Hyderabad | Hotels & Resorts

[Gudavalli]

Source: http://www.mydigitalfc.com/news/prid...coimbatore-409

Pride group of hotels is in talks to acquire two 150-room hotels in Hyderabad
and Coimbatore for Rs 75-100 crore each within a year.

The group, which owns a chain of upscale mid-market and business hotels, is planning to fund the acquisitions through internal accruals and debt.

SP Jain, managing director of Pride Hotels, said, “We are in talks with HDFC Bank, Citi Bank, and Kotak Mahindra, among others, for debt funding. We will fund the acquisition with 40 per cent internal accruals and 60 per cent debt. Bankers are comfortable offering us debt because, at present, we have very little debt of around Rs 80-90 crore.”

Jain said the company is in final stages of negotiation and hopes to close at least one deal within the next six months. He said the group has a successful track record of acquisitions having already acquired three hotels as part of its expansion plan. “We are always open to acquisitions,” he said.

The group had shelved its initial public offering last year due to unfavourable market conditions, but plans to go public again by 2013-14. The company had filed a draft red herring prospectus with the capital markets regulator Sebi last year but withdrew it due to the unfavourable market conditions. It had plans to raise Rs 200 crore via the IPO.

“Valuations will certainly change now and the size of the initial public offering will depend on a combination of debt and equity but will not be less than Rs 250 crore,” said Jain.

The group had recently opened a mid-market hotel in Kolkata and added 153 rooms to its kitty. It plans to invest around Rs 1,000 crore by 2015 for expansion.

Satyen Jain, chief executive officer of Pride Hotels, said, “With the launch of Kolkata property, Pride group of hotels now offers over 1,100 rooms with a host of F&B, banquet and conferencing facilities at its 12 properties in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, Nagpur and Kolkata, under the Pride Hotel brand. At Gurgaon, Ranipet, Salem, Kochi, Jaipur and Alleppey it operates under the brands Pride Biznotel and Pride Resorts.”

The Pride Hotel, New Delhi is a 400-room upscale mid-market hotel at Delhi Aerocity near Indira Gandhi International Airport.

The group plans to expand its footprint in Goa and Alibaug. The company has already tied up the land at Alibaug and South Goa for this purpose. Pride group will open its first property in Mumbai in 2015 by setting up a 400-room five star deluxe hotel with an investment of Rs 300 crore.

Pride Biznotel — the full service business hotel from Pride group — will also enter Indore and Chandigarh.

Pride Hotels is promoted by the Rs 3,000-crore SP group of companies, which is engaged in the business of hospitality, construction and financial services.

[hyderabadi27]

http://www.independent.co.uk/travel/...a-7546178.html

24-hour Room Service: Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad, India
Hyderabad's heavenly palace shines again.
To appreciate fully the majesty of Falaknuma Palace, you have to remove yourself from the present. As such, I was whisked from airport to entrance just as the inky sky started to lighten and a muezzin's call stirred the sleepy streets of Hyderabad. My driver pointed up a hill – lording it over the ramshackle whitewashed buildings around us was fairy-tale Falaknuma. We wound upwards past strutting peacocks to reach its gatehouse. Here, I was decanted from the car to a vintage mustard-yellow carriage, complete with liveried coachmen in feathered hats.

The heady scent of frangipani drifted past as the horses trotted towards the palace. It felt like a dream. As I ascended the left staircase up into the palace, a shower of rose petals rained down. "Just as the Nizams would have done," the hotel's manager Reekshit Siddhanta explained. "They were very superstitious – up the left staircase, down on the right – bad luck, otherwise."

A dynasty of seven Nizams ruled Hyderabad for two centuries. You might say that superstition paid off: the last Nizam, Osman Ali Khan, was the world's richest man, with a fortune of around US$2bn.

His profligacy is quite remarkable. Here was a man who once bought the entire contents of a shoe shop in Madras so that he could pick a pair at his leisure; and who used a 187-carat diamond as a paperweight on his desk at Falaknuma.

The marble palace was built in 1893 by the prime minister of Hyderabad in the shape of a scorpion to reflect his star sign. (As I said, they were a superstitious bunch.) The project bankrupted him, so he invited the incumbent Nizam – Osman Ali Khan's father – to visit. As intended, he fell in love with the palace and bought it. It became the seat of the Nizams, until the end of their dynasty in 1948.

The palace reopened as the fifth of Taj Hotels' Grand Palaces just over a year ago, after a 10-year restoration of what had become a sad spectre of its former self. The rebirth was overseen by Princess Esra, once married to Osman Ali Khan's grandson. "She had the exterior repainted 15 times," I was told by the hotel's historian, Prabhakar Mahindrakar; Falaknuma's name means "mirror of the sky" in Urdu and the exact shade of blue-grey had to be harmonious with the heavens.

Today, Falaknuma's modern concessions are a sensitive counterpoint to its rich history. The princess's hand is evident in the decor, chosen to reflect the celestial theme – pastel colours and delicate chandeliers, a serene spa painted with cranes and rose bushes. Meanwhile, the library groans with 5,970 books in Urdu, Arabic and English.

At dusk, parakeets dart around while flautists play in alcoves. In such an evocative scene, I soon felt quite at home in the extraordinary world of the Nizams.

Location

Falaknuma looks down on Hyderabad, 600m below. A short drive north are the four grand arches of the 16th-century Charminar, surrounded by the frenetic bazaar; and Chowmahalla Palace, also restored by Princess Esra. About 7km north-west are the remarkable domed tombs of the Qutb Shahi kings.

Comfort

I was in a spacious Grand Royal Suite, whose windows – set high in tall walls – provide little natural light, but once served to keep the Nizam's concubines out of sight. However, the feminine decor – silk curtains and pelmets, hues of dusky pink and apple and daintily embroidered bed linens compensated (though a leopard-print pouffe was a personal touch too much). Teak beams, oak floors, Turkish rugs and old photos of Hyderabad served as historical prompts.

The smallest rooms are brighter, with French doors opening on to an arcade lining a long and lush courtyard. The white palette is simpler, though furnishings no less luxurious.

