Category Archives: Hotels

Best Western Hotels & Resorts has inked a master franchise agreement with Delhi-based Sorrel Hospitality. Led by a team of seasoned hospitality industry veterans with extensive experience building and managing hotel portfolios, Sorrel will be responsible for Best Western’s future positioning, growth and development across India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka. “We see tremendous potential right now in India and we are delighted to have aligned with a company like Sorrel Hospitality, which has an outstanding track record of success, as we work to expand our footprint in India,” said Ron Pohl Senior Vice President, Brand Management, Best Western Hotels & Resorts. “We are confident that Sorrel is the right partner to help us move closer to our very ambitious international expansion goals, and we look forward to working with their team.” Sorrel has put together a team of leading experts to guide Best Western’s efforts in India, including Gurmeet Singh Uberai, Promoter Director; Atul Jain, Chief Operating Officer; and Tajinder Singh, Vice President Sales & Marketing. Together, the team will execute a multi-pronged, multi-year development initiative. Sorrel has already begun an analysis of the Best Western portfolio in India, which currently includes 22 properties.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has announced that on March 10, 2016 it received a non-binding proposal from a consortium of companies to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Starwood for $76.00 per share in cash. Pursuant to separate agreements entered into by Starwood, stockholders would additionally receive consideration in the form of Interval Leisure Group (“ILG”) common stock from the previously announced spin-off of its vacation ownership business, Vistana Signature Experiences, and subsequent merger with ILG, currently valued at approximately $5.50 per Starwood share, based on the 20-day VWAP (volume weighted average price) of ILG common stock ending March 11, 2016. As announced on November 16, 2015, Starwood entered into a definitive merger agreement with Marriott International, Inc. under which Marriott would acquire Starwood in a stock and cash transaction. Starwood has received a waiver from Marriott enabling it to engage in discussions with, and provide diligence information to, the Consortium in connection with its proposal. Starwood commenced discussions with the Consortium on March 11, 2016. The Marriott waiver expires at 11:59 pm Eastern Time on March 17, 2016. Starwood’s Board of Directors has not changed its recommendation in support of Starwood’s merger with Marriott. The Board, in consultation with its legal and financial advisors, will carefully consider the outcome of its discussions with the Consortium in order to determine the course of action that is in the best interest of Starwood and its stockholders. The Consortium has not completed diligence and there are a number of matters to be resolved in the Consortium’s proposal. There can be no assurance that discussions will result in a binding proposal from the Consortium or that a transaction …

Lemon Tree Hotels (LTH) inaugurated its first resort hotel in Delhi-NCR at Tarudhan Valley, Manesar. Lemon Tree Hotel, Tarudhan Valley, offers 70 contemporary well-appointed rooms including 18 studio apartments, with introductory rates: Rs 7499++ on weekends and Rs 5499++ (Monday to Thursday). Together with a club house, that comprises of Skinners- a themed bar and restaurant, a Spa- Tattva, a Fitness center, an Archery Range, a Billiards room, Kids zone and a play area; the resort also offers numerous games courts and outdoor activities along with a lap-size swimming pool, to captivate its guests and enthrall its multi-faceted visitors, of all ages. Carnation Hotels, the hotel management joint venture partner of Lemon Tree Hotels has taken over the management of the resort, developed and owned by the Group Silverglades. The management agreement was signed by Rattan Keswani, Deputy Managing Director – The Lemon Tree Hotel Company and Chairman- Carnation Hotels Pvt. Ltd, and Anubhav Jain, Director– Group, Silverglades. The resort hotel also has an exclusive Banquets Arena that comprises of three large conference rooms and manicured gardens to host a variety of events, destination weddings and conferences.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced the launch of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, a global collection of unique and independent stay experiences. The Unbound Collection by Hyatt will include a portfolio of new and existing upper-upscale and luxury properties that will maintain a distinct character while providing guests and owners Hyatt’s award-winning customer loyalty program, robust operational and marketing resources and trusted, quality brand. The properties within The Unbound Collection by Hyatt – which will include historic urban gems, contemporary trend-setters, boutique hotels, resorts, and more – will have their own individual brand identities, free from constraint or convention. “The Unbound Collection by Hyatt provides us with a myriad of opportunities to grow, not only in new markets, but also in places we know our guests want to go. The collection of properties will allow us to reach the modern traveler who seeks one-of-a-kind experiences, but also wants the reassurance and loyalty program that comes with our brand,” said Mark Hoplamazian, President and CEO of Hyatt Hotels Corporation. The Unbound Collection by Hyatt launches with properties around the world, including The Driskill Hotel in Austin, Texas; the Hôtel du Louvre in Paris, France; the Carmelo Resort & Spa in Carmelo, Uruguay; and the Coco Palms Resort in Kauai, Hawaii, which is expected to undergo a revitalization and re-open in spring 2018. Future hotels in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt will be equally story-worthy, whether it be through a fascinating past, an exclusive location, famous architecture and design, or an award-winning dining experience. “We are committed to creating a portfolio that works for owners and provides them with flexibility, agility, and support, all while accentuating the best of each property and …

