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India is a ‘must do business’ for Australia-based StayWell Hospitality Group, said CEO and Managing Director Simon Wan.
The hotel management group is also set to launch two new brands globally by mid-next year.
With one of the largest youth population in the world and the potential for high economic growth, India is an important market for the group, which wants 30 properties up and running here within five years.
Local partners “The growth in the Indian middle-class has benefited the hospitality sector as people want to travel more,” said Wan, adding that since India was not an easy place for business, it would join hands with local partners and use their expertise to grow.
StayWell, founded in 2006, now operates 34 properties globally under two brands – the upscale Park Regis and mid-scale Leisure Inn. “Our plan is to achieve 100 hotels globally by 2017,” Wan added.
The group entered India in 2012 and has two operational properties — Leisure Inn Grand Chanakya in Jaipur and Leisure Inn West in Gurgaon, besides seven properties under development in Goa, Maharashtra, Hyderabad, Raipur, Greater Noida and Gurgaon.
Recognising local requirements, the hospitality brand has tweaked its model for India.
“Indians love to eat, and thus, we have worked on our food and beverage services, unlike in the West, where these services are not present at hotels.”
Expansion plans On the strategy for expansion in India, Wan said it would be a mix of acquisitions, organic growth and portfolio growth.
StayWell is also set to launch two new brands globally by mid-next year. “We want to launch one luxury brand and one lifestyle brand. The lifestyle brand, which is a new concept worldwide, would cater to the young, social media friendly generation,” he added.
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