Hotel Industry thread

[Ahmad Rashid Ahmad]

Radisson Blu Opens in Nagpur India



This is the first Radisson Blu hotel to be established in Nagpur, the largest city in central India. Radisson Blu Hotel Nagpur is Carlson Rezidor’s 53rd hotel in India.

“Carlson Rezidor has been operating in India for 14 years and it has been growing from strength to strength in this emerging economy. By 2015, we will have 100 operating hotels in India which reinforces our position as the largest international hotel operator in India based on the number of hotels. Our success in this market is in part due to the strong relationship that we have with hotel owners. We have just signed a strategic partnership with Bestech Hospitalities to develop our Park Inn by Radisson brand in north and central India, and the newly opened Radisson Blu Hotel Nagpur will be the fifth property that we are managing for Bestech,” said Simon C. Barlow, president, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Asia Pacific.

Radisson Blu Hotel Nagpur has 214 rooms and suites. The hotel provides a good base for exploring the Pench, Tadoba and Kanha tiger reserves. It is within easy reach of the airport and the railway station, and is just minutes away from the city’s main commercial and business zones, including the Mihan special economic zone. Radisson Blu Hotel Nagpur has over 10,000 square feet of event space, which can accommodate up to 1,000 people. Recreational facilities include a spa, a fitness centre and an outdoor swimming pool. The hotel also offers a variety of dining options such as Ethyl Bar and Lounge, Cakewalk Tea lounge and Pastry Shop, The Creative Kitchen, Ni Hao and Indya Oye.

“There has been a growing interest amongst hotel developers and owners in the Radisson Blu brand in India. 14 more Radisson Blu hotels will open in key cities in India over the next three years. We are most honored to be once again working with Bestech Hospitalities, our partner of ten years, to bring this vibrant, first class brand to Nagpur,” said K.B. Kachru, executive vice president, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, South Asia.

“Carlson Rezidor has proven that they have an excellent global infrastructure and local expertise to deliver successful hotels,” said Dharmendra Bhandari, managing director of Bestech Hospitalities.

“The globally recognized Radisson Blu brand appeals to business and leisure travelers, and this will greatly benefit Radisson Blu Hotel Nagpur and put it on the global map,” said Sunil Satija, managing director of Bestech Hospitalities.

Radisson Blu is Carlson Rezidor’s first class, full-service hotel brand. It is one of the world’s leading global hotel brands and its range of services and amenities were created specifically to be empathetic to the challenges of modern travel. The Radisson Blu brand delivers vibrant, contemporary and engaging hospitality that is characterized by its unique Yes I Can!SM service philosophy. Guests can also expect complimentary Internet access and a 100% Guest Satisfaction Guarantee as part of Radisson Blu’s guest promise.

To celebrate Radisson Blu Hotel Nagpur’s opening, the hotel is offering a special Grand Opening package starting from INR 3,999/-. This offer is valid until October 31, 2012.

http://www.hotelnewsresource.com/art...pur_India.html

[Krishnamoorthy K]

SUSHMITA CHOUDHURY AGARWAL, ET Bureau Jun 4, 2012, 08.19AM IST

The phrase 'green hotel' is searched 2,900 times on Google in India-the 12-month average of user queries-and 60,500 times across the globe. We could be optimistic and say that it reflects the rise in the number of environmentalists, but perhaps the reason is not entirely altruistic.

Taking the eco-friendly route improves a hotel's bottom line and most smart operators pass on the savings to guests by way of lower room rates. After all, if a hotel can save over Rs 33 lakh simply by switching to PL lamps or CFL, as in the case of The Orchid in Mumbai, going green all the way is sure to save much more. In recent times, the hotel industry has jumped on to the eco-friendly bandwagon, with every upcoming resort aspiring to the haloed green tag, and the existing ones trying to integrate sustainable practices without rebuilding from scratch. That's why initiatives such as installing chlorofluorocarbon-free air conditioners, rainwater harvesting, tapping solar and wind power to become energy-efficient, linen reuse programmes, and recycling waste are becoming as common as toiletries by the basin.

