‘Sofitel So’ brand coming to India
The Group aims at operating 10 hotels in India by 2023. It is in process of launching its next property in India—Sofitel Mumbai Mulund and Sofitel So Mumbai Mulund by 2016-17.
There is good space for brands like Sofitel Luxury (luxury brand) and Sofitel So (stylist and boutique brand), and thus we are focussing on metro cities to place these brands at the right locations
France- based Sofitel Luxury Hotels, which currently operates a five-star luxury property in India ( Sofitel Mumbai) aims to operate around 10 properties in the country in next 10 years, informed Markland Blaiklock, Senior Vice President - Asia Pacific, Sofitel Luxury Hotels. The destinations on the radar are Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Goa. The group is in process of launching its next property in India – Sofitel Mumbai Mulund and Sofitel So Mumbai Mulund by 2016-17. Both the properties will be located in the same premises and connected through a sky-bridge. The second property in India – Sofitel Mumbai Mulund will have close to 400 rooms while the other property under a different brand – first in India – Sofitel So Mulund will have about 200 rooms.
Sofitel Luxury Hotels have three brands – Sofitel Luxury, Sofitel So and Sofitel Legend. Talking about the Indian market and the strategy to place the right brand at the right location, Blaiklock said, “India has more potential for Sofitel Legend as the brand is associated with legendary buildings and palaces.”
“However,” he said, “There are good numbers of palace hotels in India, so our focus remains on other two brands. There is good space for brands like Sofitel Luxury (luxury brand) and Sofitel So (stylist and boutique brand) and thus we are focussing on metro cities to place these brands at the right locations.”
The development of both the hotels has started and a special environmental approach has been undertaken for making the project environment- friendly and sustainable in the long run. He also outlined two highpriority brand objectives moving towards 2015, to increase brand value by pursuing targeted develop- ments in key capital cities and major tourist destinations in the region, and to expand to a total of 150 hotels ( currently 120) globally. Blaiklock informed that the group is now in talks with few more developers for expanding their management portfolio in India. The group is keen to enter into an agreement with developers for managing hotels in the country and have a strong presence by 2023. Currently, 14 projects are new construction ( including two in India) and 12 properties will be renovated.