Stay abreast of the fast moving economic super-power — India!
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Travel News September 2007Travel and Transportation Infrastructure
Nortel to develop communication infrastructure for the Mumbai Airport Centre gives in-principle clearance to the International Airport at Mohali Jet Airways to start Bangalore operations in April, 2008 Sector: Aviation Nortel to develop communication infrastructure for the Mumbai Airport Mumbai International Airport Pvt. Ltd. (MIAL) has selected Nortel, a US-based solutions provider, for developing an extensive and comprehensive IP communications network for the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), as per an official release. The network will consolidate MIAL's data, telephony and video systems onto a converged wired and wireless IP based network using the Ethernet-based Provider Backbone Bridging (PBB) and Provider Backbone Transport (PBT) technologies. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), MIAL's long-term technology partner, will provide systems integration for the project. Once operational, the wired and wireless infrastructure will provide network coverage throughout the airport terminal buildings and outside maintenance areas. Passengers, airline staff, retailers, security and operations-handling staff will benefit from the services. The solution includes implementation of a new emergency notification system for public safety. GV Sanjay Reddy, Managing Director, MIAL, said "The state-of-the-art system will help raise CSIA to global standards, equipping it with technology that meets or even exceeds what is currently present at top airports across the world. Source: Travel Biz Monitor Centre gives in-principle clearance to the International Airport at Mohali At the special meeting held recently in New Delhi, the Central Government is said to have given an in-principle clearance to the proposed International Airport at Mohali. According to official sources, the existing infrastructure of the civil-cum-defence-airport at Chandigarh will be integrated with the Mohali International Airport in addition to 300 acres of land, which will be acquired for the project. The Centre is said to have agreed to a 49 per cent stake in the International Airport at Mohali, which is slated to be named after Shaheed-E-Azam Bhagat Singh, while the State will retain the remaining share. In the meanwhile, a memorandum will now be taken by Civil Aviation Ministry for approval by the Cabinet, which will take about three months. Source: Travel Biz Monitor Jet Airways to start Bangalore operations in April, 2008 After Jet Airways successfully launched its first class product on board Boeing 777-300 ER in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, the airline launched the product here on August 30, 2007. Giving details about the future plans for South India, Harish Shenoy, General Manager, Jet Airway, said, "International flights were to be introduced from Bangalore in October, 2007 but now they will be launched in April, 2008 once the new Bangalore International Airport is ready. We have no immediate plans for Hyderabad right now. We might introduce the Hyderabad-Newark service by end 2008 or early 2009." "We also have plans to operate on the Gulf routes in 2008-2009 subject to government approval," said Sonu Kriplani, Vice President - Passenger Sales, India, Jet Airways. It plans to introduce more international flights from Bangalore to JFK, San Francisco and so on, but nothing has been finalised as yet. All plans will depend on the new airport. "Today the three metros in South India contribute 40 per cent of the load factor of the airline, apart from contribution from smaller cities," added Shenoy. At present, the airline operates 115 flights in India, of which 34 operate from Bangalore. The airline has ordered 10 new Boeing 777 - 300 ERs, of which four have already been delivered and are operating twice daily on the Mumbai-London route and a daily service on the Mumbai-New York route. It will take delivery of the additional Boeing 77-300 ERs during 2009. It also plans to take on lease six ATR 72-500 between November, 2007 and 2008. It has also signed an MOU for another seven of these turboprops for delivery during December, 2008 to July, 2010. Source: Travel Biz Monitor Virgin Atlantic to add more destinations in India Virgin Atlantic Airways plans to add new destinations within the country in the next 18 months besides consolidating its position in Mumbai, a senior company official said. "We have plans to consolidate our position in the Mumbai market and would like to make our roots strong," Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd's Marketing Manager, Neha Lidder Ganju, told reporters here on Friday. The airline has plans to add new destinations like Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Bangalore but it would take around 18 months, she said. Speaking on competitive pricing of air tickets, she said "the market has settled down and we don't see any price war in the near future." Virgin Atlantic also inaugurated a project called 'Zindagi Devakana', along with New Life Medical and Educational Trust (NLMET) and Rachael's Children's Trust today, to provide healthcare to under-privileged children in India. 