The Hindu Business Line : Innova Hotels plans Rs 200-cr investment

Kolkata March 31 Innova Hotels & Resorts Pvt Ltd (a joint venture between the Gupta Group of Asian Hotels and US-based real estate company Hillwood) plans to invest Rs 200 crore to develop three new hotels in the country. The plan, according to the company, is to develop and promote the Clarion brand of Choice Hospitality.

Choice Hospitality (India) Ltd is the master franchisee of Choice Hotels International for the brands of Clarion Hotels, Quality, Comfort and Sleep Inns. Currently, the company manages and operates over 30 hotels in India, with another seven more under different stages of development.

Initially, Innova Hotels and Resorts plans to develop three 150-room Clarion Hotels in Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad. Land for these hotels has been purchased.

According to Mr Sandeep Gupta, Executive Director of Innova Hotels & Resorts, "We have got a total project outlay of Rs 200 crore for development of these properties in two years during the first phase of expansion."

He said the company was now looking for more sites in Chennai, Mumbai and Jaipur and has plans to further invest Rs 250 crore in the next 5 years.

The Clarion brand by Choice Hotels is an upscale, full service brand that provides a broad spectrum of superior facilities, services and amenities at affordable prices.

Choice Hospitality India, through its `Partners for Profit' philosophy, according to Mr Gupta, provides a complete range of services for management and operation, improving professional standards of the staff and ultimately building up the bottomline.

Choice Hotels International, with headquarters in Silver Springs, Washington DC, USA, is one of the oldest hotel chains in the world. Established in 1939, it is a wholly owned subsidiary of Manor Care Inc.

It is also the world's second largest and fastest growing franchisee lodging chain with over 5,000 hotels across 42 countries under the brand name of Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Clarion and Sleep Inn.