These efforts translate into considerably lower energy and water consumption, which means a smaller carbon footprint as well as lower operational costs. For instance, using locally sourced or indigenous building material not only shaves off transportation costs but is also a more efficient way to tackle the elements. Says Krishan Singh, business head, domestic holidays, Yatra.com: "A ballpark estimate of the kind of savings a hotel can notch up in a year with its eco-sensitive initiatives would be around 20-25%." So it's practically a crime to not pass on some of this to end-users.

To be sure, any interested hotelier needs to be aware that building a green resort is more expensive in the initial stages. According to experts, setting up a truly green hotel costs roughly 15-30% more as project cost. Installing renewable energy sources, insulated facades, waste management systems and the like are additional expenses. But this initial investment can be recovered within two-three years, after which you can bet on savings in the day-to-day operational cost. Gone are the days when green hotels commanded premium prices for being a novelty. "Today, module rates are not driven by initiatives and cannot be put on the guest's shoulder," says Manish Dayya, general manager, Raintree.

Here are some of our favourite green hotels across the country where you can do your bit to save the planet without breaking the bank.

The Raintree, Anna Salai, Chennai

Room rate: Rs 8,343

Savings: You save between Rs 1,150 and Rs 3,200 compared with stays at similar starred hotels in the city, such as The Park Chennai (Rs 9,493), Vivanta by Taj (Rs 9,714) and Radisson Blu (Rs 11,571).

Green USP: The hotel group is 100% energy self-sufficient. It produces energy through its own windmills, generating exactly as much energy as it requires. By reducing the flow rate of bathroom showerheads and washbasin taps from the standard 12-15 litre per minute to 8-9 litre a minute has cut its water consumption by half.

Nameri Eco Camp, Nameri, Assam

Room rate: Rs 1,500

Savings: The Nameri national park is Kaziranga's wallflower cousin, perhaps because it does not house tigers and is more of an ornithologist's paradise. This means the tariff at the only place worth staying in the area is 40-80% cheaper than the eco-friendly dwellings in Kaziranga.

Green USP: The ethnic cottages and thatched tents blend into the verdant surroundings and make for an ideal setting for 300 odd bird species that inhabit the sanctuary. What's cooking? Freshly caught fish from the river alongside, what else?

Alila Diwa, Goa

Room rate: Rs 7,783

Savings: The other five star hotels in south Goa cost over Rs 9,000 a night, so a stay here is at least 16% cheaper.

Green USP: All the material used in building the hotel was sourced locally. For instance, an abundance of the region's eco-friendly brick red laterite stone can be seen throughout the hotel. From the design stage, due consideration was given to leaving the existing forest intact and conserving the surrounding paddy fields. This makes the property a bird watcher's paradise.

The Orchid, Mumbai

Room rate: Rs 9,647

Savings: According to Hotels.com, the average hotel room rate in Mumbai in 2011 was Rs 6,539. In five star hotels, this can go up to Rs 14,500 a night and the average price in this category is Rs 10,000 (Expedia.co.in). This makes The Orchid's rates, which includes breakfast, airport transfers and Wi-Fi, 13% cheaper than the category average.

Green USP: It is a zero garbage hotel, among the first in the country to achieve this goal. The hotel has an ongoing vermiculture project on site that not only eliminates the garbage but also takes care of the gardens in and around the hotel.

Floatel, Kolkata

Room rate: Rs 4,648

Savings: This unique floating hotel, located just minutes from the bustling Park Street, is by far the cheapest four-star property in the city. What's more, its tariff actually matches the average hotel rate in the area.

Green USP: By applying its 3-R motto-reduce, reuse and recycle-to its waste management programme, the hotel manages to recycle 15 kg of solid waste daily.

The Fern Gir Forest Resort, Gujarat

Room rate: Rs 6,300

Savings: Wouldn't you say that a luxury resort that costs just Rs 1,000 more than the average room rates in the Sasan Gir area is a complete steal?

Green USP: Organic, home-grown food, rustic furniture that's mostly made from reclaimed wood, and the energy and water conservation drives have earned this property an Ecotel certification.

The Green Magic Resort, Wayanad, Kerala

Room rate: Rs 8,500

Savings: The three other equally well-known resorts allowing guests to literally branch out-Treehouse Hideaway in Bandhavgarh, Madhya Pradesh, The Machan in Maharashtra, and Jaipur's The Treehouse Resort-cost upwards of Rs 14,000 a night per couple.

