Category Archives: Destination

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), has signed a management agreement with Devatva for Holiday Inn Dehradun Mussoorie Diversion Road. Located on the main road that leads to Mussoorie, one of the most popular hill station in northern India, the hotel will open its doors and welcome guests in 2023. Popularly known as the gateway city of Uttarakhand, Dehradun is home to some of the most prestigious education institutions in India and is a popular tourist destination attracting domestic travellers for holidays.  The city has grown in popularity as a destination for MICE, attracting business from both corporate and social events segments. Additionally, setting up of small to medium scale industries in the state, in the last five to six years has boosted corporate travel into Dehradun and neighbouring regions. Adding to the convenience of the guests, the new Holiday Inn hotel will be located at a 20 minutes’ drive from the city centre and only a 50 minutes’ drive away from the nearest airport. Given the strategic location, the hotel will be well positioned to cater to the demands from both leisure and corporate travelers visiting Dehradun.

Lords Hotels and Resorts has signed up with a leisure club and resort in Rajkot, making it the hotel company’s 23rd venture in Gujarat. It already has a presence in Ankleshwar, Bhavnagar, Chotila, Dahej, Dwarka, Gandhidham, Gir, Somnath, Surat, Porbandar, Rajula, Vadodara, Jamnagar (two proeprties), Morbi, Ahmedabad, Rajkot (four properties) and Bharuch in the state. The agreement was signed between Pushpendra Bansal, COO, Lords Hotels and Resorts and Ishwar Gehi, Promoter of Aarya Raj Club and Resort. Commenting on the occasion, Bansal said, “We are delighted to announce our latest venture in Rajkot. It will be a fabulous retreat for a traveller with host of amenities.” Rishi Puri, Senior Vice President of Lords Hotels & Resorts, adds, “Lords Aarya Club & Resort captures the essence of Gujarat with its unique architecture. It will differ in a way that it will offer tourist a more relaxed atmosphere.” Inspired by the architecture of the great Pyramids of Egypt, the resort encompasses seven pyramids which exude grandeur and is spread over 1,50,000 sq ft area. Guests can access meeting and conference services at well-appointed venues, experience the spa, workout at a well-equipped gym and fitness center. The resort also has a swimming pool with gandola boat, and halls and outdoor venues for events.

Amatra Hotels and Resorts has launched two properties in Haridwar and Mussoorie, Uttarakhand. The company is also looking to have 3,000 rooms and inventory of over 45 hotels in the next 3 years across strategic locations in India. In 2019, it plans to add five hotels to increase its total tally to 7 hotels. “We are launching these two properties in India with a clear focus to provide unmatched and distinct luxury in India, which is affordable for the masses. As we create a different league of identity for us in luxury hospitality, travellers will witness many firsts in this segment. We are also looking to acquire properties in other regions across India and will launch few more properties this year,” MrSabrySalahudeen, Chief Growth Officer, Amatra Hotelssaid. The resort chain offers value for money offerings in the leisure category with handpicked properties in key destinations across the leisure landscape of India. In India, the company is looking to acquire exemplary properties in Goa, Rajasthan, Kerala, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and few other leisure locations across the country.

Sarovar Hotels and Resort has announced the signing of new hotel in the Godavari Delta of Andhra Pradesh. The hotel will have 50 aesthetically designed rooms including suites. Other facilities include an outdoor swimming pool, spa, dining area and indoor meeting and banquet space for business meets and social event. This is Sarovar’s second hotel in the state of Andhra Pradesh after Marasa Sarovar Premiere, Tirupati. Commenting on the development, Anil Madhok, Executive Chairman, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, said “We are delighted to expand our leisure portfolio. Our vision is to deliver uncomplicated travel experience for our business and leisure travellers. We see great growth potential in this market and look forward to offering best value to business and leisure travellers in sync with Sarovar’s signature hospitality”.

