30 Minute Interview

'DS Group is looking at having international tie-ups'

The recent acquisition of the Kolkata airport hotel marked the entry of Dharampal Satyapal Group (DS Group) in the hospitality space. Rajiv Kumar, its vice chairman and managing director, reveals the company's future plans. By Sanjeev Bhar

Rajiv Kumar vice chairman and managing director DS Group

Would you be interested in further investing in airport hotels?

The group has made a conscious decision to diversify into hospitality. We may consider investing in airport hotels in future depending upon the company's business plans at that time and suitability of the city in our overall plans.

The group has strong expansion plans lined up both in five-star and budget category hotels.

Yes, we have outlined an expansion plan both in budget and five-star hotels. The company will definitely look to a leading international operator of hotel chains to run the hotels on management contract subject to mutual acceptability of terms and business vision.

What is the expected inventory that DS Hotels is looking at by March 2010?

By 2010, we expect three properties in Jaipur, Guwahati and Kolkata operational in that order. There will be 200 rooms in each of the five-star hotels in Jaipur and Guwahati and 250 rooms in a five-star hotel and 100 rooms in the budget hotel at Kolkata airport. The projects already under progress are a destination hotel with a five-star hotel, a budget hotel, large convention centre and a shopping mall in Kolkata. Many more projects have been lined up in places like Jim Corbett and Udaipur that will be announced soon.

How you are going to finance these projects?

The company is scouting for probable investors for funding the up-coming projects. We will raise the finances through equity and debt model.