Category Archives: Hotels

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts started its annual India mission at Hotel Sea Princess in Mumbai. Around 14 hotels are participating at the roadshow from destinations like Sri Lanka, Oman, Doha, Malaysia, Singapore, etc. After Mumbai, the delegation will then travel to Delhi and Kolkata, and eventually conclude in Bengaluru. Shangri-La is also promoting its recently opened Shangri-La Colombo and a new programme ‘Buds by Shangri-La’ focusing on children and families, which was launched at Shangri-La Singapore. Speaking at the roadshow, Vivek Braganza, Director of Business Development- India, Regional Liaison Office, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts said, “We plan to target MiCE, leisure and luxury travellers and would like to thank all our partners across the cities. We look to grow exponentially this year as we have in the past. India continues to be an important market for Shangri-La. We will be following this show with another activity targeted at the MiCE and wedding segment, set to take place in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore in September.”

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group announces its rebranding to Radisson Hotel Group, effective immediately, at the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) in Berlin. The new go-to-market name, Radisson Hotel Group, capitalizes on a strong partnership between Radisson Hospitality, Inc. (formerly Carlson Hotels, Inc.) and Rezidor Hotel Group AB (publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, Sweden and headquartered in Brussels, Belgium) who has master franchise agreements to develop and operate several brands across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Currently, the 11th largest hotel group in the world, Radisson Hotel Group is made up of eight hotel brands with more than 1,400 hotels in operation and under development. The launch of the group’s new identity is a significant milestone in a five-year operating plan that will transform the business and position it to become the preferred choice for guests, owners, investors and talent. “Today is the start of an exciting era for the Radisson Hotel Group, united by our new brand and long-term vision to become a top three hospitality company in the world,” said Federico J. González, President & CEO, the Rezidor Hotel Group and Chairman of the Global Steering Committee, Radisson Hotel Group. “Our five-year operating plan includes initiatives that redefine our value proposition, optimize our portfolio, streamline operations, invest in new technology systems and align our team members to deliver on our signature, Every Moment Matters. ‘Every moment Matters’ is about how we do business at the Radisson Hotel Group and who we are at the core – a place of purposeful encounters. For everyone. Everyday. Everywhere. Every time. Our rebranding is just the beginning.”

Sriperumbudur-Oragadam, Chennai’s upcoming industrial and automobile belt, saw the opening of its first international hotel – Mercure Chennai Sriperumbudur. This marks AccorHotels’ sixth property in Chennai and seventh in Tamil Nadu. Mercure Chennai Sriperumbudur features 100 guest rooms, including six suites. The hotel is located 45-minute drive from Chennai International Airport and an hour’s drive from the historic monuments and beaches of Mahabalipuram. Neeraj Govil, Chief Executive, SMP Management Group said, “We have a long standing association with Chennai and hence, it was quite logical for us to commence our association with AccorHotels from Chennai. We are privileged to partner with AccorHotels in bringing Mercure, the first international brand to the new and fast-growing industrial corridor of Oragadam.” “It is a proud moment for us to announce our first Mercure in Sriperumbudur. The opening of the hotel marks yet another milestone for AccorHotels’ expansion and growing brand presence in the country,” said Jean-Michel Cassé, Chief Operating Officer, India & South Asia, AccorHotels. “Chennai is an important market for us as it enjoys the unique positioning of being a business hub with a rich cultural heritage. The launch of this hotel has made us the largest hotel operator in Chennai with six hotels and a combined inventory of more than 950 rooms. We are well represented in the Tamil Nadu market with brands like Novotel, Mercure and ibis.” said Cassé.

AccorHotels has launched its latest Novotel in partnership with the Alcon Victor Group and its fourth property in Goa called Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort that was earlier Dona Sylvia Resort. Situated in South Goa, the resort features 181 rooms, villas and suites on the Arabian Sea coastline. Varun Albuquerque, Director, Alcon Victor Group, paid tribute to the late Charles Correa who had originally conceptualised and designed the resort. He said “Dona Sylvia Resort has always resonated with old-world charm and new-world luxury, creating an authentic Goan ambience along with its perfect location on Cavelossim Beach. Today through the rebranding of the property, as a Novotel Resort, we look forward to offering an international standard product to our guests.” Also present on the occasion was Jean-Michel Cassé, Chief Operating Officer, India & South Asia, AccorHotels. He said, “The rebranding of Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort strengthens AccorHotels’ presence in the Indian market. With 17 Novotels in the country, we believe this brand is particularly well targeted for the modern Indian traveller and international guests. We are delighted to partner with the Alcon Victor Group and look forward to bringing our expertise in hospitality to this relationship.” Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort features two conference rooms with a capacity to serve about 200 guests. The resort also offers two seaside lawns by the Cavelossim Beach.

The Fern Hotels & Resorts has added another hotel to its portfolio with the launch of Avins Beacon Hotel in Udaipur. This is the seventh hotel which is managed by the company under the Beacon Hotels brand. The other Beacon properties are located in Ajmer, Amritsar, Bhopal, Jodhpur, Mumbai and Udaipur. Beacon Hotels, a brand owned by The Fern Hotels & Resorts, are positioned as ‘smart and efficient’ hotels in the economy segment, providing value-for-money accommodations and offering limited services. Suhail Kannampilly, COO, The Fern Hotels & Resorts, said, “This is the second property which the group is managing in Udaipur. We already have The Fern Residency, Udaipur. With the launch of Avins Beacon, we are looking to service a different segment of clientele in Udaipur which is growing at a very fast pace.” Avins Beacon Hotel has 22 rooms with 19 Deluxe Rooms and three larger Executive Rooms.

