help foster their inventive nature. Marriott Hotels has consistently pushed the boundaries of innovation in travel to create experiences that inspire and encourage our guests’ creativity,” said Matthew Carroll, Vice President, Marriott Hotels. Perfect for weddings and social events, the newly opened property offers 3251 sq. m of outdoor space surrounded by lush green lawns interspersed with sparkling water bodies which can host up to 1,500 guests. The resort also boasts of a dedicated event planning team. The resort has an added 577sq. m of Indoor meeting space that includes three meeting rooms along with the Grand Ballroom. The renowned Quan Spa is also offered at the resort. “Jaisalmer Marriott Resort & Spa reflects the refined sophistication, quiet elegance and exceptional service – attributes that have grown synonymous with the Marriott Hotels brand worldwide. The Jaisalmer Marriott Resort & Spa caters to the entire family with a wide range of …

Louvre Hotels Group is all set to announce the launch of its fifth property- the 110-room Golden Tulip Suites, Gurgaon, in Delhi NCR region. Golden Tulip Suites Gurgaon is in close proximity to the main Gurgaon city and to the international airport. The location of the hotel provides easy connectivity to Faridabad, Delhi and Gurgaon. The hotel also boasts two meeting rooms well equipped with state of art technology and conference facilities for all corporate functions. Golden Tulip Suites Gurgaon offers world class facilities and services for both leisure and corporate clients, with a fitness center and a swimming pool, the property promises a premium product available at an attractive price bands. Gwalapahari as a location is away from the  hustle and bustle of the city traffic with  an easy access to the business centers of the region, Golden Tulip Suites Gurgaon will provide an array of facilities and services to take away the best spots. The hotel is right opposite TERI Golf Course and is at a walkable distance from the ASF IT SEZ in Gurgaon. The other four properties in Delhi NCR by Louvre Hotels Group are Golden Tulip Chattarpur, Golden Tulip Vasundhara, Golden Tulip Hari Nagar and Golden Tulip Galgotia’s.Louvre Hotels Group is a subsidiary of Jin Jiang International Holdings Co., Ltd. one of China’s largest tourist and travel conglomerates. Vimal Singh, Managing Director, Golden Tulip Hotels and Resorts, South Asia said, “The launch of our second property in Gurgaon is a strategic decision of the group to expand our brand presence in the  Delhi NCR region. In Gwalpahari, Gurgaon, there is a requirement of quality accommodation and our property promises to deliver the international standard of …

Airbnb has officially launched its new platform Trips in New Delhi, adding 15 bookable local experiences to the thousands of homes available to stay in. Trips is a way to experience a different side of the city, immersing themselves in communities through the eyes of locals. For cities, it can help to diversify tourism away from busy city centers. It also allows local people to participate and benefit from tourism by sharing their interests and passions, while enabling them to make a little extra money. Brian Chesky, Co-Founder, CEO and Head of Community of Airbnb, said, “Trips is the most significant development in the history of Airbnb. We’re moving beyond just the home, bringing together where you stay, what you do and the people you meet all in one place.  I’m excited to launch India Trips as we’ve handpicked unique experiences, designed and led by locals, to reflect the diversity and variety of the city.” Launched in November 2016, Airbnb Trips currently has over 800 active Experiences available, with bookers from over 73 different countries giving 91 per cent of Experience bookings a 5-star rating.

AccorHotels has announced that it will be opening close to 10 hotels in India this year with most of them being under the ibis and Novotel brands. Jean-Michel Casse, Chief Operating Officer, (India and South Asia), AccorHotels, reveals, “We will be opening a Novotel in Nagpur and Guwahati, and an Ibis in Coimbatore. This is apart from our soon-to-be-opened Mercure in Dwarka in Gujarat which will be a component of leisure and religious travel. This year we plan to open around 10 hotels which will be a key milestone for us. This will take our current inventory of 8,700 rooms to more than 10,000 rooms this year and get to 55 hotels by end of 2017. This year will also be an important year for us as we will be stepping into the Tier markets. We have to be present where are customers are going which is driving the development.” The hotel giant is also slated to open a convention and exhibition centre in Jaipur shortly. The hotel group recently opened an Ibis in Kochi which goes to show its strong focus on tier II cities as well. In terms of development, AccorHotels is looking at densification in the cities it is already present in. It also plans to open a convention and exhibition centre in Jaipur shortly. Casse adds, “A major chunk of our business is the corporate segment followed by MICE which we have been really focussing on with the opening of Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre and Novotel Vishakhapatnam which is a big MICE hotel. We are also operating the convention centre in Lavasa, Pune.”

