Category Archives: Hotels

Marriott is expected to reach more than 30,000 rooms in India by end 2023. Right now the brand has an inventory of 25,000 rooms. Given India’s robust economy and rising middle class, the country continues to present exciting growth opportunities, leveraging strong demand for Marriott’s select-service brands and growing demand for its upper upscale and luxury portfolios. The company expects to debut the Tribute Portfolio brand in India, with the opening of Port Muziris, Kochi, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel slated for the second quarter of 2019. “As important as our size is our commitment to deliver seamless and quality experiences for our guests at on-brand properties. Today’s traveller demands authentic, personalized and transformative experiences, whether for work or for pleasure, as a way of broadening their individual horizons and achieving a deeper understanding of the world. As the world’s leading hospitality company, it is in our DNA to strive to be part of our guests’ favorite moments and memories. We are dedicated to Marriott International remaining Asia Pacific’s favorite travel company,” says, Craig S. Smith, President and Managing Director, Marriott International Asia Pacific.

As the Radisson Hotel Group enters the second year of Destination 2022, its five-year strategic road map, extensive expansion is underway across South Asia. The Group has signed 15 hotels in India in 2018 and it has already signed four more properties in 2019: Park Plaza Amritsar, Radisson Greater Noida, Radisson Gurugram Sohna Road City Center, and Park Inn by Radisson Kashipur. Seven new hotels were opened in India in 2018, and the group is on track to reach the landmark of opening its 100th hotel in India this year. Leveraging its first-mover advantage in the country, Radisson Hotel Group intends to introduce international hospitality to a series of fast-growing Tier II and III cities, as well as emerging areas such as North East and Central India.

Accor recently disclosed its aggressive expansion plans for the Indian market. Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Accor, says, “India is a very important market for Accor. In order to ensure our consistent commitment for the market, we will be getting Raffles brand to India. We will open the first property in Udaipur by mid 2020 which will have 101 rooms and suites and then we will venture into the Jaipur market by 2022 which will open with 55 suites.

WelcomHeritage has added one more property to its existing portfolio – WelcomHeritage Kalyan Bhawan in Jaisalmer. WelcomHeritage Kalyan Bhawan was the former home of the Ruler of Jaisalmer – Maharawal Jawahir Singh ji and was called as ‘Kanwar Pada’, meaning Princes’ Residence in local parlance. It is a centrally located property amidst the walled city of Jaisalmer. The property features 22 exquisite rooms and has been refurbished in the original art deco style to meet the requirements of the modern traveller and caters to both leisure and business travellers who want to enjoy the local flavors of town. The former haveli was an old mansion which is now recreated so as to make the property contemporary to the present day times. Along with many recreational services like Roof-Top Dining, traditional Massage Services and Swimming Pool available at the nearby WelcomHeritage Mandir Palace, the hotel offers three unique categories of rooms to choose from. Sanjeev K Nayar, GM, WelcomHeritage shared, “This is the 34th operational property of WelcomHeritage and we are extremely happy with the new addition. Out of 34 operational properties, we have now 12 in Rajasthan. This property has its own unique charm and caters to both leisure and business travellers who want to stay within the walled city of Jaisalmer and enjoy the local flavours of the town. Very soon we will be adding few more properties in Rajasthan, South and North-east region. We are looking at adding around 3-4 more properties by the end of this financial year”. For a sumptuous culinary experience, guests can choose to dine at nearby WelcomHeritage Mandir Palace’s Roof-Top Restaurant (which offers a panoramic view of the Jaisalmer Fort). The cuisine includes …

Lords Hotels & Resorts has announced its latest property in Lucknow which will be named as Lords Eco Inn. The hotel will be operational by mid 2019 and will have 30 rooms along with an F&B outlet and a banquet hall. It is Located in the heart of Lucknow in Hazratganj and the nearest airport is Lucknow Airport which is at a distance of 14 kms and the nearest railway station is Lucknow Railway Station which is just 4 kms from the hotel.

Furaveri Island Resort & Spa enters India market through a market representation agreement with India Sales Associates. “Regarded as a Truly Maldivian resort with modern facilities, Furaveri Island Resort & Spa is the perfect getaway in Maldives. Expansive green landscape in 23 hectors, overlooking a white sandy beach and panoramic ocean views are the setting for a relaxing holiday in the most beautiful surroundings. Furaveri Island Resort & Spa is located 151 kilometers (95 miles) north from Malé International Airport, is accessible by direct scenic seaplane flight or domestic flight followed by a 45-minute speedboat journey, offers an unmatched experience for individuals, couples and families. Whether you are an adventurer seeking the underwater experience, an explorer looking for a remote exotic island or a fishing enthusiast ready for the big catch” – said Manas Sinha, Director, INDIA SALES ASSOCIATES. Led by one of the Maldives most celebrated chef, resort is geared to serve the authentic Indian cuisine and Jain meals, aside the wide variety of International and specialty Fusion Asian and Casual Mexican cuisine.

