Category Archives: Hotels

Sarovar Hotels has opened Efcee Sarovar Portico Bhavnagar. The 99 room premium hotel was launched in the presence of Mansoor Adil, Executive Vice President, Sarovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd., Komalkant F. Sharma, Chairman & Managing Director, Leela Worldwide Group, Rajesh Ranjan, Director – Development, Sarovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd. and Sanjay Wadhwa, General Manager, Efcee Sarovar Portico. Sarovar Hotels manages three other hotels in Gujarat including Ahmedabad, Gandhidham and Rajkot.Efcee Sarovar Portico offers a calm and peaceful oasis for both business and leisure travellers. The elegant and well-appointed rooms and suites, categorized into Deluxe Rooms, Premium Rooms, Executive Suites and Leela Suite, offer contemporary amenities and personalized service. With state of the art meeting and banqueting facilities, it is an ideal venue for corporate and social events, workshops, exhibitions and weddings. The open air lawn, perhaps the biggest space in the city, is perfect for weddings and can accommodate upto 2000 people. As trade and economic collaborations between Gujarat and the rest of country continue to strengthen, this newest property is well set to cater to Bhavnagar’s business and leisure market. Furthermore, the launch of Efcee Sarovar Portico Bhavnagar is strategically important for the group’s development in the state of Gujarat as it looks to further expand its footprints across newer destinations in the country. Commenting on the launch, Mr. Mansoor Adil, Executive Vice President, Sarovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd., said, “We are delighted to be opening our fourth hotel in Gujarat. Bhavnagar, being one of the major business destinations in the state, is an important addition to our portfolio. With Efcee Sarovar Portico, we endeavor to offer the best of hospitality to all travellers to this region. Our superior banqueting facilities will …

StayWell Hospitality Group has launched its fifth property in India—Park Regis Goa. This is the largest property under the group’s portfolio. Spread over an area of 5 acres in Arpora, Park Regis Goa boasts a magnificent location featuring 96 Rooms & Suites each spread across 5500sqft with modern-décor, soothing warm colors, plush duvets, international standard mattresses and high quality bathroom amenities. Luxurious comfort with expansive, lavish spaces, a private bar and your own private balcony over-looking the plush greens. Simon Wan, CEO & Managing Director of StayWell Hospitality Group, has commented that the opening of Park Regis Goa is just the tip of the Group’s expansion in the region.”With four properties opened and an additional six under development, the growth opportunities for StayWell in India are extremely positive and exciting,” he said. The 96 room resort-style hotel is located in a prime position north of the main city of Goa, within close proximity to Goa’s iconic attractions Baga, Calangute and Anjuna Beaches. Boasting a large outdoor alfresco pool bar, cafe, restaurant, conference facilities, pool and gymnasium, Park Regis Goa will become a new class of accommodation in North Goa. Guest rooms are spaciously designed offering lavish inclusions such as handcrafted amenities, oversized bathtub and a private balcony overlooking lush surrounds. This is the second Park Regis hotel to open in India following the launch of Park Regis Jaipur in July 2015. Rohit Vig, Managing Director for India, StayWell Hospitality Group added that the group’s strategic plan is targeting an area of the Indian market with the biggest growth opportunities.”Ultimately, we are targeting India’s domestic travel segment. With a rapidly growing middle class with disposable income, the market is huge. We …

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has announced the opening of its first Radisson Blu in Coimbatore. It is the second-largest city in Tamil Nadu. Centrally located on Avinashi Road and a mere seven kilometers away from Coimbatore International Airport and Coimbatore Junction, the city’s primary railway station, the hotel is also close to textile and engineering industries, educational institutions and multi-specialty hospitals. Raj Rana, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, said, “Radisson Blu Coimbatore is set to raise the bar on the city’s upper-upscale hospitality landscape and bring new standards to the city. We are honored to be partnering with GBJ Hotels Pvt. Ltd and appreciate their trust in our brand and expertise. With 140 hotels in operation and under-development, this hotel will be a valued addition as we expand and grow our footprint in South India.” G. Balasubramaniam, Managing Director, GBJ Hotels Pvt. Ltd., added, “This is our first hospitality venture and we are happy in the strong leadership of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and its South Asia team.  We are confident that their proven experience and marketing expertise will benefit the hotel and I look forward to a mutually rewarding long-term association with the Group.”