The Hotel Monitor 2020 by American Express Global Business Travel (GBT), predicts that hotel prices in most key cities will experience only modest rises in 2020. Bengaluru is one of the top business destinations in India. Demand from business travellers will lead to rise in room rates by 5% in 2020, even as supply grows at double-digit rates. Ashish Kishore, Managing Director at American Express Global Business Travel India, said “India is leading the way in global technology advancements, which we’re seeing through the increase of business travel opportunities to Bangalore.” Joakim Johansson, Vice President, Global Business Consulting at GBT, said: “Despite signs that the global economy is facing challenges, the number of people travelling for business and leisure continues to grow. But, in most cities, a full hotel development pipeline means this sustained level of demand will not feed into big rate rises.”

The Fern Hotels & Resorts has opened a second property under The Fern Residency Brand in Nepal. This takes the tally to 63 hotels managed by the company, across 46 locations in India, Nepal and Seychelles. The hotel will have 48 rooms. Commenting on the opening, Suhail Kannampilly, CEO, The Fern Hotels & Resorts, said, “It is a moment of great satisfaction and pride for us. Our Fern brand has been well received in Kathmandu and that has given us the confidence to open the second property. The property will operate as an eco-sensitive hotel, offering guests a central location at great value, for their corporate and leisure stays.” Winter Green Rooms offer both King and Twin bed options. Guest room facilities include LED TV, digital in-room safe, complimentary bottled drinking water, in-room tea & coffee facility, eco-friendly room lighting, etc. The hotel also offers a restaurant, and a contemporary all-day dining multi-cuisine restaurant offering a wide range of Nepalese, Indian, and International cuisines and alcoholic beverages.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced plans for Thompson Denver, the first Thompson Hotels property in the state of Colorado, expected to open in 2021. “Denver has been a priority market for our Thompson Hotels brand and we are excited to have the opportunity to be bringing it to this vibrant city,” said David Tarr, Senior Vice President, development, Hyatt. “We are looking forward to introducing locals and visitors to the brand’s tailored and refined edge, with its world-class culinary offerings, elevated programming, and groundbreaking design.”

Radisson Hotel Group has announced an agreement with Zdrojowa Invest & Hotels group for two new-build Radisson resorts in Poland. The hotels span the country, from the foothills of the Karkonosze Mountains in Szklarska Poręba to the northern Baltic coast in Kołobrzeg. The hotels will be part of the upscale Radisson brand, bringing the group’s portfolio in Poland to 18 properties across five brands – including Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, Radisson and Park Inn by Radisson. Zdrojowa Invest & Hotels and Radisson Hotel Group have been partners since the 2017 opening of the Radisson Blu Resort, Świnoujście. Based on the success of the collaboration, Radisson Hotel Group will work hand-in-hand with Zdrojowa to develop and deliver new hotels. Elie Younes, Executive Vice President & Chief Development Officer, Radisson Hotel Group, said: “We are excited to have signed this country development agreement with Zdrojowa Invest & Hotels group and thank them for their trust in our brands and people. We are glad to strengthen our position as the largest international operator for leisure destinations in Poland and look forward to working with our partners on future development projects.”

Sunil Varghese, Director, Dune Wellness Group, has revealed that they will be opening a new property in Kerala by 2020. The brand has six properties in India, out of which only one has a spa. They have one more spa in Bali. Going forward, they will be looking at new openings as well. “We are looking for a property in Kerala, which will have a spa as well. By 2020 it should be operational,” informed Varghese. He added that they are a small chain of hotels located in South India operating from destinations like Tanjore, Pondicherry, Kodaikanal and Matheran.

OYO Hotels & Homes has announced that Founder & CEO (Group), Ritesh Agarwal, through RA Hospitality Holdings (Cayman), has signed $2 billion primary and secondary management investment round, supported by global institutional banks and his financial partners, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals. This year, the company has seen a 4.4x YOY growth in revenue in June 2019 (vs. June 2018), with 1 million rooms under management across hotels and homes; with over 200,000 rooms in India. The company’s strong growth, improved margins, superior improvements in customer experience led to this move, making it one of the first founder and executive-led management purchases in the technology and hospitality sector, globally. Lightspeed Venture Partners, and Sequoia India, OYO’s early supporters, are selling part of their holdings in order to help the founder increase his stake and thereby commitment while remaining invested significantly in the company’s long-term mission