Green USP: All the high-flying rooms, about 80-90 ft above the ground, have been built using biodegradable material used by the native tribal population and consist of one bedroom with attached bathroom. We especially like the ingenious water counterweight cane lift that is the only way to access one of the treehouses.

Shaam-e-Sarhad Village Resort, Kutch, Gujarat

Room rate: Rs 3,200

Savings: It's hard to put a value since it's the only initiative of its kind in the area. However, the fact that the rate includes accommodation for two in an eco tent with an attached bathroom, all meals and a live folk music performance, makes it a pretty good deal. If you are willing to shell out Rs 1,000 extra, you can choose to stay in one of the bunghas, the roomier traditional mud huts in the area.

Green USP: While most true green resorts think indigenous, right from architecture to decor, how many extend the concept when it comes to staffing and reaping profits? That's where this resort, which is owned and operated by the local villagers, stands out. Thinking local is the surest way to ensure that a resort goes easy on the planet.

ET

[mykebob]

This is a nice post about hotel industry and pictures are very nice. Hotel industry is very big in world and this update information on hotels is appreciative.

[Ahmad Rashid Ahmad]

HYATT ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR ANDAZ GURGAON AND GRAND HYATT KOCHI FOR A TOTAL OF 56 HOTELS UNDER DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that Hyatt affiliates signed management agreements for an Andaz hotel in Gurgaon and a Grand Hyatt hotel in Kochi, bringing the total number of announced Hyatt-branded hotels under development in India to 56.

“We are focused on creating preference by enhancing distribution of our full-service, extended-stay and select service brands in both new and established markets in India where our guests are increasingly traveling,” said Ratnesh Verma, senior vice president - real estate and development, Asia Pacific for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. “Creating a strong presence for our complete brand portfolio in India is critical to Hyatt’s leadership in the global hospitality sector.”

“The new agreements being announced today, along with the previously announced properties under development, demonstrate growing confidence among owners and developers in the strength of Hyatt-branded hotels in India,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Mark Hoplamazian.

Slated to open in Q4 2014, Andaz Gurgaon will offer 275 guestrooms and 75 serviced apartments. Additionally, the hotel will feature a three meal multi-cuisine restaurant, a specialty restaurant, a bar and a gourmet store, a six-treatment room spa, a fitness center, and a swimming pool. The hotel will also offer more than 11,500sq ft of meeting space, including five Andaz Studios and a ballroom. Located in Gurgaon, the industrial and financial center of the state of Haryana, Andaz Gurgaon will be situated on the junction of the National Highway 8 (NH-8) and Northern Peripheral Road (NPR), which provides access to many of the city’s main business districts, including Cybercity and UdyogVihar, and manufacturing districts, including Industrial Model Township (IMT).

Grand Hyatt Kochi, will be located on Bolgatty Island in Kochi, which is situated on the eastern coast of the Indian state of Kerala. It will feature 250 guestrooms and amenities including a three-meal multi -cuisine restaurant, two specialty restaurants, a bar and lobby lounge, a 10-treatment room spa, fitness center, swimming pool, and Grand Club lounge. The hotel will also offer more than 60,000 sq ft of meeting and event space, including a 26,000 sq ft ballroom. Expected to open in Q1 2017, Grand Hyatt Kochi will be in close proximity to many key areas of the city, including Ernakulam, the main commercial district; Fort Kochi, the main tourist center of the city; Willingdon Island, which houses Kochi Port, the Kochi Chamber of Commerce and Industries, the Naval Air Base; and the International Container Transhipment Terminal, one of the largest container terminals in India.

Hyatt plans to open three new hotels in India in the remainder of 2012 across its Park Hyatt and Hyatt Place brands, including:

Park Hyatt Chennai, a 204-room hotel set to open in late 2012, will be situated in the capital city of the state ofTamil Nadu. The property will offer an innovative food and beverage outlets, residential style meeting and event space, and recreational facilities, including a spa and fitness center.

Hyatt Place Hampi, a 115-room hotel planned to open by the end of the year, will be situated near the Bellary industrial district. Hampi, which features spectacular views of the Sandur ranges and is home to a group of monuments classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, also serves as a popular leisure destination. The property will include a multi-cuisine restaurant, meeting rooms, and a fitness center, and swimming pool.

