Newstrack

Shangri-La to sport budget brand

Savio Rodrigues - New Delhi

After its premier hotel and resort spa brand, Shangri-La, and its first class hotel brand, Traders, Asia's foremost hotel company Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts is to unveil its version of a budget hotel, revealed the company's senior management personnel on strict condition of anonymity.

With a brand name yet to be finalised and key locations in Asia yet to be identified to introduce the brand, the group is extremely tight-lipped about developments on this front.

While not confirming and also not denying this development, Symon Bridle, chief operating officer of Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, states, "All companies look at all spheres of the market and our company is also exploring this possibility. It is something that is up for discussion and is on our business agenda. We have to look at different options in business." Internal sources have revealed that the budget brand will be making its presence felt extensively in China and India.

Currently in India, the group is working on introducing its Traders brand in Mumbai, Gurgaon, Hyderabad and Pune. The group plans to introduce eight to ten Traders Hotels in India in four to five years time. Its hopes to have five to six hotels of the Shangri-La brand in the country in the next couple of years in key cities after its venture in Delhi with the Eros Group.