More Hotel Options for Travellers As Carlson Expands in India

Holiday makers taking flights to India will have no dearth of hotel alternatives in the coming years. Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, a global hospitality firm, has announced its plans to open 49 hotels under mid-scale brand ‘Park Inn’ in India by 2024.

International travellers taking flights to India will be inundated with hotel choices in years to come.

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group announced Monday that it will open 49 hotels under mid-scale brand ‘Park Inn’ in North and Central India by 2024. The group will come up with these properties in partnership with Bestech Hospitalities Pvt Ltd, an India-based firm.

As per Internet sources, the two firms will collectively invest USD 42 million in the first two hotels that will be functioning in the Indian cities of Gurgaon and Mohali in the next three years.

Carlson CEO and President Hubert Joly said: “It is unusual for us to invest in real estate. We are doing this because India is a very strategic market for us.”

Apart from targeting international vacationers with limited budget with tickets on cheap flights to India, the hospitality group is also looking to target the domestic demand in the country.

“India’s growing middle class will spur domestic travel demand in the mid-scale segment. To cater to this demand we have decided to open 49 Park Inn hotels here in partnership with Bestech,” Hubert Joly was quoted as stating.

A major international hospitality group, Carlson Rezidor Hotel has already announced plans to run 100 hotels across different brands in India by 2015.

“The 49 hotels that we are planning with Bestech is in addition to the 100 already announced,” Hubert Joly was quoted in Indian media.

Presently, Carlson operates more than 50 properties in India under brands names such as Radisson, Radisson BLU, Park Plaza and Country Inn and Suites.

While talking about the Park Inn brand, Joly said: “It is a full service mid-scale concept designed for Gen Y. It is priced in the USD 80-100 (per night) bracket.”

Currently, Carlson has 127 hotels under the Park Inn brand in 33 countries all over the world and 65 more are on the cards.

India has certainly grabbed the attention of hospitality firms around the world. With better social infrastructure, enhanced economy, improved airports and presence of many airlines offering flights to the country, India seems to be on a fast track to become a major tour and travel destination.