Hyatt Place Pune, Hinjewadi, a 117-room property set to open at the end of the year, will be located within the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park at Hinjewadi, a prominent software hub. The hotel will feature a multi-cuisine restaurant and meeting space, as well as a business center, fitness center, and swimming pool.

With 56 hotels under development in India, Hyatt currently plans to offer its full portfolio of brands, including:

18 Hyatt Regency hotels under development, in addition to five already open
5 Grand Hyatt hotels under development, in addition to two already open
5 Park Hyatt hotels under development, in addition to two already open
23 Hyatt Place hotels under development
3 Andaz hotels under development
1 Hyatt House hotel under development
1 Hyatt hotel under development

As part of this expansion, Hyatt is seeking to attract and develop high-quality talent in India in order to drive future growth. Currently, more than 3,500 associates are employed at Hyatt hotels in India, and with the development effort, it is expected that more than 7,000 new associates will be welcomed into the Hyatt family. Hyatt is investing in training curriculums and accelerated leadership programs in order to ensure that new associates support the company’s mission to deliver authentic hospitality and to develop new professional opportunities for its associates.

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 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 March 31, 2012, the Company's worldwide portfolio consisted of 488 properties in 45 countries. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

Source

[iaafosc]

which brand is top of the pyramid for hyatt...?? hyatt regency , park hyatt or grand hyatt...??

[Ahmad Rashid Ahmad]

Originally Posted by iaafosc

which brand is top of the pyramid for hyatt...?? hyatt regency , park hyatt or grand hyatt...??

Park Hyatt then Grand Hyatt...

[ChennaiIndian]

Cross-posting from Chennai hotel thread. Courtesy: bonoslack7

http://www.sunday-guardian.com/busin...-in-grand-mess



ITC's new Rs 1,000 cr super luxury hotel in Chennai is supposedly an architectural tribute to the great Chola empire . But the 8-acre, 600 room showpiece on the city's arterial Anna Salai stands as a monument to bureaucratic red tape. Ready since November 2011, the hotel can't entertain guests because it is yet to get the operating licence from the Tamil Nadu government.

Even by India's slothful standards, a delay of eight months is fairly long. And the clearances from the J. Jayalalithaa government don't seem to be coming soon. The bar, and food and beverage licences will follow the operating licence, which means the Grand Chola may have to wait another quarter before rolling out its full range of services. The company targets a launch by October.

Each non-business day at the one million square feet hotel, by far the biggest in India, adds to ITC Hotel's financial burden. With the economic downturn too setting in, even a cash rich group like ITC begins to feel the pinch. According to sources in the company, ITC has put in stringent cost cutting measures. For the month of June alone, the internal cost reduction target was Rs 10 cr across all its properties in India. Delhi's Maurya Sheraton had to prune expenses by Rs 2 cr. Luxury hotel are usually the first to suffer when business slows down. Companies start curbing business related travel, and begin downtrading from premium luxury hotels to less expensive options.

ITC fully owns the 8-acre real estate where the Grand Chola is built, which it bought for nearly Rs 800 cr. As a debt-free company and its mounds of reserves (Rs 13,000 cr in 2012) somewhat soften the blow of an idling asset.

According to an ITC hotels spokesperson, the property is currently being used to host banquets and private functions. The company is trying to position the Grand Chola as a resort and conventions hub on the lines of hotels in Malaysia and Singapore.

[ChennaiIndian]

Cross-posting. Courtesy: bonoslack7

http://www.theleela.com/locations/chennai

Pic courtesy: IndiansUnite
copyright Reuters

[ChennaiIndian]

Cross-posting. Courtesy: bonoslack7

Originally Posted by bonoslack7

[ChennaiIndian]

Cross-posting. Courtesy: bonoslack7

Originally Posted by bonoslack7

[Ahmad Rashid Ahmad]

Fairmont opens first hotel in India today

Fairmont Jaipur opens on August 9.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts opened its first hotel in India today with the opening of Fairmont Jaipur.

Located in the famed ‘Pink City', Fairmont Jaipur is situated with India’s Golden Triangle, a geographic region home to the Taj Mahal.

