Carlson bets big on India

Carlson Hotels Worldwide (CHW), a leading global hotel chain with operations in more than 1,060 locations in 77 countries, has drawn up aggressive expansion plans for India. To be implemented in the next three years, the plan envisages to add 50 hotels to its present portfolio of 28 across its four brands namely Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts and Park Inn.

Besides, Carlson is also introducing its luxury brand ‘Regent Hotels & Resorts’ in India under which it will be operating a hotel with 160 guest rooms and suites in Gurgaon by 2013. It has tied up with real estate major Pioneer Urban Land and Infrastructure which is developing the property.

The growth plans for India, which were well under way, would strengthen Carlson’s position as the largest and fastest-growing international hotel operator in the country by number of hotels, according to Hubert Joly, President and CEO of Carlson. “We are optimistic about India and its growth prospects as a leading emerging economy,” he said.

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DB Hospitality to invest Rs 5,500 cr to build 9 hotels by 2014

MUMBAI: DB Hospitality, part of the Mumbai- based real estate developer DB Group, will invest around Rs 5,500 crore to build nine hotels across
India by 2014, a top company official said.

“We plan to have a minimum of 12 properties by 2014. We plan to set up nine more hotels by then at an investment of Rs 5,500-crore,” DB Hospitality’s CEO Julian Groom told PTI here.

The company has three properties–Le Royal Meridien in Mumbai, Le Meridien in Ahmedabad and one property in Rajasthan, currently shut down for refurbishment.

Groom said the company has tied-up with Hyatt International to set up five hotels–Park Hyatt (125-storeyed iconic India Tower) in Mumbai, Grand Hyatt in Goa and Pune, Hyatt Place in Hinjewadi, Pune and Hyatt Place in Mundra, Gujarat.

Besides, the company is setting up four hotels in Delhi’s hospitality district, expected to be ready by end-2013.

The company is eyeing private equity investment to part-fund its expansion and is already in talks with a few firms, he said, without, however, disclosing further details.

“We will fund the remaining requirements through internal accruals and bank-loans,” Groom said.s
source – http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/hotels-/-restaurants/DB-Hospitality-to-invest-Rs-5500-cr-to-build-9-hotels-by-2014/articleshow/5358807.cms

Hyatt to Launch 5 New Hotels in India

Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels Corp and the Indian real estate developer DB Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., part of DB Group, announced yesterday that Hyatt will operate five new hotel properties in India between 2010 and 2014.

The properties to come up include- Park Hyatt Mumbai, Grand Hyatt Goa, Grand Hyatt Pune, Hyatt Place Pune and Hyatt Place Mundra.

DB Hospitality will develop and own the properties, which will be in major business centers and Hyatt will manage them.With this decision, the global hospitality company seeks to expand its footprint in what it feels is the world’s most vibrant emerging market.

“The introduction of five new Hyatt properties in India, one of the world’s most vibrant emerging markets, illustrates our commitment to expanding our global footprint,” said Ratnesh Verma, senior vice president of real estate and development for Hyatt. “We are excited to provide our guests with access to our world-class, preferred brands in these increasingly popular markets in India.”

Hyatt has operated properties in India since 1983. Currently, Hyatt manages five hotels in India, including Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa, Grand Hyatt Mumbai, Hyatt Regency Mumbai, Hyatt Regency Delhi, and Hyatt Regency Kolkata.

The five new Hyatt properties will include:

• Park Hyatt Mumbai, projected to open in the first quarter of 2014, will include 255 guest rooms and 55 serviced apartments. The hotel will be part of the iconic 125-story India Tower located on Marine Lines in South Mumbai. Foster and Partners, London has been selected as the leading designers for this full-service hotel, which will include exclusive banqueting and meeting facilities.
• Grand Hyatt Goa, under construction and projected to open in the third quarter of 2010, will include 314 guest rooms. The hotel will be located in “Aldeia de Goa,” a 140-acre mixed-use development in North Goa that features a half-mile beachfront and excellent views of the Zuari River. The hotel, which will feature approximately 35,000 sq. ft. in banquet and meeting facilities, will also include extensive dining and entertainment options.
• Grand Hyatt Pune, projected to open in the third quarter of 2011, will include 325 rooms and multiple dining, recreation, banquet, and meeting facilities. The hotel will be part of the “Orchid Centre” development and in close proximity to the Pune Golf Course and other major commercial developments.
• Hyatt Place Pune, projected to open in the first quarter of 2012, will include 130 rooms, a multi-cuisine restaurant, meeting facilities, a fitness center and a pool. The hotel will be located within the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park at Hinjewadi, a prominent software hub.
• Hyatt Place Mundra, projected to open in the third quarter of 2013, will comprise of 150 rooms, a multi-cuisine restaurant, meeting facilities, a fitness center and a pool. The hotel will be located in the Special Economic Zone at the Mundra Port, which is the largest private and multi-product port in India.
  • source – http://www.indianwineacademy.com/item_5_353.aspx