Steena Joy – Kochi
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Riaz Ahmed
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Abad Hotels & Resorts, the Kochi-based hospitality chain is ready to add two more resorts to its current portfolio of 12 properties. Speaking exclusively to Express TravelWorld, Riaz Ahmed, managing director, Abad Hotels & Resorts, informed, “The property planned in Fort Cochin will be a 100 year old heritage property which used to be an ancient family home or tharavadu. We plan to do some modifications and restore some parts of the original structure which has fallen to ruins. For this we have applied for permissions from the concerned heritage authorities for starting work on the project. This heritage resort will have 25 rooms.”
He added, “The other resort is coming up in Wayanad in the north of Kerala. This property will have 35 to 40 rooms. Both resorts are expected to be completed by end of 2015. The estimated investment is around Rs 40 crore.”
Abad Hotels & Resorts is also looking at resorts outside Kerala. Commenting on the locations, Ahmed informed “Things are still in the planning stage but we are looking at Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, two states in close proximity to Kerala.”
Tha Abad group currently has properties all over Kerala, a mix of business hotels and resorts. Seven hotels are located in Kochi (Ernakulam) including one at Cochin International Airport and the resorts are located at Munnar, Kumarakom, Thekkady, Marari Beach and Kovalam. The proposed heritage resort will be the group’s first resort in Fort Cochin.