The design of the 255-room hotel is a modern take on the traditional Mughal palace and the hotel will offer a rnagle of experiences inspired by the destination, from tea in the gardens to Rajasthan dance shows.

Facilities include 5500m² of meeting space, the Fairmont Gold club level and a 1300m² Willow Stream Spa, due to come on line later this year.

Restaurants comprise Zarin, an Indian speciality outlet; Anjum, a tea lounge complete with live Masala Chai station; Aaza, the hotel’s regency style library bar; and Cigar Diwan, a classic smoking room.

Fairmont Jaipur is offering an introductory ‘Seeing is Believing’ package featuring a third night complimentary when two are booked, with package rates starting at INR 5000 per person.

Source

[Gudavalli]

Accor Hotels Announces the Opening of Two New Hotels in Mumbai and Nashik, India

India, 17 August 2012 – Accor Hotels is pleased to announce the opening of two new ibis hotels in India – ibis Navi Mumbai and ibis Nashik. Having opened in Q2 of this year, the new hotels predominantly cater to business travellers in the upcoming commercial regions of Mumbai and Nashik. Guests will receive special opening rates as well as experience the high-quality service that is standard across all Accor Hotels.

As a global and modern yet affordable hotel brand,ibis proudly introduces its newest hotel in Mumbai – ibis Navi Mumbai. The 196-room property is conveniently located in Navi Mumbai’s Thane-Belapur Road and is easily accessible by road and rail from Mumbai, Thane and Pune. In addition to its central location, ibis Navi Mumbai offers guests first-class facilities and international service standards. The hotel features rooms with a single, new standard queen-size bed or two standard single beds in contemporary design with full facilities including LCD TVs with international TV channels, in-room safe, tea/coffee maker, minibar, hair dryer and in-room WiFi. For business or events, a 74-sqm functional space is available, business-ready with modern facilities including an overhead projector/screen and conference facility which can accommodate up to 80 people, video equipment, video conferencing and WiFi internet access. ibis Navi Mumbai offers competitive opening rates.

ibis Nashik, the newest Accor hotel in India, has 123 rooms and is located in Nashik, the “Wine Capital of India” and the third most industrialized city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune. The hotel’s strategic location on Nashik Trimbakeshwar Road within the industrial zone at Satpur caters to all business needs. For leisure purposes, various tourist attractions are easily accessible from the hotel, including Muktidham, Panchavati, Pandavleni, Jain Temple, PhalkeSmarak, Sula Vineyards, Gargoti Mineral Museum and many more. Guests of ibis Nashik have a choice of rooms with one double bed or two single beds, LCD TVs, in-room safes, tea/coffee makers, minibars, hair dryers and in-room WiFi. ibis Nashik also has facilities to cater to business functions and events. The functional space can be divided into two 92-sqm halls and is equipped with video equipment, overhead projector, motorized screens and WiFi Internet access. ibis Navi Mumbai and ibis Nashik both offer contemporary dining experiences at the on-site, WiFi-enabled restaurant, named Spice It – serving Indian, Oriental and European cuisine with a live cooking station stating ‘You create , We cook!. The Hub offers a wide selection of cocktails, soft drinks and light snacks in a lively environment.

ibis Navi Mumbai and ibis Nashik are the sixth and seventh ibis hotels in India, following ibis Mumbai Airport, ibis Bengaluru Hosur Road, ibis Bengaluru Techpark, ibis Gurgaon and ibis Pune. Accor Hotels in India have been well received across the nation, and with their latest additions they bring more convenience and comfort to business and leisure guests, and incredible savings with introductory offers. For more information on ibis hotels nationwide and special promotional offers at ibis Navi Mumbai and ibis Nashik, please visit the ibis India website.


Read more at http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2012...obmC4rKTX2M.99

[Gudavalli]

No crackdown on hotels flouting norms

NEW DELHI: Guesthouses and hotels flouting building and health norms continue to go unchecked, if one goes by a report released by North Delhi Municipal Corporation. In the last three years, the erstwhile MCD sent only two notices and challaned just 51 such hotels in north Delhi.

