Chatwal Hotels Foray Into India
By siliconindia   |   Monday, 09 January 2012, 22:15 IST
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Chatwal Hotels Forays into India
Bangalore: Chatwal Hotels & Resorts LLC is looking forward to invest $200 million in India to set up more than 50 hotels in the coming 5 years. Known for giving its franchise and management rights to 5-star deluxe brand Dream and 4-star brand Night to Wyndham Hotel Group, Chatwal strategizes to expand them in India via franchise model and widen them through local partners. Chatwal told Economic Times, "We will launch around 40 Night hotels and 12 Dream properties in India over the next five years, involving a capital expenditure of over $200 million." Chatwal is also the CEO of Hampshire Hotels & Resorts and their management in India is trying to explore new opportunities in the market. In a joint venture with Wyndham Group, they run 72-room in Night Hotel in Manhattan, 216- room Dream New York in Midtown Manhattan, 195-room Dream Hotel in Bangkok, 151-room Dream Cochin. According to the hoteliers, Jaipur is soon to get two properties, Hyderabad and Kochi to get one Night Hotel each. Chatwal said, "Lands for these properties have already been acquired and most of the approvals are in place. The properties will be launched over the next 18 months." He also added, "Our expertise is in the lifestyle boutique segment of hotels, which so far has not been developed in India." Hotels in plan include a Dream in Goa, a Dream and a Night in Bangalore, another Dream in Malad. Kanpur, Raipur Lucknow and Jalandhar to get Night hotels. Vikaram Chatwal, son of Chatwal, and more prominently known for his big fat Indian Wedding to Priya Sachdev, is the master mind behind the night and lifestyle dream brands. He now looks forward to give a local touch to the Indian properties. He said, "Our properties are all global brands, but I am proud of my Indian roots and hope to add some Indian elements stylistically to our properties here," and further added, "Our properties are all global brands, but I am proud of my Indian roots and hope to add some Indian elements stylistically to our properties here." Wyndham Group and Chatwal are planning to enter into joint venture with Indian American hoteliers in the U.S. Chatwal said, "Hoteliers of Gujarati origin own and run about 40 percent of the properties in the US, including in prime locations in cities such as LA, San Francisco and Chicago." He added that lifestyle segment is being handled by second and third generation and they got huge potential to be converted into Dream and Night brands. Apart from Chatwal Group, many more luxury hotels are paving their ways into the Indian market. Around 20 luxury hotel brands are expected to set up chains in next three years. By the next 5-10 years, India will have all the luxury brand of hotels, which will promote foreign hospitality and make this market more serious of a serious business. According to the industry players, India looks more of a lucrative offer for setting up their business, as the foreign tourists are much more comfortable with Indian chains when compared to other International brands.

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