The US-based JW Marriott will open its first hotel in Kolkata by the end of this month.

Built by the city-based Mani Group, the 281-room property, covering 3.6 acres of land on the eastern fringes of the city, has been built at a cost of ₹1,300 crore- ₹1,500 crore, sources said.

In India and Asia Pacific, Marriott operates mostly through the asset-light ‘managed property’ model.

According to Ranju Alex, GM, JW Marriott Kolkata and Multi Property V-P, East, the hotel major will target the luxury segment.

While average room rates in Kolkata hover around ₹7,000-8000, Marriott will be placed a notch higher.

“The tentative date of opening has been fixed on October 25. Marriott is a luxury brand and will be placed higher than the other properties in the city,” she told BusinessLine .

Target audience With 14,000-sq feet of (single room) banqueting space — double the average of 7,000 sq ft in the city — and with 11,000 sq ft of pre-banqueting space, the hotel will mostly target the MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) and wedding segments.

Speciality restaurants have been planned on the 24th and 25th floors, apart from a roof-top restaurant.

Average occupancies in Kolkata (for star properties) have been about 70-80 per cent.

Marriott, which became the largest hotel chain in India surpassing the Taj group after the purchase of Starwood, will bet on its loyalty and membership programmes as well as “referrals”.

Apart from Hyatt and Swissotel, Accor’s “Novotel” and the Carlson Rezidor’s “Park Plaza” are two international properties to have come up in Kolkata in recent times. Starwood’s Westin is also expected to be operational soon.

More properties According to Alex, Marriott will add three more properties in the East. These will be smaller offerings under the “Courtyard” brand targeting budget travellers and mid-level corporates.

Properties under the “Courtyard” brand are expected to come up in Siliguri, Guwahati (Assam) and Shillong (Meghalaya).

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