Category Archives: Hotels

Mumbai-based Go Beyond Representations has been appointed as the marketing representative of City Lodge Hotel Group in South Africa. The City Lodge Hotel Group is a multi-brand chain offering a variety of locations, features and budget choices to business and leisure travellers. Shantanu Chand, CEO, Go Beyond Representations, says, “The group has five distinct brands, currently offering 7,072 rooms at 57 Locations throughout Southern and Eastern Africa. Each of the five Courtyard hotels has its own distinct character and personality. We will be selling and marketing this entire hotel chain pan India.”

Australian-owned Hotel Management Company StayWell Hospitality Group is opening a 72-room Park Regis Sanpra Beach in Visakhapatnam in the first quarter of 2017. Opening in partnership with Indian infrastructure company Sanpra Group, the property will be StayWell’s third across the country and first in southern India. StayWell Hospitality Group CEO Simon Wan said that opening and managing a hotel in the developing city of Visakhapatnam presents many benefits for both StayWell and the local region. “We are passionate about expanding our Park Regis and Leisure Inn brands internationally and see the opening of Park Regis Sanpra Beach in Visakhapatnam, a known Tier II city primed for future development, as a great opportunity to enter into the new market of Southern India,” Wan said. Property owner, P. Kiran Kumar said that joining forces with StayWell Hospitality Group to manage this hotel in early 2017 will bring increased efficiencies and an enhanced guest experience. “The new hotel management agreement with StayWell will bring new world-class operational systems and procedures to the region which both guests and staff will benefit from,” Kumar said. “We are delighted that the hotel matches the vision of the Andhra Pradesh government by bringing in the world-class infrastructure and associating with an international hotel management chain, StayWell Hospitality Group by signing with their upscale brand, Park Regis,” he said. StayWell Hospitality Group India’s Managing Director Rohit Vig also agrees that the brands future within India looks bright following the formalisation of this hotel management agreement which now represents a total of 12 hotels signed under the StayWell brands of Park Regis and Leisure Inn within India. “Park Regis Sanpra Beach is a great addition to the StayWell Portfolio …

Steigenberger Hotels AG is changing its brand architecture and consolidating its three hotel brands into one umbrella brand: Deutsche Hospitality. Puneet Chhatwal, CEO, Steigenberger Hotels AG, says, “These two words combine our German roots and our international vision. The new umbrella brand is a vital lever that will unleash dynamism, help us to expand internationally, and drive innovation.” Deutsche Hospitality unites three hotel brands under one name: Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts; Jaz in the City, and IntercityHotels. A total of 116 hotels in twelve countries and on three continents are part of the Deutsche Hospitality umbrella brand. 20 of these hotels are under construction or in the planning stage.

Ayana Hospitality, a joint venture between the ICS Group (India) and Mantis Group (South Africa), will open its new hotel in Kochi called Ayana Fort Kochi in November 2016. Located in the heart of Fort Kochi, Ayana will be a luxury boutique hotel offering local architecture, culture and cuisine. Akhil Behl, CEO, Ayana Hospitality, says, “This converted hotel has the distinction of having been the court house during the Portuguese occupation and is said to be almost 200 years old. The main hotel reception has high wooden sloping roof, showcasing the perfect venue for a court proceeding. All 16 rooms feature authentic Indian Athangudi tile floors, combined with classic Art Deco interiors, successfully blending history with modern luxurious comfort.”

In August 2016, the Indian capital’s average occupancy was 61.5 per cent last recording a 7.2 per cent increase compared to the same month the previous year, according to the latest data released by STR. Coupled with a 1.4 per cent rise in average daily rate (ADR) to Rs. 5,376 (approx. $81), Delhi’s revenue per available room (revPAR) rose by 8.7 per cent to Rs. 3,304. The upscale and upper midscale sector reported the strongest revPAR growth in Delhi in August, rising 11.7 per cent. International arrivals to the country increased 12 per cent in August along with consistent double-digit growth in terms of domestic air travel. Delhi Airport alone welcomed more than a quarter (28%) of these inbound visitors.