'Zindagi Devakana' provides over 1,800 children in balwadis with mobile medical and dental screening. Source: PTI via Economic Times Sector: Railways 'Palace on Wheels’ to chug along in Karnataka After the success of the 'Palace on Wheels' train-package run by the Indian Railways, a similar luxurious train service will soon start in Karnataka, to be run by the state government. "The tentative itinerary is Bangalore-Srirangapatna-Mysore-Shravanabelagola-Hassan-Hospet-Gadag-Vasco/Dabolim-Bangalore," Minister of State for Railways R. Velu said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. "The manufacturing of the coaches is almost completed. The train is likely to become operational in tourist season 2007-08," the minister informed the lower house. The proposal from the Karnataka government was to run the train throughout the year with 18 coaches, including 11 air-conditioned saloons, one air-conditioned bar car, one conference car, one air-conditioned restaurant car and a staff car. Tourists were to be offered a weeklong package and the train was scheduled to cover nearly 2,000 km. Coastal areas such as Mangalore was to be included after the completion of gauge conversion between Hassan and Mangalore. Source: MSN India Sector: Hotels & Restaurants Oswal Motels and Resorts to set up The Orchha Palace by 2009 Agra-based Oswal Motels and Resorts Ltd., is all set to own and manage its second venture called The Orchha Palace at Orchha in Madhya Pradesh by 2009. The company is making an investment of about Rs eight crores for developing the property that will house 72 air-conditioned rooms, a convention centre with a capacity to accommodate 600 people, two restaurants, a bar and two inter-connected banquet halls. Apart from that, it also plans to develop a 15-room resort spread over an area of 550 sq. mts. of land near the Bandhavgarh National Park in order to cater to wildlife tourists. At present, the company has a 32-room property called The Orchha Resorts at Orchha, which is operational only from October to March and caters to the mid and high-end segments. Recently, a Kerela ayurvedic centre was added to the property, while the existing fitness centre, deluxe tents and swimming pool were revamped. Anoop Khullar, Vice President, The Orchha Resorts, said, "Currently, our occupancy rate is 60 per cent, of which the inbound segment accounts for 80 per cent, while the domestic segment accounts for the rest. The ratio between the Average Room Revenue (ARR) and Food and Beverages (F&B) is 1:1." He added that the company plans to tap on the corporate and leisure clientele from Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Lucknow, Kanpur, Bhopal, and Ahmedabad by taking part in various travel trade events like India Travel Mart and others. Source: Travel Biz Monitor Starwood to introduce St. Regis and W Hotels in India Starwood Hotels & Resorts, a global hospitality player in the luxury and upscale segment, is planning to introduce two of its brands, St. Regis and W Hotels, in India. "We are in an advanced stage of discussions with developers to introduce St. Regis and W hotels in the gateway cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad or Pune and the project should be ready in about three years. We will be able to make an official announcement in a couple of months," said Stephen Ford, Regional Vice President, India, Nepal and Bangladesh, Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts Pte Ltd. Starwood had recently introduced two brands - The Luxury Collection brand and Aloft - in the country. "Considering that tourist arrivals in India is at an all-time high and that there is a shortage of rooms in all segments, be it luxury or mid-scale hotels, the company sees great potential in increasing its presence in India to capture a bigger share of one of the fastest growing hospitality industry in the world," maintained Ford. St Regis is a 104-year-old brand of luxury full-service hotels, resorts and residences, under which at present there are only 13 properties worldwide, while W Hotels is a luxury and upscale full service hotels, retreats and residences brand with 21 properties globally Source: Travel Biz Monitor Lack of rooms takes its toll on India’s tourism industry While there has been a giant surge in in-bound business and leisure travel in recent years thanks to low airfares and the growth of services industry, the Economic Times has reported that 30 to 35 percent of airline cancellations have been a result of lack of rooms in India. India experienced a 15.5 percent rise in international passenger traffic in the first six months of this year. However, this growth is not matched by the addition of hotel rooms. Experts say the lack of hotel rooms may affect the country’s future tourism potential. “Open skies allow us to fly in more tourist but where are the rooms. What we have today is the challenge of plenty. The flow of tourists is increasing but we do not know where to keep them,” the Vice-President, Travel Agent Association of India (TAAI), Rajji Rai said. “It is quite clear that the hotel sector