Tag Archives: Hospitality Firms

Hilton International To Expand Base In India

Posted on by

The US-based hospitality major Hilton International Co is thinking of bringing more of its global brands, including luxury chains Waldorf Astoria and Conrad, to the country.

I think it's smaller
Photo by MelkirThe company is willing  to expand its base in India particularly after it got into a joint venture with real estate major DLF in 2006-07, in which the American chain holds a 26% stake. At that time, the JV had announced plans to invest $ 1.5 billion to open 50-75 properties across the country over next few years. Now it is believed that the company has sought permission to either invest or acquire stake in other Indian hospitality firms as well.

According to some official sources, Hilton International Co had sought an approval from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to allow it to bring forward more brands such as Doubletree and Hampton by Hilton, Waldorf Astoria and Conrad which was deferred by the FIPB in its meeting held last month.

It had sought a change in existing approval by the FIPB, under which it operates a joint venture with DLF for running four of its brands in India. The brands include the serviced apartments under the Hilton Residences and Homewood Suites and serviced segment Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn.

In its application to the FIPB, the hospitality major also sought permission to invest in or acquire equity stake in other Indian companies, which are into hospitality and tourism sectors.

“The existing JV remains on track. The new partnerships will be for its other brands that it intends to bring to the country,” the sources from the company said.

Hilton Worldwide has global revenue of over $ Eight billion and currently operates over 3,200 properties across 80 countries. It owns, manages or franchises a portfolio of over a dozen brands.

Hilton currently operates 2 hotels in Delhi. One of which is under the JV and the other under a franchise agreement with a local partner.

With so many world’s leading corporations coming to India in the year ahead the country’s economy is on  a roll.

The Indian Hospitality Industry-An overview

Posted on by

Indian hospitality industry has emerged as a hotspot destination for investment for the global hospitality companies in the last few years. Many leading global hotel chains aim to enter India in the near future and the ones that are already present in the country as of now are eager to expand. The companies are betting big on dearth of hotel rooms in the nation.

ATTARD - Hôtel Corinthia Palace
Photo by Michel27Industry estimates say, in the next 3 years there will be about 40 international hotels operational in the country. These global chains plan on catering to all the classes—the upper scale, mid-scale, the economy and the budget.

Some of the chains that are set to come to India are MGM Mirage Hospitality a US-based firm, Amari from Thailand, Fairmont Raffles Hotels, Golden Tulip Hotels, Movenpick Hotels and Resorts, Corinthia Hotel group from Europe, Carlson, Starwood, Choice, Marriott, Accor, Hyatt, Intercontinental and Hilton.

Amari Hotels is set to launch Amari India and is searching for expansion opportunities in the Indian metro and tier-II cities to open seven hotels and resorts within the next 5-7 yrs. Likewise, MGM Mirage Hospitality aims to sign management contracts with realty sector developers as joint venture initiatives with local companies to set up hotel properties in the country.

Kaushik Vardharajan of HVS Hospitality Services said that, “India is more profitable for global hospitality firms than the international market. There is huge demand-supply gap which offers opportunities for international firms”. Data gathered by the firm shows that the international and domestic hotel chains had announced in August to build at least 9400 rooms in the country but the actual construction is underway for 3,840 rooms only.

Another hotel chain, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International is in advanced stage of discussions for properties in Delhi, Gurgaon, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Goa and Chennai.
Golden Tulip is looking to add 10 properties which totals to 800 keys across tier-II towns by the end of the next financial year.

Four Seasons, a luxury hotel brand is in various stages of discussions with developers for constructing properties in Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Pune and Goa. “There is enough room for several players to enter the market. India will become a major market for our company,” said Director Marketing Four Seasons, Sanjiv Shukla.

Accor, which has five hotels at present, will expand its network to 50 with 10,000 rooms in 15 cities by 2012.

ITC Welcomgroup plans to add 40 hotels to its 113 under four brands out Of which 25 are under the Fortune brand of business hotels. Senior Executive Vice-President at ITC, Pawan Verma said that “We are attached to the ground unlike them (international chains). We excel in Indian hospitality”.

The Taj Group is growing furiously both in the country and abroad. It is looking to roll more than 70 new hotels in 4 categories including its budget brand Ginger to add to the 105 hotels out of which 17 will be abroad.

However, falling rates of up to 18 per cent over last year has become a cause of concern for these hospitality chains. In 2008-09, the average room rate was Rupees 7,800 which has now reduced to Rupees 6,396 per night.

Still it will not be wrong to say that Indian hospitality is in a state of war where hotel rooms are being built like army barracks.