Taj to open 17 new Vivanta, Gateway hotels this year
31 Jan 2012
Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, India's largest hospitality group, plans to open 17 new hotels across the country under the 'Vivanta by Taj' and 'Gateway' brands this year. It also plans to open Vivanta hotels in Africa, China and Dubai.
"We will open four new Vivanta hotels in Kerala, Coorg, Gurgaon and New Delhi and about 13 Gateway hotels beginning with Kolkata, Raipur and Hubli this year," Raymond N Bickson, managing director and chief executive officer Indian Hotels Co Ltd (IHCL), holding company of the Taj brands, told newsmen after inaugurating a Vivanta by Taj hotel at Begumpet in Hyderabad on Monday.
"We opened one new hotel every six to seven weeks last year and in 2012 we will open one every three weeks," Bickson added.
Vivanta is a five-star hospitality brand in the Taj portfolio positioned in the upscale segment.
Veer Vijay Singh, chief operating officer, Vivanta by Taj Hotels and Resorts, said the Taj Pamodzy hotel in Zambia may also be converted into a Vivanta, an "upper-upscale business hotel".
Taj has opened 23 Vivanta hotels so far, including one each in Sri Lanka and Maldives. "We will take this number to 35 in the near future," Bickson said.
