Category Archives: Hotels

The Montcalm Luxury Hotels has opened its sixth property, the Montcalm Royal London House – City of London. Located just a stone’s throw away from Liverpool Street station and close to Shoreditch, the 253-bedroom hotel marks a remarkable transformation of an imposing mid-century office building into a stylish five star property with uniquely striking views of London’s City skyline. At the Montcalm Royal London House – City of London, the group’s trademark timeless elegance has breathed new life into the building’s fine mid-century features, with statement copper pipe lighting and exposed brick walls mixed with original reclaimed parquet flooring and silk-lined corridors, feature staircases and turquoise leather stools. More information on the hotel can be found at http://www.montcalmroyallondoncity.co.uk/.

Singapore-based Banyan Tree Holdings enters into agreement with AccorHotels. Under a long-term partnership, both parties intend to collaborate to develop and manage BanyanTree branded hotels around the world. Banyan Tree will also have access to AccorHotels’ global reservations and sales network, as well as its loyalty programme Le Club AccorHotels. AccorHotels will invest an initial SGD 24 million (c. €16 million) in Banyan Tree and both parties will then co-develop the brands owned by Banyan Tree around the world. This investment will be made through a mandatory convertible debenture that at conversion will give AccorHotels an approximately five per cent stake in Banyan Tree. AccorHotels has an option to purchase an additional approximately five per cent stake. Ho Kwon Ping, Executive Chairman of Banyan Tree, said, “This agreement is not only transformational for Banyan Tree, but is also an innovation for the global hospitality industry. With the current consolidation of mega hotel companies, smaller but also global players – many family-controlled – are also seeking strategic alliances with the global giants. Our strategic alliance with AccorHotels allows us to remain an independent company,enabling us to continue securing hotel management agreements on our own andyet accelerating Banyan Tree’s speed and scope of expansion but with AccorHotels helping us to grow our brands around the world. We believe this agreement will propel our brands rapidly to global reach and range and strengthen our ability to embrace change and innovation in the hospitality industry with a strong global partner. We are excited and committed to this partnership.” Sebastien Bazin, CEO and Chairman of AccorHotels, said, “Our collaboration with Banyan Tree is a great opportunity to complement our business proposition to owners with iconic …

Marriott International has announced that the company will continue to grow its leadership position in luxury, doubling its portfolio of luxury hotels through the recent merger with Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Providing travelers a selection of high-end experiences in 61 countries, the Marriott International Luxury Brands group now includes the iconic St. Regis, The Luxury Collection and W Hotels brands, in addition to the company’s hospitality hallmarks The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Bulgari Hotels & Resorts, EDITION and JW Marriott. Looking ahead, Marriott International is scheduled to open nearly 30 luxury hotels in 2017 and has a total of 180 luxury hotels in its development pipeline, representing 20 new countries, from Iceland and Nepal to Cuba. Tina Edmundson, Global Brand Officer, Marriott International, said, “Spanning the world from the most iconic hot spots to the ultimate undiscovered gems, the unmatched breadth and depth of our luxury portfolio uniquely positions us to cater to the increased demand of the rapidly-expanding cadre of affluent travelers. With luxury travel up nearly 50% over the past five years, we see a long runway for growth at the high-end and have a world-class, dedicated luxury structure in place to nurture and strengthen this coveted portfolio of eight diverse luxury brands.”

