SAYONI BHADURI – Mumbai
Ayana Hospitality, a JV between Mumbai-based ICS Group and South African Mantis Group is now looking at opportunities along the Konkan belt, Goa, Western Ghats and Kerala, after declaring its plan to open its first resort in Pench in 2013. Discussing the company’s plans Akhil Behl, CEO, Ayana Hospitality said, “Ayana will not be developing any property on its own as it is a pure play service provider to third parties. We will assist developers in all stages of the project right from conceptualisation to design development to operations and eventually also market the assets. These services will be provided through contracts.” The first project is a ten room luxury safari lodge at Pench National Park, Maharashtra which is expected to be operational by 2013, priced at approximately Rs 25,000 a room per night. In developing this lodge, the company intends on establishing a successful model for ecotourism by providing a meaningful and unique experience to it’s guest while ensuring the protection of India’s wildlife and natural heritage.
The JV between the two companies is exclusive for the Indian subcontinent (India, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri-Lanka) and South East Asia. The aim is to address the untapped opportunity in the boutique luxury segment of the market in the Indian subcontinent and south-east Asia. “Ayana is focused on setting up boutique hotels and lodges at nature destinations. The JV will address opportunities in the wildlife sanctuaries, beaches, backwaters, mountains, deserts and lake destinations. The JV will also look to operate heritage assets in India,” informed Behl.
Ayana Hospitality will utilise the Mantis Group’s global marketing platform for the hotel brand’s promotion. Ayana is also setting up a similar marketing platform to address all marketing and sales initiatives within the Indian sub-continent and South East Asia.
