GLOBAL HOTEL FIRMS SEE ROOM FOR MORE UPSCALE BRANDS IN INDIA

Astrong double-digit growth in foreign tourist arrivals, rise in domestic leisure and corporate travel, and recovery in the hotel business are prompting global chains to bring more top-end luxury brands to India. Leading hotel chains like Marriott, Accor, and Hyatt are getting ready to roll out more brands.

Marriott International, the largest branded hotel chain in India and globally, is considering adding more upscale brands to its existing 15 brands in India. “We will bring more brands here but also grow the ones we have here already. I would like to see an Edition and a Bulgari hotel in upscale Delhi and Mumbai, and may be some other city,” said Craig Smith, president and managing director of Asia Pacific at Marriott.

Marriott operates premium brands like Westin, Le Meridien, JW Marriott, and Ritz- Carlton here. According to its website, the company has eight operating Bulgari properties in markets like Dubai, London, and Milan, among others. Similarly, Edition is operational at nine locations, including New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai.

French hotel major Accor also is in the process of bringing high-end brands like Raffles and Banyan Tree. Accor has 20 brands globally, of which 10, including Pullman, Sofitel, and Novotel, are in India. “We are reviewing the opportunities to introduce more of our internationally recognised brands at an appropriate time and are currently engaged in discussions to bring the Raffles and Banyan Tree brands to leisure locations, such as Rajasthan, Kerala, and Goa, besides New Delhi and Mumbai,” said JeanMichel Cassé, chief operating officer (India & South Asia) at Accor Hotels.

Raffles is present at 11 locations globally, including Singapore, Dubai, and Paris. Raffles, the company said, is an oasis for the well-travelled, delivering legendary service since 1887. The company operates 50 hotels in India. India offers some of the finest luxury hotels in the world and unique destinations and heritage, which appeal to the luxury traveler, both domestic and international, said Cassé.

Raj Rana, chief executive officer (South Asia) at Carlson Rezidor, said international chains were keenly examining the brands in their stable on a regular basis as customer expectations were changing in India. “We are watching the prospects in top-end luxury market,” he said.

Chicago-headquartered Hyatt Hotels has a portfolio of 13 brands globally but seven of these are not in India. The company is ready to bring in more brands.

“Indian travelers are constantly evolving, and their travel aspirations are on a par with global high-end travelers. The phenomenal response to our luxury lifestyle brand Andaz in Delhi has also boosted our confidence to bring in high-end brands. We definitely see an opportunity to introduce Hyatt Centric and The Unbound Collection by Hyatt,” said Kurt Straub, vice-president operations (India), Hyatt Hotels and Resorts.

Hyatt Bangalore will fade out and become Hyatt Centric. This is a lifestyle hotel brand that was recently introduced globally. It is to be centrally located in a city from where you can move into action places quickly. The Unbound Collection by Hyatt is more flexible brand, which involves palaces and unstructured properties.