Category Archives: Hotels

InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG) has promoted Greesh Bindra to the post of Regional General Manager (RGM) of North & West India hotels in South West Asia. With an extensive experience of over 33 years across various brands, Bindra has been with IHG for almost 15 years. He has completed his General Managers Program with Cornell University in 2006 and has also won many awards including the Best General Manager at India Travel Awards in 2015. As the Regional General Manager, Bindra will further contribute to IHG’s growth in the northern Indian markets. Being based in Crowne Plaza Greater Noida, he will oversee the performance of the company’s 13 hotels within the region. Aside from his professional background, he is a dedicated sportsperson who spends his free time playing golf and other sports activities.

Sarovar Hotels has opened a new hotel in Delhi NCR, The Muse Sarovar Portico, Kapashera. Marking the group’s focused expansion plan, The Muse Sarovar Portico Kapashera will be followed by openings in Nairobi, Ranchi, Jaisalmer and Amritsar this year. With easy access to the domestic and international airports, The Muse Sarovar Portico targets both business and leisure travellers and offers 73 rooms, three ballrooms together have an area of 6900 square feet and can accommodate up to 600 people. Speaking on the occasion, Ajay K. Bakaya, Exeutive Director, Sarovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd., says, “We are glad to be opening the year with this important addition to our portfolio. Strategically positioned, The Muse Sarovar Portico is convenient to commute to and from the airport making travel easy for frequent travellers. Excellent banquet and conference facilities are the prime services we aim to focus on here”

ITDC made a debut entry at the NSE listing. The market has resulted in a surge and stocks are up over 15%. India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) surged 18% to Rs 209 on the BSE in intra-day trade ahead of its listing on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday, December 30, 2016. India Tourism Development Corporation has informed BSE that the listing of equity shares of ITDC in NSE has been approved vide its letter dated December 28, 2016 and the equity shares shall be listed and admitted to dealings on NSE w.e.f. December 30, 2016. Shares of India Tourism Development Corporation got listed at Rs 229 on NSE, registering a premium of 7.87 per cent over its issue price of Rs 212.30. The stock touched an early high of Rs 234, registering a jump of 10.22 per cent over its issue price. It finally ended the day at Rs 211, down 0.61 per cent from its issue price.On the volume front, a total of 1,22,798 shares of the company were traded on NSE. On BSE, where it had listed earlier, the scrip settled at Rs 212.8, up 0.24 per cent from the previous close. It had opened at Rs 228 and jumped 10.06 per cent to an intra-day high of Rs 233.65. On September 2, the company’s board had sent an application to NSE regarding listing of its shares with the bourse. ITDC, which came into existence in October 1966, runs hotels and restaurants at various places for tourists, besides providing transport facilities. It also produces, distributes and sells tourist publicity literature and provides entertainment and duty free shopping facilities to tourists.

Stayzilla signed a MoU with the Tourism Department of Odisha in order to provide online booking facilities and promote homestays in various tourist places across the state. Stayzilla has tied up with around 80 homestay accommodations in the state and the facilities will start functioning from Bhubaneswar, Konark and Puri in the first phase. “The tie-up would meet the shortage of rooms in accommodation sector in budget category and bridge the infrastructure gap,” said Nitin Jawale, Tourism Director, Government of Odisha. Ankit Rastogi, Vice President, Stayzilla, informed, “Odisha has huge potential as a tourism destination. Apart from promoting safe homestay facilities Stayzilla will jointly promote various tourist places of the state and its unique culture and food. We work as facilitators and ensure safety and quality stay for tourists. Stayzilla will provide an application to all homestay owners that will function without internet facilities where they can upload all details which people across the globe can see and book online. We have plans to start operation in important destinations like Raghurajpur and Nuapatna and will also go to tribal hinterlands soon.” Source: Times of India

The Department of Consumer Affairs, Central Government has called for clarification from the Hotel Association of India, which have replied that the service charge is completely discretionary and should a customer be dissatisfied with the dining experience he/she can have it waived off. Therefore, it is deemed to be accepted voluntarily. The Department of Consumer Affairs has asked the State Governments to sensitize the companies, hotels and restaurants in the states regarding aforementioned provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 and also to advise the hotels/restaurants to disseminate information through display at the appropriate place in the hotels/restaurants that the ‘service charges’ are discretionary/ voluntary and a consumer dissatisfied with the services can have it waived off. A number of complaints from consumers have been received that hotels and restaurants are following the practice of charging ‘service charge’ in the range of 5-20%, in lieu of tips, which a consumer is forced to pay irrespective of the kind of service provided to him. The Consumer Protection Act, 1986 provides that a trade practice which, for the purpose of promoting the sale, use or the supply of any goods or for the provision of any service, adopts any unfair method or deceptive practice, is to be treated as an unfair trade practice and that a consumer can make a complaint to the appropriate consumer forum established under the Act against such unfair trade practices.