Best Western Hotels & Resorts has announced a partnership in India with RoomsXML, an accommodations wholesaler that exclusively services travel agents. Tajinder Singh, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Best Western Hotels & Resorts India, Bangaldesh & Sri Lanka, said, “We will provide them with ready access to our more than 4,100 hotels around the world. RoomsXML meets our business needs and aspirations as we look to grow our footprint across the region, and we are confident they will help us be successful in our mission moving forward.” RoomsXML is a winner of numerous industry awards and accolades, including India Travel Awards – West. All properties available on roomsXML are 3-stars and above.  RoomsXML is also the world’s first system to have a dedicated mobile interface exclusively for travel agents. Prakash Bang, MD, RoomsXML, said, “We believe our focus has led Best Western Hotels& Resorts to choose us as a preferred direct distribution partner. We are excited to formalise our relationship with Best Western. The association will bring incredible value to our travel agent partners, who will gain from seamless access to the company’s global portfolio of 4,100 hotels.”

Stayzilla has got on board with Assam Tourism Development Corporation for the joint promotion and development of homestays in the state. The MoU was signed in the strategic presence of Ankit Rastogi, Vice President Marketplace, Stayzilla and Anurag Singh, Managing Director, Assam Tourism Development Corporation. With this association, Stayzilla becomes the first aggregator to associate with governments in the East. Under this agreement, Stayzilla will lend its expertise to Assam Tourism Development Corporation to conduct verification procedures and jointly boost homestays and unique stay experiences within Assam. ATDC as Implementation Agency for Department of Tourism, Assam will be one of the first state tourism bodies to launch a model Rural Homestay scheme providing financial incentive for development and standardization of new Homestays in Assam. This partnership will also enable verification and training of these New Homestays being developed right from the start. Stayzilla’s team in the North East, headed by Regional Office of Kolkata, will be part of the Service and Quality Assurance Committee under ATDC for Inspection which includes property verification and screening. The Tourism Board & Stayzilla will also jointly conduct educational and training sessions for registered homestays on best practices such as online usage, content management, operations and expense management. Stayzilla team will also be involved in imparting Hospitality and Skill Training to all the New Homestays under the ATDC scheme.

Two of Asia’s most iconic luxury hotel groups, Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and Mumbai-based Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, announced that they have formed a ground-breaking strategic alliance to broaden their reach and offer more unique experiences to guests across Asia and the world. The alliance will officially launch in March 2017 with the introduction of the “Warmer Welcomes” programme, which integrates Taj InnerCircle and Shangri-La’s Golden Circle guest loyalty programmes and will provide members reciprocal and seamless benefits at a scale never seen before under a hospitality alliance. Both Taj and Shangri-La are renowned worldwide for their exceptional service philosophy that is deeply rooted in, and inspired by, the cultures and traditions of the markets they operate in.

Lords Hotels & Resorts has recently signed its 26th property in Bharuch, Gujarat. To be branded under the Lords Eco Inn banner, it is scheduled to commence operations from December 2016. This makes Lords Hotels & Resorts the largest hotel chain in the state. Located between the two major cities of Surat and Vadodara, Lords Eco Inn – Bharuch serves as an ideal stopover destination. With a 48 rooms, the eco inn offers luxurious accommodations and full-service at friendly prices for the discerning business and leisure traveller. P.R. Bansal, CMD, Lords Hotels & Resorts, says, “The addition of this hotel to our chain of hotels marks a significant milestone and one that is unique, for us. From the first hotel back in 2007 which was set in this very state to this one in 2016, we have gone on to become the largest chain of true value hotels in Gujarat. Today our hotels dot the entire region. We now have all its four brands including Lords Plaza, Lords Inn, Lords Resort and Lords Eco Inn that caters to the leisure, corporate and also the pilgrimage tourists which Gujarat Tourism is known for in the state. Of the 15 Lords Hotels & Resorts properties in the state, this will be the sixth ‘Eco Inn’ brand for the group.” “We have been looking to aggressively establish our presence across the country while maintaining Gujarat as the home. In the last few months we have added three new properties in Jammu, Agra and Thrissur. We are looking to expand our portfolio not just in India but also outside, especially in the neighbouring countries where the hospitality sector still has a huge margin for …

