The Hindu Business Line : Apeejay Surrendra group plans string of hotels

Chennai June 21 Apeejay Surrendra Hotels, part of the Apeejay Surrendra group, proposes to set up a string of hotels and resorts in the country, the first of which may well be a Rs 300-crore, 300-room 5-star hotel in Hyderabad.

The group which has interests in plantations, shipping, real estate, retail and financial services apart from hospitality, today runs six `five-star deluxe' properties — in Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore, Navi Mumbai, Chennai and Vizag under `The Park' brand.

Two acres of land have been purchased for the Hyderabad hotel, coming up at Somajiguda, overlooking the Hussain Sagar Lake, Mr Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, The Park Hotels, told Business Line.

Another "high-end luxury resort" is coming up on the Delhi-Jaipur highway. The group spent Rs 10 crore to buy a 5-acre piece of land for the project.

Elaborating on the hotel's expansion plans in the South, Mr V.V. Giri, Associate Vice-President and General Manager, The Park, Chennai, said the company proposes to put an eight-cabin luxury cruise boat in the backwaters of Kochi; tourists could take a vacation in the sea.

Gallup award

The Park Hotels recently won the Gallup Great Work Place Award 2007, the only Indian hotel chain to get it. Constituted by Gallup Organisation, US, the award is based on the research conducted by the organisation for most productive and engaged workforces. The process involved a detailed application with strategies and best practices at the hotels, says Mr Dewan.

According to him, other nominations from India and other countries for the award included Taj Hotels, Marriott Vacation Club, Hampton Inn, Ritz-Carlton. And winners include reputed brands such as Starbucks, Wells Fargo, Marriott, Campbell's.

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