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MP
Tourism appoints Yes Bank as advisor for PPP project
Inviting private sector investment into the state for the
first time, Madhya Pradesh State Tourism Development Corporation
(MPSTDC) has appointed Yes Bank as a project advisor for developing
tourism infrastructure at key locations in the state.
Concept
Hospitality in talks with potential partners in Ghana, Nepal
With an aim to expand operations overseas, Concept Hospitality
is in talks with potential partners in Ghana and Nepal (in
Kathmandu) to manage its upcoming properties under its Ecotel
luxury brand 'Orchid'.
Hilton
to franchise 16 Hampton by Hilton Hotels
Hilton has entered into an agreement to franchise its Hampton
by Hilton brand to Marigold Hospitality in India. Marigold
Hospitality aims to franchise 16 hotels (approximately 2,000
rooms) under the Hampton by Hilton brand in India.
SEBI
releases guidelines for MF real estate schemes
After being on the backburner for over seven years, the Securities
and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has released draft guidelines
for mutual funds real estate schemes, bringing much relief
to the MF industry.
'Announcements
made by international brands sound impractical'
ABS Hotels India started as a master franchisee for US-based
Microtel Inn & Suites in India but its chairman Ashok
Aneja wants to diversify and take the group to a new high.
By Sanjeev Bhar
Shahpura
Bagh adds heritage home-stays in Rajasthan
Shahpura Bagh will add two more heritage home-stays in Udaipur
and Jaipur to its portfolio as well as increase the number
of rooms in its existing home-stay - Shahpura Bagh Jaipur.
Mansingh
Group to open four new properties in Rajasthan
Jaipur-based Mansingh Group of hotels, resorts and entertainment
has announced plans to add four new properties to its portfolio.
Dawnay,
Day Hotels India launches 'Ten Hotels' brand
Dawnay, Day Hotels India has formally launched its brand 'Ten
Hotels' in New Delhi. Having initiated the process of setting
up a chain of four-star upscale hotels across the country,
construction has already begun at Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Pune.
The
Ummeid to venture into budget segment
The Ummeid, a unit of National Hotels, is looking at foraying
into the budget segment by launching a new brand. Laxman Singh
Champawat, director (Sales & Marketing), The Ummeid, says,
"We will be introducing a new brand that will cater to
travellers looking for comfortable accommodation at wallet-friendly
rates."
Milestone
Resorts to have 5 Goan properties by year end
Gurgaon-based Milestone Resorts is adding more products to
its current portfolio so that it will have a total of five
properties in Goa by year end.
Almulla
Hospitality announces Shariah-compliant chain
In order to tap the growing Middle East travel market, Dubai-based
Almulla Hospitality has planned for an international chain
of Islamic hotels, which will develop 150 hotels across the
globe, with around 90 in Middle East and Mena region of North
Africa, and 60 in other parts of the world with Muslim interests.
Abu-Dhabi
based ALDAR inks agreement with Taj
Abu Dhabi based property developer ALDAR Properties's Hotels
and Hospitality division has signed an exclusive agreement
with Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) which owns Taj Hotels and
Resorts and Palaces.
South
Asian Hospitality Services to branch out internationally
South Asian Hospitality Services (SAHSPL), which has the rights
of expansion for Moti Mahal Delux and Nirula's and is master
franchisee for Subway in Delhi, is preparing itself for an
international presence.
Thomas
Barton wines now in India
Diageo-owned Barton & Guestier (B&G) has introduced
Thomas Barton Reserve wines in India.
Nilarya
brings Belgian brew to India
Nilarya Trading will introduce Belgian beers to India, starting
out with Bangalore and going on to Delhi and Mumbai. Manisha
Vinod, its head of marketing, informed that the target audience
is high-spending young adults.
CDMS
plans to add 16 new properties in 2-3 yrs
Country Development & Management Services (CDMS), the
master franchisee of Country Inns & Suites in India, is
planning to add 16 new Country Inns & Suites in the next
two to three years.
Taj
wins Food & Wine Awards
Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces has recently won a host of
prestigious Food & Wine awards.
Blackstone
to invest in project management firm Synergy
Blackstone Real Estate Partners, an affiliate of The Blackstone
Group, has agreed to invest approximately US$ 18 million for
a minority stake with board representation in Synergy Property
Development Services.