[Gudavalli]

Source: http://postnoon.com/2012/03/12/suppl...s-hotels/36826

It can be a place of recreation for those who can spend, and for those in need it is a shelter and also a joint to satiate their hunger. Content is constant, but class differs. So what? Hospitality lies in the warmth a guest enjoys more than the physical amenities.

As it has grown in size over the decades, the industry provides employment to lakhs of people directly and indirectly. But now it is grappling due to the roller-coaster movement of business cycles, increase in supply and drop in demand.

There are 35,000 hotels in the State, including 15,000 in the twin cities. Political agitations and government policies caused a dent in the growth of the industry.

Interestingly, if not ironically, new hotels are emerging in the City, creating more supply than the demand, hampering the growth.

The occupancy rate is as low as 40 per cent in budget hotels and 50 per cent in the luxury hotels. There is a 10 per cent growth in the occupancy in last three months alone, thanks to the absence of political agitations in the City, says GV Krishnaiah, President, AP Hotels association.

“The low occupancy ratio has impacted the industry. However, we could minimize the damage with events’ business such as weddings and social functions and congregations,” said Chakravarthi Raju, Chairman and managing director, Leonia group, (LICEC).

There is a huge gap in supply and demand of hotel rooms. If the demand is growing at 8-9 per cent every year, the supply is growing at 25 per cent in the City. However, the demand in the country is growing at 10-12 per cent, compared to supply of 20-30 per cent, according to the head of sales of a leading chain of hotels in the country.

It may be recalled that Managing Director and CEO of Taj Group Raymond N Bickson said in an interview to Postnoon a few weeks ago that more than 60 per cent of occupancy in the star hotels came from foreign travellers. The room capacity went up from 67,000 to 1.30 lakh in the last nine years. He said that it takes at least three to four years to set up a hotel by acquiring 120 permits. The luxury hotels that are coming up in the City were initiated around 2007. Major hotel chains cannot shelve the projects.

Even the growth in domestic travel did not help the Industry. “People are travelling more, but the duration of their stay has declined. They are not staying for three to four days, as earlier. The travellers visiting the City are returning the same evening,” says Krishnaiah.

Growth in domestic travel is attributed to growth in tourism. However, the State is not a major tourist destination either. Almost 85 per cent of the customers are on corporate visits and the rest 15 per cent constitutes tourists, says the head of sales of another star hotel chain.

The luxury hotels may withstand temporary losses with a hope to gain profits in the long run. However, it is extremely difficult for small and budget hotels to sustain, as they need to do regular debt servicing. The hotels are unable to pay bank loans promptly with the 40 per cent occupancy. The hotels need to have at least 65 per cent occupancy for a break-even, says Krishnaiah.

The government has increased value added tax to five per cent, compared to 4 per cent in Karnataka and 2 per cent in Tamil Nadu. The property tax is also more than doubled to hotels in the State. This will impede the collection of taxes and increase corruption.

The corruption has already peaked in granting licences in various departments. Especially, the government officials are to be paid for the formalities while granting trade licences, irrespective of accuracy in following the procedures, he said.

The government is clearing the budget deficit by simply increasing taxes without looking at the status of industry and people’s paying capacity for the hotels. The industry cannot see growth without change in the policies, slashing of taxes and simplifying the procedures. Hotel industry in Hyderabad has a bright future, if there is a healthy political situation, he said.

[Gudavalli]

Source: http://www.justprnews.com/82560/hyde...lley-of-india/

The city Hyderabad attracts millions of travelers every year. You can find a thriving tourist population who travel to this city to visit the numerous monuments and ancient buildings that are located here. The Golconda Fort is the most popular fort in Hyderabad city. In order to cater to this population, a number of beautiful Hotels in Hyderabad have been opened. Hyderabad hotels range from budget hotels, to five star luxury hotels. The modern young travelers require a lot of amenities and most hotels in the city offer these. The different types of hotels that are available in the city are budget hotels, two star hotels, three star hotels, four star hotels and five star hotels.

One of the newest four star resorts in Hyderabad is the Aalankrita resort. The name of the hotel contradicts its style of architecture. The hotel has been built with a complete bungalow style and this gives it a modern look. The hotel is located near the prime location of Hyderabad and there are numerous natural beauties can be seen in the region as well. The Aalankrita resort Hyderabad is only few minutes away from the most prominent shopping centers & entertainment hubs. This Hyderabad resort offers impeccable services and the staff that is employed here is well trained.

This is one of the modern hotels which have been built with a combination of glass, steel and wood, and this gives it a wonderful look. The rooms are affordable and they offer great value for money. Some of the facilities that it offers contains doctor on call services, Wi Fi facilities, travel desk services, pick up and drop services and LCD TVs. The accommodations have a stylish and modern design and the unique types. The rooms are big and they come boasted with wide double beds, work stations and lounge areas.

The kitchen area in this resort offers an excellent selection of Indian and continental cuisine. The kitchens are stylish and have an exquisite design. The hotel also provides in-room dining facilities for the travelers.

The resort has a conference room where you can conduct meetings and can adjust enough people and it is ideal for business conventions as well as marriage purposes. The resort is a good option that is suitable for different people from all over the world. Book these resort to enjoy your leisure time between the nature and luxury.

[Gudavalli]

Minerva Group to commission 2 properties by May

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...cle3024829.ece

HYDERABAD, MARCH 21:
The Hyderabad-based Minerva Group is all set to add two more hospitality properties, one in the IT hub of Hyderabad and another in the temple town of Tirupati.

Mr Bhaskar Kommu, Group General Manager, Minerva Grand, said “both these properties, which have been developed with an investment outlay of about Rs 16 crore, will be ready for commissioning in May 2012.”

The Group, part of the promoters of Viceroy Hotels, which manages five-star properties in partnership with Marriott, had started in a small way with Blue Fox restaurant, Palace Heights and Minerva Coffee shops. It now has a chain of these across Hyderabad and Vijayawada.

“We later set up hospitality projects along with these coffee shops and multi-cuisine restaurant chains. We currently have two properties at Hyderabad and Vijayawada and expect to add two more later during the year. We are also looking at setting up more hotels as a part of the expansion,” he said.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Bhaskar Kommu said for Minerva, which is celebrating its 25{+t}{+h} anniversary, it is time to consolidate business and enter into catering services. All requirements for quality food for small and big occasions are just a phone call away, he said.

