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Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces on Wednesday inaugurated its first property in the North East, Vivanta by Taj.
This is the 31st "Vivanta" hotel by the Taj group here in India.
Placed in the upscale luxury category, the hotel will have 150 keys, and has come up on a five acre plot at a cost of ₹ 165 crore.
The hotel will have three restaurants, including a tea lounge, a bar and other modern amenities like spa, salon and banqueting space.
According to Cyrus Mistry, Chairman, Tata Group, the hotel will act as a "natural gateway" to access not just the North East, but also to countries India is looking to have long-term relationships with. The countries, he said, include Thailand, Myanmar, Bhutan, Bangladesh and China.
Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, Vivanta by Taj and Taj Gateway brands are owned and operated by the Tata group outfit, India Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL). Taj and Gateway operate in the luxury and mid-segment, respectively.
IHCL operates 99 hotels in 62 locations and has a presence in countries like India, North America, the UK, Africa, West Asia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bhutan across these brands.
"The hotel will act as a natural gateway to not just the North East. But also to access countries India is building long-term relations with," Mistry said during the inauguration.
Taj, sources said, has gone into a revenue-sharing agreement with the Assam Government; apart from having a lease agreement for the land.
More Investments
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who was also present at the inauguration, said the investment by the Tatas will pave way for similar ones in the sector.
Already other brands like Radisson and Novotel have expressed interest.
The state government, he said, was also looking to promote Assam as an attractive tourist/holiday destination.
"We want to be the hub to not just the North East; but also for South East Asia. The (Taj) hotel here is a message that peace and tranquility has returned to Assam," Gogoi said.
Specifically asked about the meeting that the Chief Minister had with Mistry, Gogoi said he has asked the Tata group to cosnider fresh investments in the State. Diversification (from tea and hotel) into other sectors like power or dairy is what he has offered.
"This is my first meeting with Cyrus Mistry. I have asked him to consider diversifying into other sectors too," Gogoi added.
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