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Akshay Kumar – Mumbai
Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) in association with WB International Consultants and AB Hospitality have launched a floating hotel called ‘AB CELESTIAL’ in Mumbai. The floatel is likely to open up for public by the first week of September this year. The AB CELESTIAL is made and imported from USA and will be docked at the Maharashtra Maritime Board’s jetty in Bandra under the Bandra Worli Sea Link. The company also has plans to launch cruise which will be used for luxury cruising purpose. MTDC will get 10 per cent of the total profit earned from this floatel.
Speaking about the launch, Chhagan Bhujbal, minister of tourism, Government of Maharashtra said, “I am happy that Mumbai has got such an innovative floatel, which will surely boost tourism. The Government of Maharashtra is looking forward to many such new tourism initiatives. The AB CELESTIAL has a state-of-the-art three tier restaurant and a 24 hour coffee shop. This floatel will certainly become a huge attraction for tourists.”
The AB CELESTIAL is a three tier luxury dinning floatel with a sky deck and will have two multi cuisine restaurants including a club lounge equipped with a 24 hour coffee shop. The floatel is built with an investment of `56 crore and has the overall capacity of 650 guests. The second cruise which will be rented out on charter basis is worth `28 crore and will have a capacity of 125 passengers. Also, AB Hospitality has plans to launch water sports such as jet ski and sailing post monsoon.
Commenting on the further plans in the cruising segment, Satish Soni, joint managing director, MTDC, said, “I definitely feel this project will increase tourism and become a major tourist attraction and we are supporting two more projects like this. We are also planning to form a good cruising policy for Maharashtra. Currently, we are in talks with the Bombay Port Trust and an expression of interest has come up for a cruise from Mumbai to Goa and also some inland cruises in Mumbai. MTDC will launch all these cruises through a partnership.”