The report says that only 476 guesthouses and 33 restaurants are operating with a valid corporation licence in Sadar Paharganj area, a hub for backpackers. Similarly, in the Karol Bagh zone only one hotel, 245 guesthouses and 15 restaurants are licenced.

However, councillors trashed the report at the standing committee meeting of North corporation, saying that the figures are incorrect. Standing committee chairman and councillor from Karol Bagh, Yogender Chandolia, said in Karol Bagh alone there are more than 700 guesthouses, hotels and restaurants. "The report doesn't have correct information. This shows officials aren't doing their job".

On the mushrooming of illegal guesthouses, he said, "Since the split, the corporation has no control over these hotels, guesthouses and restaurants. However, none of the guesthouses in Karol Bagh are ever sent notices. The report is a mockery of the corporation," he said.

Officials said that they will prepare another report with complete figures so that they can crack down on all guesthouses and hotels operating illegally. While the three corporations have vowed to come down heavily on these buildings, councillors say that to boost income, trade licences should be dolled out.

[Gudavalli]

The Gateway Hotel relaunches its Cardamom restaurant

MANGALORE: The Gateway Hotel Mangalore is all set to re-launch Cardamom - the specialty west coast cuisine restaurant in its new avatar. The restaurant offers menu that includes traditional home style Mangalorean cuisine along with authentic delicacies from the west coast of India. Peter Nirmal, General Manager, The Gateway Hotel Mangalore, said, "Our objective is to give a fresh, modern feel to Cardamom."

Describing the re-launch of the restaurant as a momentous occasion, Peter said the Hotel is committed to providing a special experience to patrons. The new and revamped menu will offer a selection of different foods that delight the guests and in prices that are not only extremely competitive but benchmarked to rates offered in other leading restaurants across the city, he said with prices for dishes ranging from Rs 105-Rs320.

Cardamom recreates the robust richness of India's west coast cuisine. Executive Chef Michael Saju will showcase specialty dishes like Meen Pollichathu, Allepy fish curryfrom the coast of Kerala, and Cafreal, prawn balchao and Goan fish curryfrom Goa. The restaurant also offers Mangalorean cuisine with dishes like Kori Roti, Yetti Da Podi Chutney, Anjal da kajippu; vegetarian delicacies include a nanas menasukaiand Dal Thove.

Across destinations, The Gateway Hotels offer home-style food from each of the regions where they are located. Chefs undertake research to perfect the philosophy and taste of each regional cuisine, visiting homes in each locality and working with homemakers in their kitchens to understand nuances of simple yet unique touches in food cooked at home. Home style cooking uses fresh ingredients that are picked up the same day, he added.

[Gudavalli]

‘Indian-friendly’ hotels in Switzerland

CHENNAI, AUG 15:
Swiss hotels are keen to please Indian travellers.

Be it hiring Indian cooks to dish out Indian fare during the peak holiday season (April to June) or reserving special shrine space for Indians to pray in groups, Swiss hotels are going the extra mile to cater to the unique Indian needs, said Linus von Castelmur, Ambassador of Switzerland to India.

The Swiss have built an efficient railway system over picturesque routes which the Indians love.

“Indians are also fond of trains – it is a great way to experience the country.”

Swiss locales are a favourite among Indian movie directors. In fact, tour operators even offer movie-centric packages which take tourists to places where Bollywood movies have been shot.

“This trend still continues. We often find tourists wishing to see the places where famous Bollywood stars had their first kiss or fell in love,” said the Ambassador.

Switzerland is a favourite holiday destination among the younger generation and elite Indians, said Castelmur.

Last year, 460,000 tourists from India visited Switzerland. The reverse is also happening with many tourists from Switzerland touring India.

“The potential is much higher. Strangely, though there is no political issue between the two countries, it is difficult or takes time for Swiss citizens to get visas to India,” he said.

[Gudavalli]

Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India to train, absorb 65,000 people in hospitality sector

MUMBAI: Given the lack of skilled workforce in the hospitality industry, Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), the apex body for the hotel industry is planning to train and absorb 65,000 people under a government scheme.

"The hospitality sector is growing. However, there is a dearth of skilled people and to meet this challenge, we have decided to train and absorb about 65,000 people under the government's 'hunar se rojgar tak' scheme," FHRAI President Kamlesh Barot told PTI here.