has not kept pace with the aviation sector,” said Praveen Chugh, chairman, Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI). Chugh believes that rigid land use laws, high real estate prices and unnecessary formalities have prevented the industry from building the hotels required to accommodate the increase in tourist arrivals. According to a survey by HVS International, 155 hotels are currently under active development. Kamal Taneja, MD, TDI Group which plans to build three five star hotels said, “We see a huge potential in the hospitality space. India today is experiencing a 20-25% growth in tourism and a 14% growth in international arrivals. As a result, Taneja believes that site location, accessibility, visibility and proximity to key attractions will be the determining factors for the long term feasibility of hotels. Source: www. etravelblackboardasia.com Four Seasons all set for a 'formal' launch next year India has been waiting for a long time for Four Seasons’ debut. Ironically, chairman and CEO Isadore Sharp met the media at the Presidential Suite of Mumbai’s 100-year-old hotel, Taj Palace and Towers in Mumbai. After struggling for 10 years for a proper debut in India, Canada-based Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, which is part-owned by Bill Gates, Price Alwaleed bin Talal and Mr Sharp, is launching its first sub-continent property in Mumbai later this year. While the property in Mumbai will be developed by the Jatias, in Delhi, the company has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with DLF. The mid-sized luxury hotel player is opening up six hotels in India in the next few years. Mr Sharp, 76, was struck by the rapid pace of hotel development in the country. “India as a country is a natural draw for travel and tourism. It’s getting more accessible for business opportunities and it’s a tailor-made market for the hotel industry. For us the timing is excellent,” said Mr Sharp. After, 46 years of global operations, Mr Sharp is ready to step on the accelerator with projects planned for India. However, his big bet is on the growing mid-market segment, which in US parlance is known as ‘full facility limited service.’ Magus Estates & Hotels, part of the Jatia Group (which operates the Hyaat Regency in Mumbai), is the principal developer of the first Four Seasons Hotel in Worli. The Jatia family will hold around 74% in the project. Of the total $90-million investment, Four Seasons will invest $7.5 million. Four Seasons was earlier present in the country through alliances with Leelas and the Oberoi group. The hospitality chain, which manages 74 luxury hotels, had agreed early this year to be taken private for $3.8 million by Bill Gates, Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and Mr Sharp. However, Mr Sharp and his family would continue to hold a significant share of the company and would be involved in the chain’s operations and strategy. In India, Mr Sharp has identified six locations in metros and tier-I cities. He is looking at a mix of management contracts and equity investments. “We are very optimistic about the Indian market having a sustained period of growth. We are planning with a long-term vision,” said Mr Sharp. Though the BRIC countries are not contributing significantly to the Four Seasons kitty at present, the rate of development and growth, said Mr Sharp , in the next few years would grow substantially. Source: Economic Times Fortune Hotels to introduce 10 hotels across the country by March 2008 Fortune Hotels, the hotel subsidiary of ITC Ltd., is looking to set up 10 new hotels in the country by March, 2008. The company, which operates 18 hotels across the country, is focussing on business and leisure destinations, like Bangalore, Mumbai, Lavasa, Kolkata, Kochi, Vishakapatnam, Pune and Shirdi, for its expansion plans. The properties will be developed under its four brands namely, Fortune Select, Fortune Park, Fortune Inn and Fortune Faith. With this expansion, the company aims at adding approximately 1,000 more rooms to its existing portfolio of 1,250 rooms. Under the Fortune Select brand, the business hotel segment of the company, three properties are being developed - Fortune Select Trinity at Bangalore, Fortune Select Exotica at Navi Mumbai and Fortune Select at Lavasa. The idea is to focus on the metros and gateway cities. Besides, three properties are being developed under the Fortune Park brand, including Fortune Park Panchwati at Kolkata, Fortune Park Jupiter and Wellness Centre in Thane and Fortune Park Mermaid and Residences at Kochi. Apart from that, Fortune Inn brand, which comprises of business hotels with less than 50 rooms, will introduce one property each at Vishakapatnam and Pune, to be called Fortune Inn Shree Kanya and Fortune Inn Jukaso respectively. And then, in order to cater to the growing number of religious tourists, the company plans to set up two properties in Shirdi under the Fortune Faith brand. Source: Travel Biz Monitor Parsvnath plans 5-star hotel in Hyderabad Parsvnath Developers plans to open a five-star hotel, shopping and office complex in Hyderabad. This complex will have an area of 3 lakh square feet and the five-star hotel