Swiss chain to manage Ambuja 5-star hotel

Ambuja Realty s five-star hotel at City Centre II is likely to be opened by December this year. The 147-room facility is one of the two hospitality properties in east Kolkata. Swissotel Hotels, a Zurich-based hotel chain, owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, will manage the property. The multinational company with presence in 15 countries, has 91 hotels and resorts worldwide. The new luxury hotel will have 147 rooms, three restaurants including a specialty restaurant, an open air restaurant and a lobby bar. Other facilities would include conference rooms, a fitness centre and a rooftop swimming pool. While Kolkata is the maiden venture of Swissotel, it is interested in managing more hotels in the country. Ambuja is open to partnering with the group for future projects. We could use the same partner for other hotels in the country, said Meinhard Huck, president, Swissotel Hotels and Resorts. The company has plans to take two more hotels in management contract by 2010. We can partner with them if it fits into our plans, said Harshvardhan Neotia, chairman of Ambuja Realty. The company is investing Rs 100 crore for the project. Ambuja realty is also planning a second hotel in Swabhoomi, a heritage plaza in the city. The five-star facility will have 150 rooms. The company has been into the hospitality business since last 30 years. It already has facilities in premium category (Ganga Kutir) and mid segment (Ffort Radisson). It has put on hold plans for three luxury hotels at Makaibari in Kurseong, Siliguri, and in Gorumara forest in north Bengal.

Source: Indian Express Finance