Viajes India
26th November 2009
Anantara to foray into India by 2011
Thailand-based Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas plans to foray into the Indian market with its first property at Mahabalipuram by end of 2011. Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has retained the management contract for the upcoming Mahabalipuram property. The hotel will have suites and villas with approximately 130 keys. The group aims to manage eight hotels in the next five years in Rajasthan, Goa and Kerala.
Speaking about its plans for India market, Marion Walsh, group director of Public Relations, Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas said, “India is an important market for us. It has a huge potential as people are travelling and it is a growing market. Apart from attracting the domestic and inbound travellers, setting up hotels in India would help us to promote our overseas hotel. Targeted to leisure clients, these hotels will also cater to Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) segment.” Talking about the challenges, Walsh informed, “We need to tie up with the right partners, choose the right location, implement the right strategies and work with people who know the market. Initially to start with, we shall manage hotels and later three to four years down the line, we might think of owning and managing hotels in India.”
Elaborating about the upcoming hotel at Mahabalipuram, Walsh said, “Anantara is all about offering great experiences to the guest at unique locations. However, in India we are looking for leisure locations, locations rich in culture, heritage and history. And, Mahabalipuram is the right choice as it has rich culture and history. Besides, it has temples also.”
Speaking about its plans for India market, Marion Walsh, group director of Public Relations, Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas said, “India is an important market for us. It has a huge potential as people are travelling and it is a growing market. Apart from attracting the domestic and inbound travellers, setting up hotels in India would help us to promote our overseas hotel. Targeted to leisure clients, these hotels will also cater to Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) segment.” Talking about the challenges, Walsh informed, “We need to tie up with the right partners, choose the right location, implement the right strategies and work with people who know the market. Initially to start with, we shall manage hotels and later three to four years down the line, we might think of owning and managing hotels in India.”
Elaborating about the upcoming hotel at Mahabalipuram, Walsh said, “Anantara is all about offering great experiences to the guest at unique locations. However, in India we are looking for leisure locations, locations rich in culture, heritage and history. And, Mahabalipuram is the right choice as it has rich culture and history. Besides, it has temples also.”
" Travel Weekly "