Carlson
restructures strategy to spur growth
Carlson Hotels Worldwide announced leadership appointments
and a new structure in business development that supports
a renewed focus to grow its portfolio of owned and managed
hotels, in addition to expansion of its franchise system.
Choice
is first major US chain to offer HospitalityCare
Choice Hotels International has selected Planned Administrators
(PAI) to offer and administer HospitalityCare to its franchisee
base. HospitalityCare is a limited benefit health insurance
plan designed to meet basic health coverage needs of Choice
Hotels franchisees and their employees.
Emaar
launches 5-star hotel brand 'The Address'
Emaar Hospitality Group has revealed plans to launch and operate
its own five-star premium global brand of world-class hotels
and resorts under the brand name, The Address Hotels &
Resorts that will roll out later this year with the opening
of The Address flagship hotels in Downtown Burj Dubai and
another property in Dubai Marina.
Apeejay
Surrendra Group bags KMC plot for luxury hotel
Apeejay Surrendra Group-managed The Park Hotel has bagged
the 3.358 acres plot of land owned by the Kolkata Municipal
Corporation (KMC) on the Eastern Metropolitan Bypass for a
whopping Rs 135.77 crore.
Snippets
Asia
Luxury Travel Market expects high participation
Asia Luxury Travel Market (ALTM) is expecting its 2008 event
to be double the size of last year's inaugural event. The
success of ALTM 2008 is thanks to a larger presence from some
of last year's exhibitors as well as a host of new names who
are involved in Asia's booming luxury travel industry.
Travco
to begin MICE division by July '08
Outbound holidays specialist and sole Thomas Cook franchisee
in Goa, Travco Holidays is en route to handle MICE clientele
soon.
Real
estate to see US$ 12-bn PE funds
With the Indian real estate market slated to grow 35-40 per
cent in value terms over the next two years, private equity
(PE) players are lining up significant investments in the
segment.
WORLDHOTELS’
site simplifies hotel selection for agents
WORLDHOTELS’ new website - Worldhotels.com - designed
to cater to the travel agent, has been redesigned to offer
images, videos, hotel reviews, weather forecasts and maps,
all of which will help travel agents to quickly find the best-fit
accommodation for customers from almost 500 hotels in more
than 300 destinations and 70 countries.
Galla
Foods launches mango nectar
The Rs 1,300 crore Amara Raja Group is entering fruit beverage
market in the country. The group company, Galla Foods, has
launched its first product, 'Galla Thick Mango' nectar.
Lavender
Cruises to operate houseboats
Bangalore based Lavender Cruises and Tours has announced plans
of entering into the houseboat business. "Our houseboats
will be operated under the brand of Lavender Cruises.
Everyone
wants a slice of the pie
Competition among various players in the fast food segment
- Pizza Hut, Domino's, and Nirula's - for a larger share of
the market has started hotting up.
WB
govt unveils new tourism policy
After 30 years of Left rule, the Government of West Bengal
has realised the importance of tourism promotion and has recently
unveiled a new tourism policy, effective from April 1, 2008.
New
kids on the block
Playing
the game of destiny
A mishap changed his professional life and what might have
been a career in defence or medicine turned out to be a passionate
love affair with food. Chef Hemant Oberoi, corporate chef
(Luxury Division) and executive grand chef at the Taj Mahal
Palace & Tower, speaks about life in hospitality. By
Sayoni Bhaduri
Sum-thing
for all
Dimsums literary mean 'touch the heart' or 'order to your
heart's content' in Cantonese. That's perhaps the most attractive
way to describe snacks accompanying Chinese tea - yum cha.
And dimsum Chef Nain Qing from Beijing represents arguably
the most attractive part of the cuisine - finger food, snacks
etc - all falling under the category of dimsums. Originally
from the Canton area, dimsums have in the last century acquired
local touches not just in China, but in many other parts of
our planet too. Delhi's Jaypee Vasant Continental hotel has
flown in chef Qing to provide an authentic touch to the dimsums
served in their oriental restaurant, Ano Tai
Resurrection
of the nearly gone
Lamb is not a preferred meat in India, but when well done
and well served it is a delectable dish. By Sayoni Bhaduri
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