Sarovar Hotels and Resorts expands its portfolio in Delhi- NCR region with the signing of another project in Ghaziabad. This will be Sarovar’s eighth property in Uttar Pradesh. The other hotels of the group are in Agra, Vrindavan, Lucknow, Jhansi and a recently signed hotel in Greater Noida West. Commenting on the development, Anil Madhok, Executive Chairman, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, said “In order to maximize further growth and expansion opportunities, we are delighted to consolidate on our presence in Delhi NCR. With the opening of Sarovar Portico, we aim to cater to these markets by offering best value to business and leisure travellers in sync with Sarovar’s signature hospitality.  

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced that 2019 will mark record growth for Hyatt in India. Expansion plans foresee the addition of over 2,100 guestrooms through the opening of more than 14 new properties over the next 24 months. Aside from growth in the larger capital cities, the emphasis will be on leisure and cultural destinations, with a focus on emerging cities within India. As a result of an increasingly favorable business climate and heightened tourism spend, encouraged by relaxed visa rules and a growing upper middle class, there is a general demand for growth in the hospitality industry in India. This expansion includes hotels in eight new markets in the country, thereby establishing Hyatt’s brand presence across 27 cities in India over the next 24 months. “Hyatt is one of the longest-running international hotel management brands in India, the first Hyatt hotels in India opened over 30 years ago,” said Dhruva Rathore, Vice President Development-India, Hyatt. “Our heritage and experience in this complex market, paired with the strong relationships we hold with local developers and owners has helped make India one of the top three growth markets for Hyatt globally.”

The Accor Showcase this year saw more than 1,400 attendees that interacted with Accor representatives from hotels and resorts in India and abroad representing 1,500 properties. For the past three years, the Accor Showcase has brought together key industry and Accor hotels and resorts representatives from India and around the world. Over the years, the Showcase has served as an ideal platform to ideate on working together to leverage a thriving domestic and outbound tourism market in India. This year saw some of the most prominent corporates, wedding planners, leisure travel planners, travel agents, OTA’s (Online Travel Agencies), etc. as attendees. The event saw participation from countries such as Seychelles, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, Hungary, New Zealand, Australia, Mauritius, Maldives, Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Spain. Some of the participating hotels were Raffles Seychelles, Raffles Maldives, Rixos Premium Belek Antalya, Fairmont Monte Carlo, Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi, SO Sofitel Vienna, Fairmont Nairobi, Fairmont Dubai, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Fairmont & Swissotel the Stamford Singapore, Fairmont Marina Abu Dhabi, Swissôtel The Bosphorus Istanbul, Novotel and MGallery Phuket, MGallery Bangkok, Sofitel Budapest, Mövenpick Hotel Switzerland, Movenpick Colombo, Pullman Bali, Pullman Baku, Grand Mercure Bangkok, Novotel Madrid Center, Adagio Paris. Weddings and MICE travel was the primary focus of most attendees for both Indian and international properties. The most popular destinations amongst the attendees were Bali, Istanbul, Seychelles, U.A.E, Baku amongst others. The Accor Showcase 2019 was fruitful for many properties as they were able to close deals within the event hours.

Oberoi Hotels & Resorts has revisited its identity to ensure it reflects all its core values. It recently has presented the “Oberoi Sun”. The “Oberoi Sun” translates the warmth, energy and sense of well-being of the guest experience. Along with this, the brand has also launched its newly revamped website that hopes to capture an online experience that mirrors the brand’s hotels and resorts. The website has endeavoured to capture the unique Oberoi experiences offered across all the hotels and resorts through a film. Talking about the branding initiative, P.R.S. Oberoi, Executive Chairman, The Oberoi Group says “For all of us at Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, our guests come above everything else. This has been the foundation of our existence for over 85 years and holds as true in our hearts and minds today as it did when the first Oberoi hotel was established by my father Rai Bahadur M.S. Oberoi in the 1930s. With a deep belief and commitment to our guests, we thought who better to guide us into the future than our guests, initiating an exciting journey of brand re-discovery for Oberoi.”