area will span across 1.75 lakh square feet with 186 rooms. In addition to this project, the company has received government's approval for setting up a bio-technology and pharmaceutical special economic zone over 25 acres in Hyderabad. At 3.11 PM, Parsvnath Developers shares, however, were down 1.19 per cent at Rs 312.60 on BSE with volume traded at 2,00,800 against two-week average of 3,89,458 shares. Source: Economic Times Taj inks marketing pact with Okura Hotels of Japan Indian hospitality major Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces has struck a marketing alliance with Japan’s Okura Hotels to explore cross-promotional opportunities for both the companies. This tie-up initially will give access to nine Taj properties and seven Okura properties across the world. “The list of properties will gradually be expanded. The Japanese market is a big source market for us and currently it accounts for little less than 15% of the business,” said Raymond Bickson, MD of Taj Resorts. This tie-up will also allow customers a slew of benefits like reservations, travel benefits, and loyalty programmes. “We are not planning to set up hotels in India in the near future and this tie-up will allow us to expand business in India where leisure and business activity is fast increasing,” said Mikio Matsui, president, Okura Hotels. Under the alliance, both Taj and Okura will jointly participate in trade shows, sales events, niche marketing programmes and culinary promotions. This will also include a special exchange programme wherein both organisations will send people to be trained in each other’s hotels in different areas of expertise. This alliance will also support and enhance the Taj Hotels and Okura representation in different parts of the world. Okura has achieved a consolidated revenue of $515 million in the fiscal ended March 2007. Taj’s list of hotels include 77 hotels both in domestic and international markets, and Okura runs 24 hotels while 17 are located in Japan. Meanwhile, Taj has moved to a single currency rate since September 1 and is hiking room rates by 15%. Traditionally, all hotel companies hike room rates in September. After a slow two quarters, the hospitality industry is gearing up for a high season, said Taj officials. Source: Economic Times Hilton, Ritz Carlton eyeing tie-up with Puravankara Top hotel chains Hilton and Four Season are believed to be in the race for tying up with Puravankara Projects Ltd for its proposed Rs 1,000 crore investment to set up half a dozen hotels in southern India. Ritz Carlton and EIH are the other two hotel chains believed to be eyeing the business opportunities, industry sources said. Officials of none of the four hotel chains or Puravankara could be contacted for comments on the speculation of either the investment or a possible tie up. Bangalore-based Puravankara had recently tapped the capital market to raise Rs 858 crore through its Initial Public Offer. The IPO of Puravankara Projects was subscribed 1.91 times and shares were listed on August 29. The company's IPO received bids for 4.09 crore shares against 2.15 crore shares on offer. It had lowered its price band to Rs 400-450 per share in view of the volatile market conditions. The company's share price today settled at Rs 375.40, a gain of 0.04 per cent over yesterday's close. The firm is all set to foray into the international market with its first overseas project expected to be launched in the next 2-3 months in Sri Lanka. The company would develop over 100 villas in Colombo. Source: PTI via Economic Times Berggruen Hotels' first project to become operational in 2008 The first hotel project of Berggruen Hotels Private Ltd (BHPL), promoted by US-based Berggruen Holdings, that aims to build 40 hotels in India will become operational by July 2008. "BHPL has received USD 25 million funding so far from Berggruen Holding," its Founder and President Nicolas Berggruen said here today. "The first hotel will become operational by July 2008 and after that every second month a new hotel will be launched," Kabir Kewalramani, advisors of Berggruen Holdings in India told PTI here today after the company unveiled its top brass that will spearhead its USD 300 million investment in India. Sanjay Sethi heads the hospitality business as Berggruen Hotels' Managing Director and CEO. "Construction has commenced on three sites in Thiruvananthapuram, Kovalam and Ludhiana," BHPL said. BHPL propose to own and operate 100 to 170 room boutique-budget hotels across the country's metros and hinterland. The company has acquired 14 sites for 11 hotels, one resort and two apartments and is pursuing 15 more. Berggruen Holdings manages assets of Nicholas Berggruen exceeding USD 1 billion and has already made investments in US, Europe, Turkey and Israel. Source: Economic Times DLF ties-up with Four Seasons for property at Gurgaon Delhi-based real estate developer DLF announced yesterday that it has tied up with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts to operate a luxury hotel in Gurgaon. DLF Hotels, the hospitality subsidiary of the group has signed an agreement with Four Seasons to set-up the property, as per a company release. Scheduled