Tata set to expand Taj Hotels in east India

After its latest expansion into Kurseong in West Bengal, The Indian Hotels Co Ltd plans four more hotels under the Taj brand name in east India over the next 2-2.5 years under the management contract mode of operations.

According to the agreement, the Kolkata-based conglomerate Ambuja Neotia Group will construct the properties at an investment of 8 bln rupees and the Tata Group hotelier will take over the operations under a management contract.

The 72-room hotel in Kurseong, Taj Chia Kutir Resort & Spa, spread across 72 acres, was inaugurated last year.

Construction of three more properties near Gangtok in Sikkim, Patna in Bihar and Eco Park in West Bengal is underway. Harsh Neotia, chairman at the Ambuja Neotia Group, said these projects will be finished in the next 22.5 years, and will then be inaugurated under the Taj brand name.

The other hotel under the agreement is the former 147-room Swissotel in New Town near Kolkata, which Ambuja Neotia Group has already built and was operating.

"The management contract with Swissotel Hotels & Resorts for the New Town property lapsed in June last year, and we were looking for a partner for that property. Now it will become a Taj branded hotel under a long-term contract," Neotia said.

Renovation is underway in this property to tailor it in accordance to specifications by Indian Hotels.

It is expected to be inaugurated in 2021.

Neotia said that more properties will be developed in the hospitality segment and preference would be given to Indian Hotels for the management contract.

"We had a good experience with the Swissotel Hotels & Resorts and expect a good partnership with Indian Hotels as well; naturally, we would prefer them for upcoming properties as they come up," Neotia said.

He, however, did provide any further details on the upcoming hotels.