Steena Joy – Mumbai
Lulu Convention Centre Thrissur, owned by the UAE-based Lulu Group International, is investing Rs 150 crore to add a five-star extension to its already existing 40 room hotel on its premises. Speaking to Express TravelWorld, Jose Sebastian, GM, Lulu Convention Centre and Hotel informed, “The new block of 100 rooms will be in the five-star category. It will continue to be managed by the Lulu brand and is expected to be completed by December 2017 or early January 2018. The new extension is expected to boost our convention business as it will have a lot more meetings spaces – two boardrooms, three mini halls of 80, 100 and 200 pax respectively and two big halls of 8,000 sq ft each with capacity to accommodate 600 pax each. This is apart from the poolside party zone of 4,000 sq ft.”
Sebastian added that the new annexe will also have a spa and health club for which the group is planning to tie-up with an international brand. After the expansion is completed, the convention centre will also be going in for an upgradation to add latest technology and modern audio visual systems.
Commenting on the MICE business in the last year, the GM said that it was good. “Though there was no growth, the business was at the same level as last year. This is significant as we do not serve liquor in our property. However, MICE groups can obtain a one day permit from the excise commissioner’s office in Thiruvanathapuram to serve liquor at their event.”
The group recently laid the foundation stone for its Rs 2000 crore mixed use project in Thiruvanathapuram which will have a mall, convention centre and hotel.”While the hotel will have 130 rooms, the mall will cover 20 lakh sq ft making it bigger than the Lulu Mall in Kochi, and the convention centre will be able to accommodate 2,000 pax,” said Sebastian.
The project is expected to be completed by March 2019. The hotel may either be a Marriott or a Sheraton.