to become operational by 2010, the property will have 230 rooms and apart from restaurants, it will also have a state-of-the-art spa and meeting and conference facilities. The hotel will overlook the Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course at DLF Golf Links Source: Travel Biz Monitor Taj to set-up a gateway hotel in Raipur by 2009 The Indian Hotels Company Ltd. (IHCL) that runs properties under the Taj brand has signed an agreement with Vicon Imperials (I) Pvt. Ltd. for setting up a Taj gateway hotel at Raipur in Chattisgarh. Located on the Mumbai-Kolkata highway, the property will be Taj's first business hotel in Central India. It will have 125 rooms and is slated to become operational by 2009, says a company release. The Taj Group is also partnering with Vicon Imperials to develop a lodge at the Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The company is a subsidiary of the Vicon Group of Companies, one of the leading business houses based in Chattisgarh. Source: Travel Biz Monitor Phoenix Mills to develop a Shangri-La property in Mumbai Mumbai-based Phoenix Mills is planning to set up a 30-storey luxury property 'The Shangri-La Hotel Mumbai' at Lower Parel in Mumbai. It will develop the property through its subsidiary - Pallazzio Hotels and Leisure and Hong Kong-based Shangri-La will manage the hotel and will be its fifth property in India. With an investment of Rs 300 crore, excluding the land cost, the hotel will have 400 rooms and is slated to become operational by end of 2009. Atlas Hospitality, another Phoenix Mills subsidiary, is developing luxury hotels at Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai and Agra. Each hotel will have nearly 300 rooms, and will be executed through special purpose vehicles. Commenting on the launch of the new property, Shishir Shrivastava, Director, Pallazzio Hotel and Leisure Ltd. and CEO, Hospitality division, Phoenix Mills said, "We selected Shangri-La to manage this property due to its sterling reputation for delivering a premium luxury hospitality experience. It also marks our foray into the hospitality industry, where we plan to extend our presence to operating multiple world-class luxury properties in the coming years. The long-term opportunity in this sector is immense and we are confident of creating best-in-class properties with right partners by our side." Source: Travel Biz Monitor Now, shell out more for luxury stay Come October, travellers will have to shell out more for five-star hotel rooms across the country as hotels are set to increase room rates by 15-25 per cent across most locations. Industry analysts suggest that the revision in Mumbai and Delhi could be up to 25 per cent. At destinations such as Goa and Kerala it could be as much as 30 per cent. In effect, customers would have to pay about Rs 20,000 for a room at a south Mumbai five-star, up from about Rs 16,000 they pay now. Last year, room rates increased 16 per cent in Mumbai. In Delhi, hotel rates overall will increase by over 20 per cent. Gurgaon-based Trident Hilton has already increased its rack rates by 30 per cent and its contracted rates by 15-30 per cent. "Trident Hilton is one of the highly-priced hotels in the country and we have revised our rates keeping in mind our past relationships and future commitments," an executive said. "In general, the Delhi market will see an increase in rates by over 20 per cent this year, against 18 per cent last year." Bangalore, India's IT industry hub, may see an increase of about 10 per cent in room rates. "We will revise our rates from September, but this time it will be considerably less than last year as room demand in Bangalore is dropping," said an executive of The Leela Palace Kempinski, Bangalore. Bangalore has had the highest rate of about 12 per cent in the past three years. But this year it will be lower as the supply of rooms is expected to exceed the demand by the year end. Bangalore, which accounts for over half the number of business travellers visiting India, has about 2,500 rooms in the premium category. The city will add another 3,000 rooms over the next five years. Chennai and Kolkata, could see a rate revision upwards to 15 per cent. ITC Hotel, The Grand Central and The Luxury Collection in Mumbai plan to give corporate clients an option of two rates. Anil Malik, general manager, ITC Hotel, Mumbai said: "This year, for the first time, we will offer two different rates to our corporate clients. This would be 25-30 per cent less than the bar rate. While from September 2007 to March 2008 we will charge revised higher rates, it will be lowered from April 2008 to September 2009." Bar rates are flexible rates over a week. Since hotels offer a different rate during the weekdays and a different one at weekends, they offer corporate rates to companies, which are lower than bar rates. This means that if a hotel charges a common traveller Rs 16,000, the corporate client will pay only Rs 10,500. Hotels are known to revise rates around September-October every year, when the tourist season begins. Many prefer to make their business trips also at this time. Shortfall fuels hikes Besides, about 300 million domestic tourists travel