The Oberoi Group and Subramanya Construction & Development Company Limited (SCDCL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Maldives to build a luxury resort on the island. The MoU was signed in the presence of Moosa Zameer, the Honourable Minister of Tourism, Government of Maldives. The investment for acquisition and development of the resort will be undertaken by SCDCL, a Bangalore based Real Estate Development Company. P.R.S. Oberoi, Executive Chairman, The Oberoi Group, said, “We are extremely pleased to partner and assist SCDCL in the design and management of the proposed luxury resort. We look forward to bringing the Oberoi hospitality to Maldives. The resort will reflect the legendary Oberoi service delivered by an attentive and caring team, making it the preferred choice for luxury travellers.” K.N. Balasubramanyam, Chairman and MD, SCDCL said, “A luxury resort in Maldives requires expertise in design and operations of world class standards. The Oberoi Group, which is rated as the best luxury hotel brand in the world, is well suited for this development. We look forward to working with The Oberoi Group to create more of such luxurious offerings globally and would like to say that this extraordinary project will make a major contribution to our long term partnership”.

Sarovar Hotels & Resorts has opened a brand new property ‘Kalyan Hometel’ in Vandalur-Chennai. A contemporary business hotel, with 108 rooms and suites, was formally launched by Anil Madhok, Managing Director, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts. The room rates start at Rs 3,450++. Speaking on the occasion, Madhok said, “The existing demand-supply gap in this industrial town offers huge opportunity for hospitality brands. This allows us great prospect for our brand Hometel which is designed to provide unmatched facilities at value for money price. We are happy to associate with the Kalyan Grand Stay Pvt. Ltd. who is taking initiative to invest and promote this destination which has great potential. Hotels in Tier II and III cities are seeing major hospitality developments and will continue to be some of the most attractive locations for our future investments. Some of our new openings this year include Sarovar Portico hotels in Dehradun, Bhavnagar, Bengaluru and Raipur and we will be soon reaching out to newer destinations like Amritsar and Greater Noida.” K. Saravana Prakash, Managing Director, Kalyan Grand Stay Pvt. Ltd., said, “Facilities at the hotel include an all-day dining with bar and a fitness centre compliment the overall guests experience. Banquet & conference spaces along with business centre make it a perfect venue to host trainings, workshops, product launches, exhibitions, weddings and other social events. We are glad to partner with Sarovar Hotels & Resorts and we look forward to providing a memorable stay to business travellers to Vandalur”.