The budget hotel segment where Minerva operates is generally doing well compared to five and four star projects in Hyderabad. The value proposition keeps the numbers up in Hyderabad at about 70-75 per cent in spite of agitation, as against 55-60 per cent for four and five star hotels, he said.

Referring to the mega biodiversity summit to be held here in October, he said, “We have kept aside about 50 per cent of the hotel rooms for the event,” he said.

[jinka sreekanth]

lemon tree hitech city

[Gudavalli]

Originally Posted by jinka sreekanth

lemon tree hitech city

Thanks sreekanth

Lemon Tree Hotel to add 2,000 rooms in next 2 yrs

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/ind...-2-yrs/468699/

Lemon Tree Hotel group is eyeing an additional 2,000 rooms in the next couple of years.

Rahul Pandit, president & CEO of the Delhi-based hospitality player, said from 1,969 rooms across 18 properties, the group on Thursday was looking at an additional 2,000 rooms with hotels coming up in metro cities including Mumbai apart from mapping cities including Hyderabad, Gurgaon and Pune.

Lemon Tree Hotel operates hotel under three brands such as Lemon Tree Premiere (upscale brand), Lemon Tree and Red Fox Hotels (mid-scale hotels).
Lemon Tree Hotels also launched an 81-room hotel property in Chandigarh on Thursday. Pandit said the average investment per key in a an hotel ranges from Rs 40-50 lakh with 1:1 debt to quity ratio. Pandit added the group was looking to bring down the debt to equity ratio to 0.9: 1. Commenting on the union budget Pandit said the demand of hospitality sector was overlooked in the budget.

Hospitality industry was looking at infrastructure status that would lead to of more mid scale properties and also looking at rationalisation in tax structure which would help in retaining the earning back in the country. The Budget 2012-13 had overlooked both the demands, he lamented.

Speaking of Lemon Tree’s entry into Chandigarh, Pandit said this is our first hotel in the city. “Lemon Tree will ride this growth wave, too and cater to the city’s business and transit passengers.”

Lemon Tree Hotel, Chandigarh features conference facilities, a fully-equipped business center, a rooftop life fitness gym, a mini-spa and a rooftop swimming pool to address every need of the business traveler. Guests can choose from an array of cuisines including Indian, European, American and pan-Asian at the 24-hour Coffee Shop — Citrus Café or hip recreation bar — Slounge. For a relaxed dining experience in the comfort of one’s room, the hotel offers a comprehensive in-room dining menu, 24 hours a day.

[Gudavalli]

Source: http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nach...-india-004.htm

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today the opening of Park Hyatt Hyderabad, the first city Park Hyatt hotel in India. This contemporary and elegant hotel with 185 guestrooms and 24 suites offers business travelers and local guests a sophisticated ambience in the heart of the upscale Banjara Hills neighborhood. It is also the first hotel in Hyderabad to offer 42 fully serviced luxury apartments, The Residence, with five-star facilities and amenities. Centrally located, the hotel is just fifteen minutes from the technology hub of Hi-Tech City and the business district, and 45 minutes from Hyderabad's international airport.



The financial, economic and political capital of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad is one of the richest cities in India and has been named the second best Indian city for doing business, according to a World Bank Group report. It is one of India's prominent biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical hubs and has large tracts of land devoted to software development and information technology research.

"We are proud to expand the Park Hyatt brand presence in India with Park Hyatt Hyderabad joining Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa, which will be followed by the opening of Park Hyatt Chennai in the second quarter of 2012. These openings are reflective of the thoughtful growth of the brand in destinations that build customer preference, and they also add to the growing portfolio of Hyatt hotels in India," said Peter Fulton, Managing Director, Hyatt International – South West Asia.

"Park Hyatt hotels are premium luxury hotels designed to cater to the discerning individual seeking the privacy, personalized service and luxurious elegance of a contemporary hotel," said Sven Hoffmeyer, general manager of Park Hyatt Hyderabad. "This new hotel will maintain the brand's emphasis on art and culinary excellence with locally inspired artwork in the public areas and a signature restaurant headed by experienced chefs. I am delighted that the majority of our associates have been recruited from other Hyatt hotels in India, as well as from around the world, which will ensure that our guests receive an authentic and true Park Hyatt experience during their stay in Hyderabad."

Design and Guestrooms

Designed by the renowned architecture firm of John Portman & Associates, the modern, eight-story Park Hyatt Hyderabad includes 185 guestrooms and 24 suites on the first six floors with 42 serviced apartments on the two uppermost floors. Clad in natural Madurai granite from South India, the façade is clean and modern with expansive glass doors and windows, and an impressive porte-cochere with a shimmering steel mesh ceiling fixture. The impressive lobby is designed with sparkling water features and plants that surround the hotel's signature 35-foot tall white, abstract sculpture.

The stylish and contemporary interiors, designed by the international design team Hirsch Bedner Associates, feature Indian motifs inspired by henna patterns, while silk and vibrant colors add a sari-inspired element to the decor.

Spacious, welcoming and modern, each of the hotel's guestrooms are among the largest in Hyderabad, measuring at least 463 square feet/45 square meters. Soft, neutral earthy tones and shades of silver and green in the guestroom furnishings create a soothing ambience, while large glass windows add natural daylight within the room. For the convenience of the busy corporate traveler, each guestroom is equipped with oversized work desks, easy-to-use in-room technology and conveniently placed electrical outlets and light fixtures, while the luxurious bathrooms provide a sanctuary after a hard days' work. These spa-style bathrooms feature oversized, free-standing bathtubs and Miller Harris amenities.

Dining

Tastefully furnished, with generous touches of contemporary features, all restaurants at Park Hyatt Hyderabad are designed with interactive show kitchens, which are central to the guest experience. Tre-Forni, the hotel's signature restaurant, prepares light and flavorful dishes from Northern Italy's Veneto, Lombardia and Liguria regions, in addition to pizzas and pastas. Offering communal traditional Italian-style dining as well as a private dining room, Tre-Forni's extensive wine list features varietals from the Central and Northern Italian wine regions, and the chef's use of many fresh ingredients from specific regions of Italy offers guests an authentic taste of Italy in Hyderabad. Furnished in muted earth tones, dark polished hardwood floors, and hand carved Italianate tiles; the restaurant has three rustic ovens, which are used to make fresh pizzas, grilled and baked dishes and breads. Other dishes, such as the restaurant's signature seafood and vegetarian risottos, are made and served from the colorful interactive kitchens at the center of the restaurant.

