Le Meridien plans big for India

The UK-based Forte Hotels Ltd, which runs the Le Meridien chain of hotels the world over, is entering India in a big way. The group commissioned its third hotel in the country and the 101st in the world at Pune on 20 March and announced that it proposes to exploit the potential for heritage and budget hotels in the country. Besides Pune, the group has hotels in New Delhi and Bangalore.

By the year 2002, the group will have 12 hotels in India, nine in the Le Meridien five star luxury hotels and resorts category and three in the business hotels category. These will include a hotel in Mumbai, located near the international airport, which is expected to become operational in 2000. The other locations proposed are Goa, Kochi, Chennai and Calcutta for hotels and Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur and Kovalam for resorts. Ahmedabad and Hyderabad are likely candidates for the group's business hotels. The group is also planning development of properties in Surat and Baroda.

Forte Hotels expects a total revenue exceeding $200 million from these ventures.

The Pune hotel, a classy structure based on a Rajasthani architectural style blended with Maratha history motifs and with contemporary European functionality, has 177 rooms and 15 suites.

Peter Cardnell managing director designate, group sales and marketing of Forte Hotels, UK, says the group wants to consolidate its presence in the country with its luxury chain of hotels. The group is adopting the management contract route for business development in India. That makes it easier to expand in view of the financial regulations in the country.