Asia Pacific region’s hotel exhibition by AccorHotels – AccorHotels Showcase took place in Delhi at the Hotel Pullman New Delhi Aerocity. The participating hotels were from 19 different countries and about 50 international as well as national hotels from the group were participating in the showcase. More than 250 buyers and sellers had visited the showcase halfway through. AccorHotels Showcase kicked off its 2017 India leg on March 22 at Sofitel Mumbai BKC. The forum is a good opportunity for networking and for educating the people about the different brands that Accor offers. Exhibitors from globally sought-after destinations such as France, Spain, Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE and Singapore were present at the event, representing celebrated hotels like Fairmont Ajman, SO Sofitel Singapore and Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort and Spa, Pullman Paris Eiffel Tower, Swissôtel The Bosphorus Istanbul, Novotel Madrid Center and more. Accor hotels from India such as Novotel Ahmedabad; Novotel Visakhapatnam, Varun Beach; ibis Bengaluru City Centre, ibis Styles Goa Calangute are also participating.

Asia Pacific region’s hotel exhibition by AccorHotels – AccorHotels Showcase kicked off its 2017 India leg today at Sofitel Mumbai BKC and will travel to New Delhi on March 24. Joined by AccorHotels’ executives from across 95 countries representing more than 4,100 hotels and resorts worldwide, the event will offer attendees an insight into the group’s new developments, products and services. In its 14th year touring the region, AccorHotels Showcase provides travel agents, wholesalers, corporate clients, tourism partners and MICE organisers an opportunity to discover AccorHotels accommodation trends, news and stunning hotels and resorts from around the world. This year, AccorHotels commences its 12-destination series as it moves through cities, visiting landmark AccorHotels across Asia Pacific. In India, exhibitors from globally sought-after destinations such as France, Spain, Malaysia, Indonesia, UAE and Singapore will be present at the event, representing celebrated hotels like Fairmont Ajman, SO Sofitel Singapore & Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort and Spa, Pullman Paris Eiffel Tower, Swissôtel The Bosphorus Istanbul, Novotel Madrid Center and more. Over 400 guests comprising top corporates from India, Travel Management Companies, Travel Agents and Tour Operators, PCOs and Wedding Planner are set to attend the event in each city.

Thailand-based Absolute Hotel Services has launched a boutique apartment hotel, Eastin Residences Vadodara in Gujarat. The property is located in main Alkapuri, the hub for shopping, family attractions and commercial centre. All 44 residences are classified into 3 major categories – ‘Studio Apartment – Twin & Double ’, ‘Deluxe Studio Apartment’ and ‘One Bedroom Apartment’. The hotel exudes a completely ‘Glocal’ vibe by blending global standards with local and ethnical elements that is reflected in the interiors. The hotel houses an all-day dining restaurant, ‘The Glass House’, which offers multi-cuisine dining options throughout the day, wherein guests can choose from an extensive à la carte menu comprising of local, regional and international favorites. Facilities also include gym and mini mart cum wine shop. Speaking on the launch of the hotel, Shalil Suvarna, Vice – President Operations and Pre-Opening, AHS (India), on behalf of Eastin Residences Vadodara, said, “We are extremely delighted to announce the launch of the Eastin Residences Vadodara which is part of the international Eastin Hotels and Residences. This one of a kind concept fills in the need for guests who are in the city with long or extended stays. Vadodara, Gujarat’s 3rd largest city is seen as an emerging business hub and while it gives us geographical extension, it is wonderful to be part of the city’s advancement.