Shangri-La’s Eros Hotel, New Delhi recently underwent a massive renovation of its F&B outlets. For 2017, the hotel has big plans of renovating its rooms along with its spa. Parmeet Singh Nayar, General Manager, Shangri-La’s-Eros Hotel, New Delhi, says, “In addition to growing our online presence and integrating technology at every step, we have been working on exciting developments to continuously delight our guests. After revamping our food and beverage offerings, the coming year will offer revamped accommodation facilities at the hotel along with Shangri-La’s signature CHI Spa. With these new developments in the pipeline we are sure that 2017 shall be a promising year for the hotel.”

ITC is all set to launch its new property in Kolkata by 2017. ITC Hotel, Kolkata adjacent to ITC Sonar, will be symbolic of the rich history of Bengal and Kolkata, being built with the colonial theme on the lines of the ‘British Raj’ and Calcutta as the ‘Imperial Capital of the British India’. The 490 key hotel would be among the tallest buildings of Kolkata with a commanding view of the entire city.

Royal Orchid Hotels announces the opening of two hotels under its brand Regenta Inn in Vadodara and Kolkata on Dec  15, expanding to 40 hotels by the end of 2016. Regenta Inn Vadodara is located at the newly constructed Ved Transcube Plaza adjacent to the Central Bus Terminal, walking distance to the Vadodara Railway Station and a short ride to the airport. The hotel offer 94 well-appointed room and is part of Ved Transcube Plaza that uniquely hosts various different shopping outlets, a flea Market, an Indian Heritage Lane, an Art Cafe, PVR Cinemas, a Thematic Food Court and Kids Game Zone. The hotel offers multiple banquet and conference facilities for upto 500 guests with state-of-the-art business facilities and Wi-fi services. Chander K. Baljee, MD of the Royal Orchid Hotels said, “We are glad to bring our brand of hotels in these cities. Kolkata has always been an important market for hoteliers in terms of both business and leisure segments. Whereas Gujarat tourism is already witnessing a boost and we intend to tap this segment with our existing portfolio along with our second property in Vadodara.” Regenta Inn, Kolkata is a budget friendly hotel consisting of 45 well-appointed rooms making it ideal for business & leisure travelers’ seeking accommodation next to the airport in new Kolkata city. The property offers choices between Executive rooms and premium rooms for a luxurious stay. The hotel offers optimum banquet spaces for small occasions, an all-day dining restaurant and a swimming pool.

Kairali Ayurvedic Group’s signature resort ‘The Ayurvedic Healing Village’ is the latest property to come under the Lux Hotels umbrella for marketing and promotion. Bhupesh Kumar, Director, Lux Hotels, spoke about the development, saying, “We are elated to have partnered with Kairali Ayurveda for their global and national brand awareness and developing incremental business. Also, we want to increase the visibility of the brand in the global and national market.” Kairali Ayurvedic group, came in to being in 1989 with the aim of propagating the ideologies of Ayurveda throughout the world and has been a name to reckon with in the wellness industry.

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts announced the opening of Sheraton Grand Pune Bund Garden Hotel, a newly renovated property set to welcome business and leisure guests. The hotel recently completed an extensive rebranding and renovation, featuring a complete transformation of its 177 well-appointed guest rooms, lobby and public spaces as well as added meeting facilities. The new hotel joins a portfolio of 36 Sheraton Grand properties. Owned by BrahmaCorp, Sheraton Grand Pune Bund Garden Hotel is the second ‘Sheraton Grand’ hotel in India and the fourth Sheraton hotel in the country. Jaswinder Narang, Complex General Manager of Sheraton Grand Pune Bund Garden Hotel, said, “We are thrilled to expand the Sheraton Grand presence in India with the opening of our second premier-tier hotel in the country. As Pune continues to make it possible for business travelers to find success as the IT capital of India, Sheraton is committed to delivering luxury to guests through excellence in service. Through this renovation and opening, we have worked diligently to solidify Sheraton as a leading global hotel brand of choice.”