to various destinations annually and that number is expected to grow by 10-15 per cent over the next few years. The hotel industry has 110,000 rooms and estimates a shortfall of 150,000, which has fuelled the regular room rate hikes. The hotel industry will get a fillip with the 2010 Commonwealth Games to be hosted in Delhi. The government has given approval to about 300 hotel projects, nearly half of which are in the luxury range. Source: Business Standard via Rediff Leisure Hotels Ltd. to add six more properties in Uttarakhand Leisure Hotels Ltd. (LHL) is planning to add six properties to its existing portfolio of 16 in Uttarakhand. Haridwar, Kashipur, Tehri and Naukuchiatal will get one property each, while Corbett National Park will get two. Following the success of the Haveli Hari Ganga in Haridwar, LHL has acquired another heritage haveli in the heart of the city and will convert it into an up-market boutique hotel with a spa. "Currently we are in the process of short listing renowned architects and designers for the 40 room project. The property is expected to be operational within the next 18 months. Our target market for this unique product is foreign tourists and special interest groups," states Vibhas Prasad, Director, Business Development, Leisure Hotels Ltd. Apart from this, LHL recently bought the palace of his highness Shri Manvendra Shah in Tehri and is also looking at acquiring another property in Nainital called the Earls Court. Plans are also afoot to start a 30 room property in Naukuchiatal called Astoria Waterfront by January 2008. It is modelled on the colonial structures of British Raj. "We propose to restore, renovate and upgrade the palace in Tehri into a 12-room hotel within a year's time. The palace enjoys a lovely view of the Tehri Dam and the man made lake and will serve as an ideal destination for travellers seeking solace from the maddening crowds and those who want to enjoy water sports at the Tehri Lake. With regards to Earls Court, which is spread over six acres, we are planning to upgrade the 40 room property to a lifestyle resort and also add 12 villas with five rooms each," informs Prasad. LHL that currently offers more than 300 rooms primarily catering to the leisure and spiritual tourist segments is also opening the second phase of The Hideaway River Lodge in Corbett National Park by March, 2008. "While the lodge was started with luxury Swiss cottage tents, the second phase will consist of 10 pre-fabricated cottages," states Prasad. Another upcoming property tentatively named Corbett Retreat with 80 rooms will be the fourth property of LHL in Corbett and will target tourists from all segments. LHL is also redesigning its website www.leisurehotels.in. While the site will continue to function under the same domain name, it will now have an online booking feature and will be operational by October 1, 2007. 'Book-A-Res, an online technology solutions provider, will provide access to leading GDS systems for the website. "The overhauled website will be more user-friendly in terms of search options. We are also are working on getting the website on the first page of any search engine," says Prasad. The company is also planning to give out GSA arrangements in 10 different cities in India starting with Kolkata, Pune, Jaipur, Agra, Bhopal, Bangalore, etc. within a span of one year. "We want to give more facilitation and visibility to our customers and travel agents for the maturing market," explains Prasad. Source: Travel Biz Monitor Oberoi Group to invest around Rs 4,500-cr in new projects EIH Ltd, the flagship company of the Oberoi Group, will infuse around Rs 4,500 crore in new projects for 60 per cent capacity augmentation both in the country and overseas over the next five years. Announcing this here today at the end of the company’s 57th annual general meeting, the Oberoi Group chairman Mr PRS Oberoi said during the period the number of rooms would soar to 6,800 from the present 4,100. “With rapid growth in the hospitality industry, we plan to invest between Rs 4,300 crore to Rs 4,500 crore in new projects over the next five years. Of this, EIH will contribute Rs 1,000 crore and the rest will come from borrowings and partners,’’ he told reporters. Having set a target of 50 per cent capacity addition in the country alone, EIH will add up 1,400 more rooms in its Trident Hilton category projects in Mumbai, Bangalore International Airport and Hyderabad City, entailing an investment of Rs 800 crore, he said. The construction of the 440 key Trident Hilton located at Bandra Kurla, Mumbai was expected to open in the third quarter of 2008, while two joint venture projects—one in association with L and T in Bangalore and another in Hyderabad with the Rama Rao Group—are likely to be completed by 2010. The Oberoi Luxury Hotel at Gurgaon is expected to open in 2009. The company had earlier announced its plan to set up seven additional luxury hotels—two in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, including a resort and one each in the Sultanate of Oman, Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt, Marrakech in Morocco and Paro and Thimpu in Bhutan. In reply to a question, Mr Oberoi said