For a traditional Indian menu, the formal Dining Room offers light and flavorful Hyderabadi dishes and classic European favorites. For a light bite to eat, The Living Room offers the hotel's signature selection of freshly prepared macarons and other French pastries, as well as elegant Western and Indian-inspired high tea in the afternoon. The friendly and warm Oriental Bar and Kitchen is a gathering place to meet friends or business associates for drinks and tapas-style Southeast Asian comfort snacks and other dishes.

Spa and Fitness Center

With treatments inspired by the royal Nizams of Hyderabad, The Spa offers hotel guests and local residents an enticing bouquet of result-oriented beauty and wellness therapies. The ingredients used in the creams and lotions include saffron, pearls and other exclusive items. Tailor made products from Good Earth and special selections from Aromatherapy Associates are available for spa services. The first place in the city to feature the "Hydra Facial" treatment, The Spa also offers other amenities including a Swedish sauna, steam room, beauty salon, and a fitness center featuring a temperature-controlled swimming pool and the latest gym and cardio equipment. For golf enthusiasts, Hyderabad Golf Course is just over five miles/nine kilometers from the hotel.

Meetings and Events

Park Hyatt Hyderabad is the first hotel in India to feature Hyatt's innovative residential-style meeting concept. Named The Manorat Park Hyatt Hyderabad, the meeting facilities are designed in a comfortable and welcoming style to reflect the entertainment spaces of private homes. This unique concept offers small and mid-sized groups a personal, tailor-made meetings or events experience aided by a dedicated Events Service team. With the ability to accommodate a range of conferences and events in this technology-driven city, the hotel's other meeting and events facilities include a pillar-less ballroom that can be divided into three different spaces, a pre-function area, and seven meeting rooms, each equipped with the latest technology, high-speed internet access and audiovisual systems. Park Hyatt Hyderabad's total meetings and events facilities measure more than 17,000 square feet/nearly 1,600 square meters and feature a separate entrance and spacious parking facilities.

The Residence

The city's first five-star serviced apartments attached to a hotel, The Residence at Park Hyatt Hyderabad, offer an exclusive "home away from home" experience with a wide range of services and facilities. The fully furnished apartments are spacious, bright and airy with high ceilings and city or atrium views. The apartments have fully-equipped kitchens with high-end appliances, stylish furniture and complimentary wireless Internet. The residences are built in flexible configurations of one, two and three bedrooms measuring from 927 square feet to 2,317 square feet (approximately 90 square meters to 225 square meters). All apartments are fully furnished with hardwood floors and luxurious features, such as Michelangelo Marble kitchen countertops, oversized work desks, spacious walk-in closets, and contemporary bathrooms with luxurious soaking tubs and rain showers. All hotel facilities are accessible to guests of The Residence. Private chefs "on request" are also available for parties.

For reservations at Park Hyatt Hyderabad, please visit www.hyderabad.park.hyatt.com, call a Hyatt Worldwide Reservations Center, or contact a luxury travel specialist.

About Park Hyatt

Park Hyatt provides discerning, affluent individual business and leisure guests with elegant and luxurious accommodations. Guests of Park Hyatt receive highly attentive personal service in an intimate environment. Located in many of the world's premier destinations, each Park Hyatt is custom designed to combine sophistication with distinctive regional character. Park Hyatt features well-appointed guestrooms, meeting and special event spaces for smaller groups, critically acclaimed art and food and beverage programs, and signature restaurants featuring award-winning chefs. There are currently 29 Park Hyatt hotels in the following locations: Abu Dhabi, Baku, Beaver Creek, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Canberra, Chicago, Dubai, Goa, Hamburg, Hyderabad, Istanbul, Jeddah, Maldives, Melbourne, Mendoza, Milan, Moscow, Ningbo, Paris, Saigon, San Diego, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Washington D.C., and Zurich. www.parkhyatt.com

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a proud heritage of making guests feel more than welcome. Thousands of members of the Hyatt family strive to make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by providing authentic hospitality. The Company's subsidiaries manage, franchise, own and develop hotels and resorts under the Hyatt®,Park Hyatt®, Andaz®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Place® andHyatt HouseTM. Hyatt House is changing its brand identity from Hyatt Summerfield Suites®. Hyatt Residential Group, Inc., a Hyatt Hotels Corporation subsidiary, develops, operates, markets or licenses Hyatt ResidencesTM and Hyatt Vacation Club®, which is changing its name to Hyatt Residence ClubTM. As of December 31, 2011, the Company's worldwide portfolio consisted of 483 properties in 45 countries. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

[ygvjs2000]

Luxury Park Hyatt Hotel Opens in Hyderabad Expanding Hyatt Portfolio in India
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/lux...dia-2012-03-29
CHICAGO, Mar 29, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Hyatt Hotels Corporation H -1.14% announced today the opening of Park Hyatt Hyderabad, the first city Park Hyatt hotel in India. This contemporary and elegant hotel with 185 guestrooms and 24 suites offers business travelers and local guests a sophisticated ambience in the heart of the upscale Banjara Hills neighborhood. It is also the first hotel in Hyderabad to offer 42 fully serviced luxury apartments, The Residence, with five-star facilities and amenities. Centrally located, the hotel is just fifteen minutes from the technology hub of Hi-Tech City and the business district, and 45 minutes from Hyderabad’s international airport.

The financial, economic and political capital of Andhra Pradesh, Hyderabad is one of the richest cities in India and has been named the second best Indian city for doing business, according to a World Bank Group report. It is one of India’s prominent biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical hubs and has large tracts of land devoted to software development and information technology research.
“We are proud to expand the Park Hyatt brand presence in India with Park Hyatt Hyderabad joining Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa, which will be followed by the opening of Park Hyatt Chennai in the second quarter of 2012. These openings are reflective of the thoughtful growth of the brand in destinations that build customer preference, and they also add to the growing portfolio of Hyatt hotels in India,” said Peter Fulton, Managing Director, Hyatt International -- South West Asia.

