Germany-based hotel management and consultancy firm, RIMC International, has entered into a 50:50 joint venture agreement with Pune-based Sahil Group of Companies, to manage and operate hotel projects in India. The joint venture company, RIMC Sahil India, aims to operate about 20 properties in the country by 2012. It has earmarked an investment of about three million USD for the same period.

Speaking exclusively with Hospitality Biz, Vinay Phadnis, Chairman and Managing Director, Sahil Group of Companies, stated, “Due to immense potential within the Indian hospitality industry, RIMC wished to have a presence in this market. The alliance will also help to accelerate our company’s growth and presence in the country.” RIMC Sahil India will start operations with six properties located in Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur, Gurgaon and Jaipur across different categories. Of these, two properties — one each, under the three and four star categories, respectively — in Pune and a three star property in Jaipur are already under construction and slated for operations by mid January 2009.