The scheme launched by the tourism ministry to create employable skills in youths between the age group of 18-25 years offers short term training programme free of cost in F&B services also covering housekeeping.

At present, there are about 5.3 crore people employed in the hotel industry accounting for 9.24 percent of total employment in the country.

FHRAI would hold its 47th annual convention in Goa from September 6 to 8 that would discuss issues like employment generation and measures to help government's vision to increase the country's inbound tourism, FHRAI's Honorary Secretary Vivek Nair said.

The industry body will also discuss on how to overcome major road blocks that are hurting the hospitality industry, including high taxes, lack of provisions for the sector under infrastructure policies, sanitation, airport and tourist services, licensing among others.

The industry's contribution to country's GDP is 5.92 percent (in 2011), which is expected to go up to 7.3 percent in 2012. There were 6.29 million Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTA) with foreign exchange earnings of USD 11.394 billion last year.

[Gudavalli]

Hilton to have 25 hotels in India by 2016

Panaji, Aug 13 — The Hilton Worldwide, a leading global hospitality brand is aiming to create a network of 25 hotels across the country by 2016, a top company official said Monday.
"Double Tree by Hilton Goa-Arpora-Baga will reiterate our commitment to welcoming international travellers in key destinations. With the launch of our third hotel in India, we will be well on our way to achieving our target of increasing our network to 25 hotels in the country by 2016," Rob Palleschi, global head, Double Tree by Hilton said.
Palleschi was speaking at a press conference to announce the launch of Goa's first Hilton property in Arpora, a resort village that lies adjacent to Calangute, a popular beach in north Goa, around 15 km from here.
"With the opening of this hotel, Hilton Worldwide will operate 10 hotels in Goa. Following on from a great year of growth in 2011, when we opened six hotels, we are expanding rapidly in India and anticipate increasing our presence to 14 hotels by the end of the year," Martin Rinck, president-Asia Pacific of Hilton Worldwide said.

[Gudavalli]

Hotel occupancy down, revenues up

Foreign tourist arrivals in India have soared and Indians are travelling like never before. Yet, large hotels in India have seen their occupancy rates fall. How did this happen?

The mushrooming of hotels and their ambitious expansion plans seem to be the answer.

Consider the numbers. The number of foreign tourists travelling to India has risen by 23 per cent since 2007 to around 6.3 million in 2011.

The number of domestic travellers visiting destinations within India too grew by 61.6 per cent over the same period, to 850.9 million visits in 2011.

Foreign tourists also upped their spends in India, with the total revenues from tourism shooting up by 75 per cent in five years.

But occupancy rates in hotels across India dipped from 66.8 per cent to 62.1 per cent by December 2011.

MUSHROOMING OF HOTELS

The low occupancy rate can be explained by the boom in new hotels. There was a near 75 per cent rise in the number of hotels in the country during 2007-2010.

The excess room capacity was particularly felt in metros such as Delhi. From over 82 per cent in 2007, room occupancy has fallen below 60 per cent in the national capital.

A similar situation exists in Bangalore, where room occupancy was an abysmal 53 per cent last year, lower than the national average.

Mumbai has fared slightly better than other metros. Room occupancy in the business capital of India averaged 69 per cent in 2011, which seems to reflect the high number of business travellers to Mumbai.

Hotels in cities such as Chennai have also managed to maintain their room occupancy rates above the national average, at 64.8 per cent. So has Kolkata, with an average hotel room occupancy rate of 65.4 per cent in 2011.

CHEAPER LODGINGS

But an examination of room occupancy rates at popular tourist destinations such as Goa, Shimla and Jaipur suggests that both domestic and foreign tourists could be eschewing expensive hotels in favour of cheaper lodgings, one of the USPs of travelling in India.

Despite the parsimonious mood among tourists, it was the super-premium hotels that added the most number of rooms.

While the number of above five-star graded hotels in the country shot up by 64.5 per cent from 2007 to 153 in 2011, the five-star category grew by 84 per cent to 149 hotels.

More sedate growth was observed in the three-star category — in which the bulk of the hotels were ranked. Heritage hotels also expanded by 76 per cent.