EIH was eager to set up its second property in Kolkata in league with a partner for which it was in a prowl for land. The company is planning new flight kitchens at the international airports at Kolkata Airport at an investment of Rs 70 crore and in Mauritius after commencing the service in Chennai. Mr Oberoi said the company has a 70 per cent market share in the country in flight kitchen business which contributed about 13 per cent of the profitability. Earlier, speaking at the AGM, the chairman said the travel and tourism industry had shown significant growth in the past few years and the number of visitors to India had doubled in five years resulting in more competition. “This trend will continue as India is now an important destination for leisure and business travellers,’’ he observed. With the demand for hotel accommodation remaining buoyant, the trend was evident not only in the cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, but also other destinations. The growth of the sector, comprising services such as tourism, trade, transport and communication, was more than 13 per cent, he said. Source: Navhind times via UNI French dining in the NCR Three brave new restaurants in and around Delhi are working towards making French food more accessible, more fun, and therefore, more in vogue. Terroir is not a term you would expect to slip easily off most Indian tongues. Yet, it is being brandied about increasingly and not just in the trendy circles. Thanks to the growing interest in wine and its rapid democratisation in the country, a lot of people have developed at least a nodding acquaintance with the word — used to suggest the climate and the soil and all factors responsible for a wine’s peculiar characteristics. And now, a Gurgaon restaurant has taken the lead by christening itself, well, what else but Terroir. That’s really quite a fine name for a place that aspires to be a full-fledged wine bar and a French cuisine restaurant; dangerous propositions both — until lately — in a city known to disregard anything but Scotch and tandoori. But things have obviously been changing rapidly in the NCR and one measure of it is in the refusal to be intimidated, any longer, by French gastronomy. Terroir, the restaurant at the new Galaxy hotel in Gurgaon, serves some interesting mix-and-match cuisine: prawn mousse and potatoes, coffee bean-coated scallops and even a cream cheese cone. There are other European highlights too though the focus is French. But it signifies an important way in which our palates — and thoughts — are changing. Till even two years ago, French would never be the dinner of one’s choice unless one was prepared to go through a sombre, stately and certainly very expensive experience at a five-star hotel. The fabulous Orient Express at the Taj Palace in Delhi continues to position itself as a “celebration restaurant”, not the stuff of casual dining, and however much you may love Chef Hemant Oberoi’s camembert soufflés and pepper steaks at the Taj in Mumbai, the cuisine never became as accessible as, say, Italian for the young, 30-plus Indian, increasingly treating dining as entertainment. Now, in the space of six months, three brave new restaurants in the NCR, our dining capital too, have changed all this remarkably. French food has become more accessible and more fun, therefore in vogue. Nu Deli, which opened in the Greater Kailash II market almost two years ago, was the first off the mark. Set up by foodie Tenku Loond, an Indian national who returned from France after staying there for 30 years (and who decided to focus on food rather than his family’s garments business), it began serving what Loond calls “French food minus French manners”. If Nu Deli has built up a loyal contingent of fans in its short existence, six-month-old Cafe De Paris at Greater Kailash I probably gets a lot of walk-ins, people with Fabindia bags (yours truly included) plopped up on chairs. The air of cheerfulness, the bustling energy and, yes, informality are all evident. There’s an Indian chef in charge (an expat chef was called in to do the basic menu and teach the staff but has since returned), chic young clientele is at most tables, and this is one place that has all the makings of a pleasant Parisian establishment — despite the lack of outdoors or a more charming facade. Source: Business Standard Sahara ties-up with Carlson to develop 'Radisson Hotel' in Lucknow Sahara India Club Royale Corporation Ltd. (SICRCL) has signed a management and licence agreement with Carlson Hotels Worldwide for setting up a Radisson Hotel at the Sahara City Homes in Lucknow. SICRCL will develop and own the property which will operate under a licence from Radisson Hotels International, a 100 per cent subsidiary of the Carlson Hotels Worldwide. With an investment of Rs 100 crore, work on the project is scheduled to start soon and will be completed in early 2010 as per a company release. The property will have 135 rooms, 15 service apartments and three banquet halls with seating capacity for 800 guests. SICRCL is the hospitality subsidiary of Sahara Infrastructure and Housing. Source: Travel Biz Monitor
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