“Park Hyatt hotels are premium luxury hotels designed to cater to the discerning individual seeking the privacy, personalized service and luxurious elegance of a contemporary hotel,” said Sven Hoffmeyer, general manager of Park Hyatt Hyderabad. "This new hotel will maintain the brand’s emphasis on art and culinary excellence with locally inspired artwork in the public areas and a signature restaurant headed by experienced chefs. I am delighted that the majority of our associates have been recruited from other Hyatt hotels in India, as well as from around the world, which will ensure that our guests receive an authentic and true Park Hyatt experience during their stay in Hyderabad.”

Design and Guestrooms

Designed by the renowned architecture firm of John Portman & Associates, the modern, eight-story Park Hyatt Hyderabad includes 185 guestrooms and 24 suites on the first six floors with 42 serviced apartments on the two uppermost floors. Clad in natural Madurai granite from South India, the facade is clean and modern with expansive glass doors and windows, and an impressive porte-cochere with a shimmering steel mesh ceiling fixture. The impressive lobby is designed with sparkling water features and plants that surround the hotel’s signature 35-foot tall white, abstract sculpture.

The stylish and contemporary interiors, designed by the international design team Hirsch Bedner Associates, feature Indian motifs inspired by henna patterns, while silk and vibrant colors add a sari-inspired element to the decor.

Spacious, welcoming and modern, each of the hotel’s guestrooms are among the largest in Hyderabad, measuring at least 463 square feet/45 square meters. Soft, neutral earthy tones and shades of silver and green in the guestroom furnishings create a soothing ambience, while large glass windows add natural daylight within the room. For the convenience of the busy corporate traveler, each guestroom is equipped with oversized work desks, easy-to-use in-room technology and conveniently placed electrical outlets and light fixtures, while the luxurious bathrooms provide a sanctuary after a hard days’ work. These spa-style bathrooms feature oversized, free-standing bathtubs and Miller Harris amenities.

Dining

Tastefully furnished, with generous touches of contemporary features, all restaurants at Park Hyatt Hyderabad are designed with interactive show kitchens, which are central to the guest experience. Tre-Forni, the hotel’s signature restaurant, prepares light and flavorful dishes from Northern Italy’s Veneto, Lombardia and Liguria regions, in addition to pizzas and pastas. Offering communal traditional Italian-style dining as well as a private dining room, Tre-Forni’s extensive wine list features varietals from the Central and Northern Italian wine regions, and the chef’s use of many fresh ingredients from specific regions of Italy offers guests an authentic taste of Italy in Hyderabad. Furnished in muted earth tones, dark polished hardwood floors, and hand carved Italianate tiles; the restaurant has three rustic ovens, which are used to make fresh pizzas, grilled and baked dishes and breads. Other dishes, such as the restaurant’s signature seafood and vegetarian risottos, are made and served from the colorful interactive kitchens at the center of the restaurant.

For a traditional Indian menu, the formal Dining Room offers light and flavorful Hyderabadi dishes and classic European favorites. For a light bite to eat, The Living Room offers the hotel’s signature selection of freshly prepared macarons and other French pastries, as well as elegant Western and Indian-inspired high tea in the afternoon. The friendly and warm Oriental Bar and Kitchen is a gathering place to meet friends or business associates for drinks and tapas-style Southeast Asian comfort snacks and other dishes.

Spa and Fitness Center

With treatments inspired by the royal Nizams of Hyderabad, The Spa offers hotel guests and local residents an enticing bouquet of result-oriented beauty and wellness therapies. The ingredients used in the creams and lotions include saffron, pearls and other exclusive items. Tailor made products from Good Earth and special selections from Aromatherapy Associates are available for spa services. The first place in the city to feature the “Hydra Facial” treatment, The Spa also offers other amenities including a Swedish sauna, steam room, beauty salon, and a fitness center featuring a temperature-controlled swimming pool and the latest gym and cardio equipment. For golf enthusiasts, Hyderabad Golf Course is just over five miles/nine kilometers from the hotel.

Meetings and Events

Park Hyatt Hyderabad is the first hotel in India to feature Hyatt’s innovative residential-style meeting concept. Named The Manor at Park Hyatt Hyderabad, the meeting facilities are designed in a comfortable and welcoming style to reflect the entertainment spaces of private homes. This unique concept offers small and mid-sized groups a personal, tailor-made meetings or events experience aided by a dedicated Events Service team. With the ability to accommodate a range of conferences and events in this technology-driven city, the hotel’s other meeting and events facilities include a pillar-less ballroom that can be divided into three different spaces, a pre-function area, and seven meeting rooms, each equipped with the latest technology, high-speed internet access and audiovisual systems. Park Hyatt Hyderabad’s total meetings and events facilities measure more than 17,000 square feet/nearly 1,600 square meters and feature a separate entrance and spacious parking facilities.

The Residence

The city’s first five-star serviced apartments attached to a hotel, The Residence at Park Hyatt Hyderabad, offer an exclusive “home away from home” experience with a wide range of services and facilities. The fully furnished apartments are spacious, bright and airy with high ceilings and city or atrium views. The apartments have fully-equipped kitchens with high-end appliances, stylish furniture and complimentary wireless Internet. The residences are built in flexible configurations of one, two and three bedrooms measuring from 927 square feet to 2,317 square feet (approximately 90 square meters to 225 square meters). All apartments are fully furnished with hardwood floors and luxurious features, such as Michelangelo Marble kitchen countertops, oversized work desks, spacious walk-in closets, and contemporary bathrooms with luxurious soaking tubs and rain showers. All hotel facilities are accessible to guests of The Residence. Private chefs “on request” are also available for parties.

For reservations at Park Hyatt Hyderabad, please visit www.hyderabad.park.hyatt.com , call a Hyatt Worldwide Reservations Center, or contact a luxury travel specialist.

