Delhi hotels go East

The East Delhi hoteliers feel that with the presence of new hotels in the region, F&B, banqueting and MICE business are now bouncing back.

As

the capital city of India now evolves from being a macro to a micro market in the recent times, emergence of business within the city and the NCR has been witnessed. One of the areas which has now emerged as a new playground for hoteliers is the Shahdara region in East Delhi. The region will soon be home to at least four branded luxury hotels, including international and domestic hotel players.

Hoteliers in the region unanimously feel that residents of this area are, to a large part, affluent business families. In the absence of options, they had no choice but to travel to Central and South Delhi for business and recreation. But this business is now expected to bounce back in the region.

One of the international brands that has opened doors in the region recently is the Europe-based Kempinski Hotels. Re-entering the Indian hospitality market with its partnership with the Delhibased Ambience Group, its first property Kempinski Ambience Hotel Delhi cashes in on the virgin location. According to Vella Ramasawmy, General Manager, Kempinski Ambience Hotel Delhi, the hotel is betting big on the unsaturated market of Shahdara. “This flagship luxury property is strategically located in the capital’s most developed district by most standards, as released by the recent Census data on houses, household amenities and assets. The hotel is strategically located and is well-connected to the airport, Metro stations and prominent entertainment destinations in Delhi and Noida,” he reveals. The 2010 Commonwealth Games changed the face of East Delhi and this hotel is going to be an icon that would be part of the rise of East Delhi, Ramasawmy adds.

As sheer luxury finds new grounds, the first Kempinski Hotel in India will have 480 rooms and suites encased within two towers, a 25,000 sq. ft. pillarless ballroom -- the largest in a fivestar deluxe hotel in India accommodating up to 6,000 guests, two swimming pools with Jacuzzi and water curtains, spa with hammam treatment room, two fitness centres, a yoga deck and other facilities, he claims.

Sarovar Hotels has also announced the opening of Park Plaza in Shahdara CBD ( Central Business District). This upscale full service busi- ness hotel is the company’s 11th property in Delhi and NCR and will fill the much-needed gap for a luxury hotel in East Delhi. Says Siddharth Chaudhry, General Manager, Park Plaza Shahdara, “South and Central Delhi have already got saturated and there is a minimal scope for growth. Gurgaon and Noida have also become more mature markets. Thus, the competitiveness in terms of rooms drives up the average room rates (ARRs) in these areas. East Delhi is thus the upcoming option.” The 91- key hotel with four F&B outlets is targetting primarily corporate travellers from the nearby industrial hubs. “There is a huge captive market in East Delhi and Ghaziabad. We expect business visitors from areas in Patparganj and Sahibabad,” he adds.