Sarovar Hotels has opened Efcee Sarovar Portico Bhavnagar. The 99 room premium hotel was launched in the presence of Mansoor Adil, Executive Vice President, Sarovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd., Komalkant F. Sharma, Chairman & Managing Director, Leela Worldwide Group, Rajesh Ranjan, Director – Development, Sarovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd. and Sanjay Wadhwa, General Manager, Efcee Sarovar Portico. Sarovar Hotels manages three other hotels in Gujarat including Ahmedabad, Gandhidham and Rajkot.Efcee Sarovar Portico offers a calm and peaceful oasis for both business and leisure travellers. The elegant and well-appointed rooms and suites, categorized into Deluxe Rooms, Premium Rooms, Executive Suites and Leela Suite, offer contemporary amenities and personalized service. With state of the art meeting and banqueting facilities, it is an ideal venue for corporate and social events, workshops, exhibitions and weddings. The open air lawn, perhaps the biggest space in the city, is perfect for weddings and can accommodate upto 2000 people. As trade and economic collaborations between Gujarat and the rest of country continue to strengthen, this newest property is well set to cater to Bhavnagar’s business and leisure market. Furthermore, the launch of Efcee Sarovar Portico Bhavnagar is strategically important for the group’s development in the state of Gujarat as it looks to further expand its footprints across newer destinations in the country. Commenting on the launch, Mr. Mansoor Adil, Executive Vice President, Sarovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd., said, “We are delighted to be opening our fourth hotel in Gujarat. Bhavnagar, being one of the major business destinations in the state, is an important addition to our portfolio. With Efcee Sarovar Portico, we endeavor to offer the best of hospitality to all travellers to this region. Our superior banqueting facilities will …

StayWell Hospitality Group has launched its fifth property in India—Park Regis Goa. This is the largest property under the group’s portfolio. Spread over an area of 5 acres in Arpora, Park Regis Goa boasts a magnificent location featuring 96 Rooms & Suites each spread across 5500sqft with modern-décor, soothing warm colors, plush duvets, international standard mattresses and high quality bathroom amenities. Luxurious comfort with expansive, lavish spaces, a private bar and your own private balcony over-looking the plush greens. Simon Wan, CEO & Managing Director of StayWell Hospitality Group, has commented that the opening of Park Regis Goa is just the tip of the Group’s expansion in the region.”With four properties opened and an additional six under development, the growth opportunities for StayWell in India are extremely positive and exciting,” he said. The 96 room resort-style hotel is located in a prime position north of the main city of Goa, within close proximity to Goa’s iconic attractions Baga, Calangute and Anjuna Beaches. Boasting a large outdoor alfresco pool bar, cafe, restaurant, conference facilities, pool and gymnasium, Park Regis Goa will become a new class of accommodation in North Goa. Guest rooms are spaciously designed offering lavish inclusions such as handcrafted amenities, oversized bathtub and a private balcony overlooking lush surrounds. This is the second Park Regis hotel to open in India following the launch of Park Regis Jaipur in July 2015. Rohit Vig, Managing Director for India, StayWell Hospitality Group added that the group’s strategic plan is targeting an area of the Indian market with the biggest growth opportunities.”Ultimately, we are targeting India’s domestic travel segment. With a rapidly growing middle class with disposable income, the market is huge. We …

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has announced the opening of its first Radisson Blu in Coimbatore. It is the second-largest city in Tamil Nadu. Centrally located on Avinashi Road and a mere seven kilometers away from Coimbatore International Airport and Coimbatore Junction, the city’s primary railway station, the hotel is also close to textile and engineering industries, educational institutions and multi-specialty hospitals. Raj Rana, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, said, “Radisson Blu Coimbatore is set to raise the bar on the city’s upper-upscale hospitality landscape and bring new standards to the city. We are honored to be partnering with GBJ Hotels Pvt. Ltd and appreciate their trust in our brand and expertise. With 140 hotels in operation and under-development, this hotel will be a valued addition as we expand and grow our footprint in South India.” G. Balasubramaniam, Managing Director, GBJ Hotels Pvt. Ltd., added, “This is our first hospitality venture and we are happy in the strong leadership of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and its South Asia team.  We are confident that their proven experience and marketing expertise will benefit the hotel and I look forward to a mutually rewarding long-term association with the Group.”

