The Hindu Business Line : Taj Blue Diamond plans expansion

The city's booming hospitality sector will see some fresh action with news that its oldest five-star hotel, the erstwhile Blue Diamond Hotel, now owned by the Tata Group's Taj Hotels chain, is all set to go in for a major expansion.

Sources told Business Line the 108-room hotel is likely to kick off work on the expansion in June to more than double its capacity, in anticipation of the growth in the market. The expansion plan is now awaiting approval from the board, they said.

According to information available, the hotel is gearing up to add more deluxe and premium business rooms, to cater to the demand from large multinationals and the IT segment. The hotel now has two business and deluxe floors each, in addition to standard rooms. The deluxe rooms quote a tag of $225.

The hotel's General Manager, Mr Satish Nambiar, when contacted, confirmed the expansion but declined to give further details. "Plans are still being finalised and I would not like to comment just now," he said.

Sources, meanwhile, said plans are on to add a large banqueting facility for 1,000 to replace its existing 250 person facility. The city, which has just over 650 five star rooms, is now witnessing a short fall of 150 rooms in the category every day. And while every player in the field, including Marriott and Kempinski are scheduled to launch properties here, the first of these, the Hyatt, is expected to open its doors only by early 2009. The Taj Blue Diamond is also expected to complete its expansion by mid-2009, sources said.