Located in the capital city of Chhattisgarh, Courtyard by Marriott Raipur is the 14th property for the brand in India, and the second in the state, joining Courtyard by Marriott Bilaspur. The hotel has the largest guest suite in the city, at 699 square feet. The rates for the Deluxe rooms start at Rs. 5500 per night, while the Courtyard Suite is priced at Rs. 13000 per night. Speaking on the occasion of the launch, Neeraj Govil, Market Vice- President, South Asia, Marriott International Inc., said, “The business community in South Asia, specifically in India, is growing at an unprecedented rate and this community is looking at lodging options that combines comfort and value. Central India in particular is evolving at a rapid pace and we want to be a part of this growth story, Raipur is an upcoming business and MICE destination, making it a key player in the region. We believe our new property will efficiently cater to this growing business segment. As always, we are committed to providing great value to our customers, while bringing the best brands within the Marriott portfolio to the Indian markets.” Each of the 96 rooms and 12 suites feature high-speed wireless internet; LED TVs; a well-appointed work area with comfort lighting and ergonomic chairs, an iPod docking station; and a coffee machine. The suites offer visual alarms and notification devices for the door and phones. The property has a relaxing Spa, with two well-appointed therapy rooms to provide soothing spa treatments, affording guests much needed relaxation after a long day. The hotel is an ideal venue for corporate and social events.  The 425-square-metre ballroom can be divided into two function space to suit events of various sizes. …

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has tied up with OYO Rooms to offer standardised accommodation and a convenient booking platform to rail travellers. OYO Rooms will power the IRCTC hotel-booking page, offering their inventory and promise of standardizsd amenities to Rail passengers. Speaking on the tie-up, CMD, IRCTC Dr. A.K.Manocha said, “We are committed to drive efficiencies and enhance our service through innovation. OYO Rooms has propelled the hotel market in India towards new horizon and pioneered the standardisation of affordable hotel-rooms. This partnership contributes another chapter to the successful narrative of Made in India initiatives and how tech-enabled solutions will power the next wave of innovation. We have made the necessary technology integrations and will be actively communicating about this newly available option through e-mailers, information on e-tickets so that our travellers can explore and utilise these services.” Abhinav Sinha, COO OYO Rooms said, “We are honoured and delighted to power the hotels-booking engine of IRCTC and serve Indian railway passengers. With this tie-up IRCTC customers will have ready access to OYO’s inventory of predictable, standardised and affordable hotel accommodation, across 170 cities in India. As India’s widest and largest network, we feel confident of catering to the passengers’ needs and look forward to making this alliance a great success.” He added, “OYO Rooms was conceived with a vision to change the way travellers view out-of-home stay. Our aim is to deliver home-like comfort at affordable prices so that wherever you may be travelling to, you would want to stay at an OYO booked through IRCTC-OYO network. The first step towards fulfilling this mandate was to expand our footprint to provide the comfort of a wide network. …

Budget hotel rooms aggregator, OYO Rooms has acquired its rival ZO Rooms. OYO’s largest investor, SoftBank has listed the transaction in its most recent financial report. However, the value of the acquisition has not been disclosed. The acquisition came after Zostel Hospitality, the promoters of ZO Rooms, failed to raise additional funds for further growth from their existing investors or bring in new investors. Zo Rooms raised roughly USD 35 million from Tiger Global and Orios Management in 2005.

SAMHI and Marriott International have introduced the first ever integrated property – Courtyard by Marriott and Fairfield by Marriott in Bengaluru, as part of their joint venture. The 336-room integrated property is set in the commercial hub of Bengaluru. Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Outer Ring Road features 170 rooms that comprise 134 deluxe, 24 executive deluxe rooms and 12 suites. The property is strategically located in Outer Ring Road of the city in the commercial IT hub. Craig Smith, President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Marriott International, who was present at the launch, said, “Marriott International has always been at the forefront of driving innovation in the hospitality industry in India and to further this commitment, the Marriott International group has for the first time, invested in a property in the country.” He further added, “The property, which is our first integrated hotel complex in India, is set to provide an unrivalled hospitality experience to the office-goers in Bengaluru with its state-of-the-art facilities and a commitment to customer experience excellence.” Fairfield by Marriott Bengaluru Outer Ring Road is the 2nd Fairfield by Marriott hotel in the city and comprises of 166 guest rooms including 112 deluxe rooms and 54 deluxe pool view rooms.  Courtyard by Marriott and Fairfield by Marriott together bring to guests a luxurious Mediterranean restaurant called BG’s which offers a splendid ambience that is available in an indoor and outdoor setting and a magnificent spread of Mediterranean cuisine prepared by a specialty chef.