The Hindu Business Line : JB Group to enter hospitality sector

Mr Gautam Kanjilal, CEO, Infiniti Consulting Corporation Ltd, the consulting division of the JB Group, told Business Line that the company is also looking at setting up "business class hotels in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities." Some locations have already been identified and the company is now scouting for partners for this venture, he added.

In Goa, the JB Group is in the process of developing a hotel project, which includes a resort and holiday villas. The total investment in this project is expected to be over Rs 1,200 crore, Mr Kanjilal said.

Located in South Goa, the project includes a 260-room resort with beach frontage to be developed in association with Accor Hotels. This property will be operated under the `Sofitel' brand, he explained. The Goa project also includes 240 premium villas to be operated under the `Accor Premiere Vacation Club' brand and a marina to be developed in association with Island Global Yachting.

As part of the Goa project, the company will also construct over 1,200 villas. These villas will be available for outright sale and also under a fractional ownership scheme, Mr Kanjilal pointed out.

Also on the cards is a 190-room casino style hotel in Goa, he said. The JB Group is in discussions with a Hong Kong-based hospitality company to operate this project, he added.

The Indian-owned JB Group, which has interests in mining, infrastructure, hospitality, textiles, apparel, diamonds and jewellery manufacturing and marketing, is also looking at co-investing in a five-star hotel in Bangalore. Discussions on this property, located in Bangalore's major IT hub, are currently on, he said. The company is also exploring options in Kerala's hospitality sector, he added.