About Park Hyatt

Park Hyatt provides discerning, affluent individual business and leisure guests with elegant and luxurious accommodations. Guests of Park Hyatt receive highly attentive personal service in an intimate environment. Located in many of the world's premier destinations, each Park Hyatt is custom designed to combine sophistication with distinctive regional character. Park Hyatt features well-appointed guestrooms, meeting and special event spaces for smaller groups, critically acclaimed art and food and beverage programs, and signature restaurants featuring award-winning chefs. There are currently 29 Park Hyatt hotels in the following locations: Abu Dhabi, Baku, Beaver Creek, Beijing, Buenos Aires, Canberra, Chicago, Dubai, Goa, Hamburg, Hyderabad, Istanbul, Jeddah, Maldives, Melbourne, Mendoza, Milan, Moscow, Ningbo, Paris, Saigon, San Diego, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Washington D.C., and Zurich. www.parkhyatt.com

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a proud heritage of making guests feel more than welcome. Thousands of members of the Hyatt family strive to make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by providing authentic hospitality. The Company's subsidiaries manage, franchise, own and develop hotels and resorts under the Hyatt®, Park Hyatt®, Andaz®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Place® and Hyatt House(TM). Hyatt House is changing its brand identity from Hyatt Summerfield Suites®. Hyatt Residential Group, Inc., a Hyatt Hotels Corporation subsidiary, develops, operates, markets or licenses Hyatt Residences(TM) and Hyatt Vacation Club®, which is changing its name to Hyatt Residence Club(TM). As of December 31, 2011, the Company's worldwide portfolio consisted of 483 properties in 45 countries. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com .

[World8115]

Cool

[Gudavalli]

Originally Posted by World8115

Cool

Just updated the Park Hyatt wikipedia page

[Gudavalli]

Source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...ry-and-economy

There are no good hotels or even restaurants in most of tier II, III cities, says Mr T. Nataraajan, Honorary Secretary, SIHRA

In times of growing competition in the hotel industry , the South is emerging a hot destination for many domestic and global brands. With demand tapering down, the spurt in hotel rooms brings rates under severe pressure. “But, it's only a medium-term issue,” says Mr T. Nataraajan, Honorary Secretary of South India Hotels and Restaurants Association, and Chief Executive Officer of GRT Hotels Resorts, a leading hotel chain in the South. Excerpts from an interview:

What's your take on the current performance of the hotel industry in the South?

Though yet way below the peaks of 2007-08, the hotel industry in the South is doing reasonably well. Occupancy levels are fairly decent at 65-70 per cent. This is despite the ongoing European crisis.

There seems to be a glut in hotel rooms in the South, of late …

Yes. But, the growth is not well spread out. Chennai, Hyderabad and Bangalore are the places where a lot of new five-star properties have come up in recent times. Some more are under various stages of construction, and are likely to be launched in a year or two. But, there is a great need for three-star or budget hotels in these cities.

Won't this lead to over supply of 5-star rooms in these cities and bring rates under further pressure?

As of now, Chennai and Bangalore have just enough number of rooms. But, in Chennai, there is going to be a spurt in supply in the next two years. For example, projects such as ITC's Grand Chola with over 600 rooms, Leela close to 250 rooms, JW Marriott's 300 rooms, Park Hyatt's 300, SRM and Westin together another 500 rooms, will certainly make the city a oversupplied market in the medium term.

In Hyderabad, the supply slightly outstrips demand, and, therefore, room rates have come under pressure. If you take Thiruvananthapuram or Kochi, there are not many new projects.

But, discounts are rampant in these cities even now. Does it mean excess supply in the market already?

Currently, yes. Rack rates have no relevance in the market today. We only talk in terms of BAR (best available rate). If you take Bangalore, there are days when hotel rooms were sold for above Rs 20,000 for a night. But, the same room is now selling at Rs 6,000 or Rs 7,000.

There is a definite pattern of occupancy going down during week ends, in particular. Rates offered by hotels are far below the published tariff. The actual realisation is very low. This is mainly because of global economic issues. Once they get ironed out, the situation will improve. But, as I see it, even in the long-run a little bit of rationalisation will happen.

Do you see any emerging trend in the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing and exhibitions) segment in this part of the country?

Of course, yes. I see a positive trend. South is turning out to be an attractive MICE market. Particularly, Chennai, with huge convention centres such as Chennai Trade Centre – Grand Chola, once launched, will have huge convention facilities. In fact, the entire South – may be, barring Kerala, as there is not enough number of rooms coming up in the near future - will become a sought-after destination. It will, of course, depend on the respective State Government's support. As it is, there are three or four medical conferences with over 3,000 delegates attending them, are being held in Chennai every year. Currently, these delegates are some times put up in medical colleges and hostels. Because there are not enough rooms available in the city.

Is there still a great demand for three-star or budget hotels in these cities?

Of course, yes. However, this has now been taken care of by serviced apartments to an extent. But, more importantly, I feel, the growth has to happen in tier II and tier III cities. If you take Tamil Nadu, smaller cities such as Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem or Tiruchi now have good road network. But, there are no good hotels or even restaurants in most of tier II and tier III cities. So is the case with Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. In Andhra Pradesh, except in Tirupati, there are not many good hotels.

Then why not hotel companies put up properties there?

That's because the land cost is very high. It will not be viable, considering the long gestation period. The government must come forward to help hotel companies by offering land parcels at subsidised prices to improve tourism infrastructure in these places.

What according to you are the key challenges the industry faces?

First of all, lack of government support. In its recent budget, the Tamil Nadu Government has proposed 14.5 per cent tax on liquor second sales. Liquor is something that already suffers heavy tax at the first point of sales. There's already 14.5 per cent tax on food. In addition there are service taxes. This does not augur well for the F&B business.

The Government should allocate more funds for tourism promotion. When Governments of Singapore and Malaysia spends over $150 million to promote their countries, our budget is way below $10 million, which is very negligible.

To top it all, the hotel industry should be accorded ‘infrastructure' status and enable it to gain access to better financial support from banks. Hotel is a capital-intensive business. Excluding land cost, it takes around Rs 3,500 per sq.ft. to construct a decent hotel. And, it takes at least five years for the promoter to see return on his investment. But, he is not given more than 7-8 years to repay the loan.

Manpower shortage is another major issue. The industry does not get enough people.

[Gudavalli]

Source: http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/worl...-by-2014-16063

Worldhotels is aiming to develop ten hotels under its Worldhotel brand in India by 2014, as a part of its newly-launched global brand license programme. The brand license programme from Worldhotels offers services like marketing, training, sales, revenue management, etc. to enable owners to develop and manage their hotels. "Globally, we are aiming to develop and support 50 hotels under the Worldhotel brand by the end of 2014 out of which about ten will be in India," said Roland Jegge, Vice President, Worldhotels Asia Pacific. The company has already tied up for a 75-room property in Chandigarh for the same and is holding talks with hotel owners in cities such as Pune and Hyderabad as part of the plan to create an inventory of 2,000 rooms by 2014.