Best Western Hotels & Resorts has announced a partnership in India with RoomsXML, an accommodations wholesaler that exclusively services travel agents. Tajinder Singh, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Best Western Hotels & Resorts India, Bangaldesh & Sri Lanka, said, “We will provide them with ready access to our more than 4,100 hotels around the world. RoomsXML meets our business needs and aspirations as we look to grow our footprint across the region, and we are confident they will help us be successful in our mission moving forward.” RoomsXML is a winner of numerous industry awards and accolades, including India Travel Awards – West. All properties available on roomsXML are 3-stars and above.  RoomsXML is also the world’s first system to have a dedicated mobile interface exclusively for travel agents. Prakash Bang, MD, RoomsXML, said, “We believe our focus has led Best Western Hotels& Resorts to choose us as a preferred direct distribution partner. We are excited to formalise our relationship with Best Western. The association will bring incredible value to our travel agent partners, who will gain from seamless access to the company’s global portfolio of 4,100 hotels.”

Stayzilla has got on board with Assam Tourism Development Corporation for the joint promotion and development of homestays in the state. The MoU was signed in the strategic presence of Ankit Rastogi, Vice President Marketplace, Stayzilla and Anurag Singh, Managing Director, Assam Tourism Development Corporation. With this association, Stayzilla becomes the first aggregator to associate with governments in the East. Under this agreement, Stayzilla will lend its expertise to Assam Tourism Development Corporation to conduct verification procedures and jointly boost homestays and unique stay experiences within Assam. ATDC as Implementation Agency for Department of Tourism, Assam will be one of the first state tourism bodies to launch a model Rural Homestay scheme providing financial incentive for development and standardization of new Homestays in Assam. This partnership will also enable verification and training of these New Homestays being developed right from the start. Stayzilla’s team in the North East, headed by Regional Office of Kolkata, will be part of the Service and Quality Assurance Committee under ATDC for Inspection which includes property verification and screening. The Tourism Board & Stayzilla will also jointly conduct educational and training sessions for registered homestays on best practices such as online usage, content management, operations and expense management. Stayzilla team will also be involved in imparting Hospitality and Skill Training to all the New Homestays under the ATDC scheme.

Two of Asia’s most iconic luxury hotel groups, Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts and Mumbai-based Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, announced that they have formed a ground-breaking strategic alliance to broaden their reach and offer more unique experiences to guests across Asia and the world. The alliance will officially launch in March 2017 with the introduction of the “Warmer Welcomes” programme, which integrates Taj InnerCircle and Shangri-La’s Golden Circle guest loyalty programmes and will provide members reciprocal and seamless benefits at a scale never seen before under a hospitality alliance. Both Taj and Shangri-La are renowned worldwide for their exceptional service philosophy that is deeply rooted in, and inspired by, the cultures and traditions of the markets they operate in.

Lords Hotels & Resorts has recently signed its 26th property in Bharuch, Gujarat. To be branded under the Lords Eco Inn banner, it is scheduled to commence operations from December 2016. This makes Lords Hotels & Resorts the largest hotel chain in the state. Located between the two major cities of Surat and Vadodara, Lords Eco Inn – Bharuch serves as an ideal stopover destination. With a 48 rooms, the eco inn offers luxurious accommodations and full-service at friendly prices for the discerning business and leisure traveller. P.R. Bansal, CMD, Lords Hotels & Resorts, says, “The addition of this hotel to our chain of hotels marks a significant milestone and one that is unique, for us. From the first hotel back in 2007 which was set in this very state to this one in 2016, we have gone on to become the largest chain of true value hotels in Gujarat. Today our hotels dot the entire region. We now have all its four brands including Lords Plaza, Lords Inn, Lords Resort and Lords Eco Inn that caters to the leisure, corporate and also the pilgrimage tourists which Gujarat Tourism is known for in the state. Of the 15 Lords Hotels & Resorts properties in the state, this will be the sixth ‘Eco Inn’ brand for the group.” “We have been looking to aggressively establish our presence across the country while maintaining Gujarat as the home. In the last few months we have added three new properties in Jammu, Agra and Thrissur. We are looking to expand our portfolio not just in India but also outside, especially in the neighbouring countries where the hospitality sector still has a huge margin for …