JOY ROY CHOUDHURY – Kolkata
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| Ronnie Lobo |
“Our plan is to open hotels in every capital city of the country and in the emerging tier two and three towns,” said Ronnie Lobo, vice president (operations), Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, South Asia. The move is part of the hotel major’s plan to increase the number of hotels under management to over 100 by 2015 under different brands like Radisson, and Park Inn. Of the 100 hotels, 63 are operational and another 44 are in different stages of construction under different brands.
The company, which has its headquarters in Belgium, inaugurated its first 92-room managed property in Kolkata under the Park Plaza brand name. City-based Mukti Group has developed the property. The company also plans to take over the management control of two more properties, one each in Kolkata and the another in Guwahati by the end of 2013. “We are looking to add two more properties in the eastern region at Hastings in Kolkata and Guwahati by the end of 2013,” said Lobo. While the 100-room Radisson Blu property in Kolkata will be developed by the city-based Saraf Group, the 170-keys property in Guwahati is being developed by the Dharampal Satyapal (DS) Group.
Presently, the Group owns six global brands such as Radisson, Radisson Blu, Park Plaza, Park Inn, Country Inns and Suites and Hotel Missoni. “The company recently revamped its top-end brand Radisson. While Radisson Blu is positioned in the upper upscale segment, Radisson is positioned in the upscale segment making it a two tier brand. Carlson Rezidor, last year signed a strategic partnership with Bestech Group giving it exclusive development rights to develop about 49 Park Inn Hotels in north and central India by 2024,” he added.