[Ahmad Rashid Ahmad]

HYATT ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR A HYATT PLACE HOTEL IN NAGPUR

Hyatt Place Nagpur will be the 24th Hyatt Place hotel under development in India

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate signed a management agreement with Unity Infraprojects Limited for a Hyatt Place hotel in Nagpur, India. Hyatt Place Nagpur marks the 24th Hyatt Place hotel under development in India, bringing the total number of announced Hyatt-branded hotels under development in India to 57.

“The development of the Hyatt Place hotels in India reflects our commitment to offering this select-service brand in one of the world’s fastest-growing markets,” said Ratnesh Verma, Senior Vice President - Real Estate and Development, Asia Pacific for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. “We are focused on creating preference by enhancing distribution of the Hyatt Place brand in both new and established markets in India where our guests are increasingly traveling.”

“This is a great moment for our company as this is our first hospitality venture,” said Kishore K. Avarsekar, Chairman and Managing Director of Unity Infraprojects Limited. “We are delighted to be associated with an internationally renowned group like Hyatt, a company that is known for its high standards. We look forward to building on this relationship with them.”

Expected to open in 2016, Hyatt Place Nagpur will be part of mixed use development on Wardha Road, which connects the city center to the airport. The hotel will feature 125 guestrooms and will offer a restaurant and bar, meeting space, a fitness center, and a pool. Hyatt Place Nagpur will be located less than five miles from the city’s airport, and will also be in close proximity to many of the city’s higher education institutions and retail areas, including Civil Lines, Ramdaspeth and Gokulpeth.

Four new Hyatt hotels are expected to open in India in the remainder of 2012 across the Park Hyatt, Hyatt Regency and Hyatt Place brands, including:

Park Hyatt Chennai, a 204-room hotel set to open in late 2012, will be situated in the capital city of the state ofTamil Nadu. The property will offer an innovative food and beverage outlets, residential style meeting and event space, and recreational facilities, including a spa and fitness center.

Hyatt Regency Gurgaon, a 452-room hotel set to open in late 2012, is situated on the National Highway 8, which links Delhi and Jaipur and is convenient to Delhi International Airport. The hotel will offer more than 42,700 sq ft (3,966 sq m) of meeting space, including a 24,000 sq ft (2,229 sq m) ballroom, which will accommodate the meeting, conference and event needs of nearby international corporations. Additional amenities will include a lobby lounge, a three-meal multi-cuisine restaurant and two specialty restaurants, a bar, a gourmet store, a four-treatment room spa, a fitness center, a swimming pool, and the Regency Club lounge.

Hyatt Place Hampi, a 115-room hotel planned to open by the end of the year, will be situated near the Bellary industrial district. Hampi, which features spectacular views of the Sandur ranges and is home to a group of monuments classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site, also serves as a popular leisure destination. The property will include a multi-cuisine restaurant, meeting rooms, and a fitness center, and swimming pool.

Hyatt Place Pune, Hinjewadi, a 117-room property set to open at the end of the year, will be located within the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park at Hinjewadi, a prominent software hub. The hotel will feature a multi-cuisine restaurant and meeting space, as well as a business center, fitness center, and a pool.
With 57 hotels under development in India, Hyatt currently plans to offer its full portfolio of brands, including:

18 Hyatt Regency hotels under development, in addition to five already open
5 Grand Hyatt hotels under development, in addition to two already open
5 Park Hyatt hotels under development, in addition to two already open
24 Hyatt Place hotels under development
3 Andaz hotels under development
1 Hyatt House hotel under development
1 Hyatt hotel under development
In addition to India, Hyatt Place hotels are under development in China, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the U.S.

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 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 Residence ClubTM. As of June 30, 2012, the Company’s worldwide portfolio consisted of 492 properties in 45 countries. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

Source

[sandeeprai99]

Originally Posted by cncity

The Leela Kempinski, Gurgaon/ New Delhi
322-rooms & 90 Residences




The Leela Palace Kempinski, Udaipur
72-rooms & 5 suites



The Leela Palace Kempinski Pune
11-storey building, 260 rooms



The Leela Palace Kempinski, Hyderabad
236-rooms




The Leela Palace kempinski, Chennai
15-storey building, 306 rooms.


http://www.theleela.com/hotel-dehli.html

Any news on leela hyderabad