With this targeted expansion, India is likely to contribute five per cent to Worldhotels’ global sales by 2014, compared to about two per cent at present, according to a press release. On an annual basis, from the 450 hotels worldwide that subscribe to its services, Worldhotels collectively generates two million room nights at a rate of USD 200 per night from bookings made through its channel.

The Asia Pacific region contributes about 20 per cent to the company's total sales. Worldhotels charges a USD 100,000 one time agreement fee along with a five per cent fee of room revenue. Besides extending its brand license programme to India, the company is also investing in increasing its sales force in India and in marketing and promotion initiatives.

Worldhotels currently provides its services to ten hotel properties in India, including the two Claridges hotels in Delhi and NCR, The Sahara Star in Mumbai and Aamby Valley in Pune. In China, the company has plans to develop over 75 hotels under the Worldhotel brand in the next ten years. With a presence in 250 destinations in 65 countries globally, Worldhotels has 450 affiliate properties in its portfolio at present.

[Gudavalli]

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/b...w/12578366.cms

MUMBAI: US-headquartered Worldhotels, which provides sales, marketing and technology services to hotels, is aiming to develop 10 hotels in India by next year.

"We are looking at expanding our portfolio in India and are planning to develop 10 hotels by next year," Worldhotels regional director business development, Indian subcontinent and Maldives Naresh Chandnani told PTI here.

The hotels will be developed under 'Worldhotel' brand as a part of company's newly launched brand license programme across the globe.

"In India, our focus will be mainly to expand in the branded hotels," he said.

Worldhotels currently provides its services to 10 hotel properties in India, including the two Claridges hotels in Delhi and NCR, the Sahara Star in Mumbai and Aamby Valley in Pune.

Out of these 10 hotels, 4-5 are branded and the rest are affiliations, with a 50:50 mix of five star and four star properties.

"Going forward, we would like to maintain this mix," he added.

The company has already tied-up for a 75-room property in Chandigarh and is holding talks with hotel owners in cities like Pune and Hyderabad as a part of the plan to create an inventory upwards of 2,000 rooms by next year, Worldhotels, Asia Pacific Vice President Roland Jegge said.

At present, the company is focusing in Hyderabad, Pune and Coimbatore and is also scouting for opportunities in Kolkata and Bangalore, he said.

With the targeted portfolio expansion, India is likely to contribute five per cent to Worldhotels global sales by 2014, compared to about two per cent at present, he said.

The company mainly targets business and leisure travellers, conferences and incentive organisers, corporate travel managers and travel agents.

Worldhotels generates two million room nights at a rate of USD 200 per night from bookings made through its channel, he said.

Asia Pacific as a region contributes about 20 per cent to the company's total sales.

Worldhotels is present in 250 destinations in 65 countries globally and has 450 affiliate properties in its portfolio at present.

[Gudavalli]

Source: http://www.equitybulls.com/admin/new....asp?id=103041

KCP Ltd has entered into agreements for its Hotel Project which is under construction at Somajiguda, Hyderabad with AAPC India Hotel Management Private Ltd. Gurgaon, India for provision of technical services and for the management of the proposed Hotel for a period of fifteen years. AAPC India Hotel Management Private Ltd. is part of and represents in India, the international chain of Hotels operating with various brands under ACCOR group. The proposed Hotel at Hyderabad is expected to be operated by AAPC India Hotel Management Private Ltd under the MERCURE brand which is globally categorised as a four star Business Hotel.

As informed earlier the Hotel being set up at an estimated cost of about Rs. 64 crores and funded with a mix of term loan of Rs. 45 crores and Rs. 19 crores from internal generations is expected to be commissioned in the middle of 2013.

[Gudavalli]

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/an-...els-2012-04-13

Courtyard by Marriott, Hyderabad Celebrates Its 2nd Anniversary With an Exclusive Deal

HYDERABAD, INDIA, Apr 13, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- To celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of Courtyard by Marriott, Hyderabad, the hotel has rolled out a special 'Anniversary Package' offering an exclusive rate to its guests.

The offer is available for the Superior room category, and is one of the best Hyderabad hotel deals you will find. Guests can enjoy the comfort of Revive beds at an exclusive tariff of INR 4000 plus taxes per night. The package is applicable to bookings for a minimum of 2 nights at the hotel and includes an enticing American breakfast at the all day dining restaurant MoMo Cafe. This elite package is open until 30th April 2012 for online booking.

When Courtyard by Marriott, Hyderabad opened its gates to the denizens in December 2009, it was the only select service hotel in the city, and was quickly regarded as a superior business hotel in Hyderabad. Nestled on the banks of the Hussain Sagar Lake, the hotel is centrally located between the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, making it a perfect choice for business travelers. For those travelers looking primarily for business hotels, Hyderabad offers no better option than the Courtyard by Marriott, Hyderabad.

The hotel consists of 112 well appointed rooms, with an ergonomic work table and wired connectivity, bright hues and plenty of sunlight streaming in. All of these features make the room a welcome haven after a long day of work.

The interiors of the hotel are chic, yet comforting, with personalized spaces that aid in unwinding and relaxing. The Wi-Fi enabled public areas further enhance a productive business stay. The seamless lobby, furnished with contemporary sofas and lounge chairs, gives the guest an experience of the warm and welcoming hospitality of the hotel.

The hotel also houses an all day dining restaurant MoMo Cafe. At MoMo Cafe, guests can relish Pan Asian, Indian and Continental delicacies through the day. Alongside MoMo Cafe is the MoMo bar; a transition bar that serves exotic tea and coffee by the day and juggles cocktails by the dusk.

In searching for hotels, Hyderabad, India offers many suitable options. However, the combination of plentiful business amenities and spectacular deals makes Courtyard by Marriott, Hyderabad the perfect choice.