Royal Orchid Hotels has announced the opening of its new hotel in Nashik named Regenta Resort Soma Vine Village. The property has 32 rooms offering boutique accommodation with varied dining and banquet facilities. On-site amenities at the hotel include a restaurant, winery, state-of-the-art fitness centre, outdoor pool, business centre and spa services. Chander K. Baljee, Managing Director, Royal Orchid Hotels said, “The hotel is the perfect complement to our recently refreshed Regenta portfolio of hotels across India. We are taking continuous steps towards expanding our presence all over India. The new hotel in Nasik is one such move towards achieving our aim. The government push toward tourism sector is giving us the much needed enthusiasm to go aggressive in adding new properties to our bouquet. Till now, we have added eight properties – Mysore, Ahmedabad, Dehradun, Kanpur, Dwarka, Indore, Pushkar and now Nasik in the current fiscal year taking the number to 49 hotels. We will continue our efforts in expanding our presence all over India.”

Niraamaya Retreats, a Jupiter Capital Venture, has announced its expansion in Nagaland with its management lease of Classic Inn, a charming boutique property at Kohima in Nagaland. It has now rechristened Niraamaya Retreats Aradura. Manu Rishi Guptha, CEO, Niraamaya Retreats, says, “This expansion is the first in the series of many more that Niraamaya Retreats has envisaged for this year. In Aradura, we saw a perfect alignment to our philosophy of Niraamaya Retreats being a selection of bespoke experiences in spectacular locations that our clientele expects from us.” The property has a total of 12 accommodations with expansive views. The suites are equipped with modern amenities and are a fusion of tribal and contemporary design.

Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) has announced its foray into Bhopal with the signing of a new hotel – Vivanta Bhopal, through a management contract with Genex Hotels. This will be IHCL’s first hotel in Bhopal, expanding its presence across key state capitals and having a network of hotels in all the key commercial centres of India. Suma Venkatesh, Senior Vice President, Real Estate & Development, IHCL said, “We are delighted to partner with Genex Hotels for Vivanta Hotel in Bhopal. Consolidating presence in key capital cities is an important pillar of our domestic expansion strategy. With rapid urbanisation and growth, Bhopal offers immense potential for both leisure and business travellers.” Vivanta Bhopal will be located near Van Vihar National Park, a 25-minute drive from the Bhopal International Airport. Spread over four acres, the hotel will comprise 150 guest rooms and other features including multi-cuisine restaurants, recreation facilities, meeting spaces, conference rooms and large banqueting facilities. Commenting on the partnership, the spokesperson for Genex Hotels said, “We are proud to partner with IHCL and introduce the Vivanta brand to Bhopal. Through this association with the pioneers of the Indian hospitality industry, we aim to enhance the guest experience in line with the highest international standards.”

Lords Hotels & Resorts has added a new property in Jamnagar, Gujarat to be launched under the ‘Eco Inn’ branding. It is the brand’s 15th hotel property in the state and overall, its 28th. The property is expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of this year. Lords Eco Inn – Jamnagar will have 65 rooms with modern amenities and full-services. The property will have an elegant banquet hall attached to sprawling green lawns and will also have its trademark multi-cuisine restaurant – Blue Coriander. “We are pleased to officially announce the sign-up of Lords Eco Inn – Jamnagar and congratulate our partners for their new venture with us. From our first hotel Lords Plaza in Surat back in the year 2007 to the latest, Lords Hotels & Resorts has created a niche for itself in the region and is Gujarat’s ‘numero uno’ hospitality brand today,” says P R Bansal, Chairman and Managing Director, Lords Hotels & Resorts. Lords Eco Inn – Jamnagar is a partnership venture with entrepreneurs Sunil Lodaya and Kuldeep Sinh. “Our presence dots the western coast of Gujarat roughly at intervals of 130 km of each other. Lords Eco Inn – Jamnagar will be our seventh property in the region and with it, we will have created a complete beach circuit in Gujarat. All properties in the circuit cater to a mix of business, leisure, pilgrimage and adventure tourism, and Lords Hotels & Resorts enjoys a lion’s share in the region. Once launched, we are expecting Lords Eco Inn – Jamnagar to capture a significant part of business tourists visiting the city,” says Rishi Puri, Vice President, Lords Hotels & Resorts.

Cygnett has signed two hotels in Vizag, Andhra Pradesh. Cygnett Lite with 41 rooms and Cygnett Inn with 40 rooms are set to open in April and June 2018, respectively. “We are delighted to announce the signing of two hotels in Andhra Pradesh at Vizag – Cygnett Lite 41 keys and Cygnett Inn with 40 keys, a brilliant location, proximity to airport, Cygnett marking our farther foray. Hotel is opening April and June 2018- our success story continues, we are now 27 hotels, 21 cities and 1400 rooms,” says Sarbendra Sarkar, Founder & Managing Director, Cygnett Hotels Group. “Cygnett Inn is the budget brand that does not adhere to the “budget” definition in any way except in its prices. It is a full-Service hotel with modern design, next generation in-room technology and helpful staff. The Cygnett Signature quality is uncompromising and exceeding guests’ expectations is always supreme,” he adds.