Marriott International has announced that it has expanded to include 30 of the most desirable hotel brands with the addition of the Starwood Hotels & Resorts portfolio. With more than 5,700 hotels and 1.1 million rooms in over 110 countries across the globe, guests now have access to the best hotels and resorts wherever they travel. Members of Marriott’s leading loyalty programs, Marriott Rewards – which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards – and Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), are also invited to link their accounts to enjoy the benefits, recognition and experiences each program has to offer. Members will have their status matched across programs and be able to transfer and redeem points across programs for travel to more destinations than ever before. Members who link their accounts will be able to transfer points at a three-to-one ratio.  

India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), the public sector undertaking under the aegis of the Ministry of Tourism, recorded net profit before tax of Rs.32.42 crore during 2015-16, profit after tax of Rs.22.55 crore and a total turnover of Rs.465.69 crore during the financial year 2015-16. The information was revealed during the Group’s 51st Annual General Meeting at the Group’s hotel, The Samrat, New Delhi. The highlights of the AGM was the declaration of a dividend of 15 per cent amounting to Rs.12.86 crore approximately as recommended by the Board in the meeting held on May 30, 2016. Out of Rs. 12.86 crore, an approximate amount of Rs.11.20 crore will go to the Government of India. The meeting was chaired by Umang Narula, IAS, Chairman & Managing Director, ITDC. The overall occupancy during 2015-16 was 52 per cent as against 47 per cent during 2014-15 with flagship Hotel ‘The Ashok’ recording occupancy of 54 per cent during 2015-16.

Sarovar Hotels announces the opening of RBD Sarovar Portico, Bengaluru, strategically located close to the IT hub in Outer Ring Road and Whitefield. It is Sarovar’s fourth hotel in the city. Guests can choose from 86 rooms and suites including Club Rooms, Premium Rooms or Deluxe Rooms, each of which features sleek and modern designs. Other facilities include a multi cuisine restaurant Brunchili with attached bar that offers some unique gastronomic fare. Commenting on the launch, Ajay K. Bakaya, Executive Director, Sarovar Hotels, says, “We are delighted to be opening yet another hotel in Bengaluru. RBD Sarovar Portico being close to the major tech parks of the city is ideal for business travellers.  With Bengaluru emerging as one of our key markets, we look forward to further growth and increased traffic contribution from our hotels here. We will continue to focus on our expansion and also strengthen our position as we look to spread farther across South India.” Outstanding business facilities and banquet hall with board rooms make it an impressive destination for conferences and events. The facilities are managed by efficient team to keep your event seamless and worry-free. Crystal Palace, the banquet hall located on the roof top, has an area of 2700 sq. ft. including 400 sq. ft. of pre-function area. It can accommodate up-to 250 people for reception event, 175 in theatre style, 100 in classroom style and 45 in U shape.

India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), a PSU under Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, on completion of its 50 year of inception on October 1, 2016, launched a logo marking the golden jubilee of ITDC. The logo was unveiled by Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism and Culture in presence of Vinod Zutshi, Tourism Secretary, and other senior officers of Ministry of Tourism and ITDC. In order to commemorate the Golden Jubilee celebrations, various activities have been introduced during the fortnight starting September 24, 2016 till October 8, 2016. Special offers on room tariff and food & beverage outlets in all ITDC hotels, issue of Elite Card to every 50th guest during this period, plantation of 50 saplings each in some hotels of ITDC, painting and slogan competition, lighting of all Delhi based hotels, presenting souvenirs to guests visiting ITDC hotels on 1st October 2016 are certain activities planned during the celebrations.

OYO has launched early check-in up to 7 days prior to booking. This facility is being offered free of cost in many OYOs, and at a nominal charge in others. With this launch, OYO claims to be the first hotel brand in the world to offer guaranteed early check-in to guests. OYO’s Sunrise check-in is now live both on its website and mobile App. Customers can easily identify, select and book hotels that offer confirmed early check-in. In addition, guests can also modify their existing booking and secure an early check-in. Speaking on launch, Ritesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO, OYO, said, “Despite changes in the way we live, travel and work, the hotel industry across the world continues to follow the outdated concept of a standard check-in time. Nowadays, travel is no longer about following prescribed itineraries. At OYO we understand our guests and build features tailored to their needs. With Sunrise check-in travellers can plan their mode of travel, duration and trip-itinerary in a better way, without being constrained by the check-in time.”