About Marriott International Inc. MAR -0.69% : is a leading lodging company with more than 3,100 lodging properties in the United States and 66 other countries and territories. Marriott International operates and franchises hotels under the Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Courtyard, TownePlace Suites, Fairfield Inn, SpringHill Suites and Bulgari brand names; develops and operates vacation ownership resorts under the Marriott Vacation Club, Horizons by Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Grand Residences by Marriott brands; operates Marriott Executive Apartments; provides furnished corporate housing through its Marriott ExecuStay division; and operates conference centers. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Md., and had approximately 151,000 employees at 2007 year-end. It is ranked as the lodging industry's most admired company and one of the best companies to work for by FORTUNE(R), and has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the 2007 Sustained Excellence Award and Partner of the Year since 2004. In fiscal year 2007, Marriott International reported sales from continuing operations of $13 billion. For more information or reservations, please visit our web site at www.marriott.com .

[ygvjs2000]

http://www.fnbnews.com/article/detne...11&sectionid=1
Novotel Hyderabad's La Cantina Mexican restaurant opens with a new look
Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre recently recreated magic at La Cantina, its Mexican restaurant, refurbished with variety of flavours, ingredients, colourful garnishing and enchanting interiors.

The restaurant is exclusively redesigned with an eye on the young and urban people. With aesthetically-done interiors, the place feels modern and stylish. La Cantina will also have a jukebox to add to the fun and excitement. This is for the first time in Hyderabad that a restaurant will house a jukebox presenting the countryside musical heritage in a variety of genres. The restaurant has introduced special entertainment elements like pool tables, ping-pong tables, etc. to spice up the environment. La Cantina will host promotions and a live band on Saturdays. To give guests a truly Mexican experience the staff at La Cantina will now showcase a new look with blue denim jeans and a blood red shirt to welcome the guests.

The décor of the restaurant provides a perfect ambience for people to enjoy an authentic Mexican menu in a casual setting. The new theme at La Cantina will surely take one on a journey to Mexico with beautiful traditional paintings and dramatic art effects perfectly placed to add a new dimension to the restaurant. The clean, minimalist, modern dining area offers a sleek and comfortable seating. The wood-panelled ceiling and dark wood tables add to the overall rustic appeal of the place. The restaurant offers multiple seating options including cozy interiors, terrace, poolside and alfresco for people to unwind themselves.

Speaking on the occasion, Shyam Sunder, F&B manager, Novotel Hyderabad Conventional Centre, said, “We strongly believe in innovation and are constantly striving to deliver the best to our guests. La Cantina is now presented with a new soul to offer sumptuous Mexican delicacies and a warm environment. The poolside restaurant will be offering a more energised, spicy and pleasant experience. The interiors and food have been revamped to add a more personalised touch and meet the demands of our discerning customers.”

[deepakhearthacker]

The restaurants at Park Hyatt Hyderabad, a five star deluxe hotel, were opened on Monday.

Well-known filmmaker Dasari Narayana Rao was the chief guest, while Ambassador of France, Francois Richier, and Chinese envoy to India, Zhang Yan, were the guests of honour at the inaugural event of the hotel, which was opened recently. Congress MP and chairman of Park Hyatt, Hyderabad, T. Subbarami Reddy, showed the two envoys and other guests, who mostly included film personalities, around.

Investment to the tune of Rs.800 crore went into the eight-storey building which has 209 rooms, 24 suites, 42 fully serviced luxury apartments with five star facilities on the two uppermost floors.

A unique feature of all restaurants at the hotel is the interactive show kitchens. Italian restaurant Tra Forni prepares dishes from regions of Northern Italy, besides pastas.

Its extensive wine list features different wines from the central and northern wine regions of Italy.

The Dining Room offers Hyderabadi dishes and classic European favourites, while The Living Room offers freshly prepared macaroons and other French pastries, among others.

The Oriental Bar and Kitchen offers menus from Asian countries.

T.V. Sandeep Reddy, a director of Gayatri Heritage Hotels, promoters of the hotel, said that they were also planning to set up another project at Visakhapatnam.

HIGH PROFILE: Pinky Reddy, daughter of T. Subbarami Reddy, MP and Park Hyatt chairman, welcoming the Ambassador of France, Francois Richier, and Chinese envoy to India, Zhang Yan, at the inauguration of the restaurants at Park Hyatt, Hyderabad, on Monday. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

[Gudavalli]

Park Hyatt restaurants opened

The restaurants at Park Hyatt Hyderabad, a five star deluxe hotel, were opened on Monday.

Well-known filmmaker Dasari Narayana Rao was the chief guest, while Ambassador of France, Francois Richier, and Chinese envoy to India, Zhang Yan, were the guests of honour at the inaugural event of the hotel, which was opened recently. Congress MP and chairman of Park Hyatt, Hyderabad, T. Subbarami Reddy, showed the two envoys and other guests, who mostly included film personalities, around.

Investment to the tune of Rs.800 crore went into the eight-storey building which has 209 rooms, 24 suites, 42 fully serviced luxury apartments with five star facilities on the two uppermost floors.

A unique feature of all restaurants at the hotel is the interactive show kitchens. Italian restaurant Tra Forni prepares dishes from regions of Northern Italy, besides pastas.

Its extensive wine list features different wines from the central and northern wine regions of Italy.

The Dining Room offers Hyderabadi dishes and classic European favourites, while The Living Room offers freshly prepared macaroons and other French pastries, among others.

The Oriental Bar and Kitchen offers menus from Asian countries.

T.V. Sandeep Reddy, a director of Gayatri Heritage Hotels, promoters of the hotel, said that they were also planning to set up another project at Visakhapatnam.

[Gudavalli]

The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace wins 'Highest Guest Satisfaction Index' award

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has awarded The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace for its 'Highest Guest Satisfaction Index (GSI)' score among all Starwood properties in the Asia Pacific region at its Divisional Award 2011, held in Singapore. On the same occasion, L Ganesan, Chief Engineer, Starwood was accorded the ‘President’s Award 2011 for Outstanding Care for Business'.

The GSI is a survey carried out by a third party to know the degree of guests' overall experience and satisfaction with the product and services received during their stay at the hotel. Ganesan has been with The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace for over a year and has brought in improvements in productivity and cost reduction with his ideas. He believes that his success lies in training his associates and ensuring that his associates monitor the implemented measures on a day-to-day basis.