Phoenix Hospitality to set up Marriott

Phoenix Hospitality promoted by the Ruia family has signed management agreements with Marriott International to set up hotels in Agra and Mumbai, at a total project cost of Rs 320 crore by 2012.

The two new hotels in Mumbai "Marriott Hotel Kurla" and Agra "Courtyard by Marriott Agra" will have about 300 and 165 rooms, Marriott International said in a statement.

Ed Fuller, president and managing director of international lodging for Marriott International, said, "We are thrilled to add these two exciting hotels to our Indian portfolio.

The Indian travel market is exploding as India's middle class continues to expand and an increasing number of international visitors come to India for business or tourism or to attend conferences. We are confident that both properties will fill consumer demand for consistent quality and comfort, great service and value and will surpass traveller expectations in their respective markets."

The hotel will offer a 24-hour casual restaurant, a speciality outlet and a pool bar that will invite guests to linger throughout the day over a morning coffee or to meet with friends and colleagues for impromptu gatherings or meetings.

Shishir Shrivastava, CEO - hospitality & new initiatives & chief development director for the Phoenix Group said, "The Mumbai hospitality market has witnessed a compounded growth in the demand from the business traveller, both domestic and international whilst Agra continues to attract significant number of leisure travellers. The last 4 to 6 quarters may have been dissappointing for the hospitality industry but we continue to have faith in the Indian consumption story and anticipate increasing demand in the years to come."