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has revealed that it will not be pursuing the previously-announced Powai hotel project anymore. Raj Rana, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, said, “We are not pursuing the Powai hotel anymore as we are invested more in the upcoming property in Mumbai and other areas around Mumbai greater area. We have signed a new hotel which will be coming up next to the Mumbai International airport. The hotel is currently under construction and the civil structure is almost been built out and we expect the hotel to open in the next two years. Mumbai is a very important market for us and also the places close to Mumbai city. This year we opened a resort in Karjat, we already have an operating hotel in Alibaug. We look forward to adding more destinations in and around Mumbai and in the Maharashtra region.”

Hotel Formule1 has launched two hotels in Nashik and Chennai. With the new openings Hotel Formule1 expands its network across 9 cities in India. “Over the years, Hotel Formule1 has emerged as one the ideal choice for all travellers looking for comfortable, modern yet pocket friendly stay. The opening of Hotel Formule1 Nashik & Chennai OMR, is a step towards growing the brand portfolio keeping in line with the demand in the cities. Our hotels will strive to consistently provide guests a contemporary and refreshing stay experience at a great value,” says Balvinder Sahrawat, Vice-President, Hotel Formule1 India. Located in close proximity to industrial areas and popular tourist spots, the 101-room Hotel Formule1 Nashik has a self-service design concept best suited for business and leisure travellers to the city. Renowned as the holy city for Hindus, Jains and Buddhists, Nashik is one of the most up-and-coming cities in Maharashtra with a vibrant culture and entertainment ethos. Featuring 132 sound proof rooms, Hotel Formule1 Chennai OMR (old Mahabalipuram road), is strategically located amidst the business and IT hub of the city. Despite being an important city for manufacturing, health care, and IT, Chennai has developed as one of the cosmopolitan cities in India that plays an important part in the cultural, intellectual and historical growth of India. Hotel Formule1 rooms are indigenously designed and developed to make the best use of space that is conducive and comfortable.  Each room features a flat screen LED television Wi-Fi internet access and in-room amenities. F and B outlets include a lounge and a restaurant. The brand is the market’s first low-cost brand and it was revolutionized in 1985.  The hotel has a presence across …

A portfolio of seven Premier Inn hotels located in two of Thailand’s top destinations, Bangkok and Pattaya, as well as India’s most visited cities, New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Pune and Goa, are being offered for sale through an international tender process with JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group. The tender for bids is scheduled from December 19 to 23, 2016. Owned by UK company Whitbread Hotels & Restaurants International, the portfolio offers two hotels in Thailand with a collective key count of 388: one property is located in the heart of Bangkok’s retail and entertainment precinct, Sukhumvit Soi 11, and is set to be completed in the first half of 2017; the other hotel is minutes away from Pattaya’s popular Second Road and enjoys close proximity to the town’s beaches, retail malls and famous Walking Street. Premier Inn’s India portfolio, comprising five hotels in prime locations in the nation’s best performing cities, will be among the largest hotel portfolios offered in India in recent times, with a total of 583 room keys. “Hotel portfolios with vacant possession, occupying prime central locations and of this scale are rare and hard to come by in the current market,” says Mr Mike Batchelor, Managing Director of Investments Sales, JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group, Asia. “There is an expected high level of interest from global, regional and domestic investors attracted to this opportunity as they are able to immediately rebrand the hotels to the operator of their choice upon purchase.” India continues to be ranked as one of the fastest growing economies in the world with a 2016 forecast GDP growth of 7.6 percent. On India’s growing hospitality investment sector, Paul Chakkrit, Senior Vice President, …