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Le Meridien plans Rajasthan, Kerala tourist circuits

Parul Gupta

The Nomura Bank-promoted Le Meridien hotel chain has drawn up plans to develop tourism circuits in Kerala and Rajasthan. The chain has already initiated feasibility studies in both these states to ascertain their business potential.

"The move is in accordance with the group's strategy to foray into 'B' category cities," Sanjay Sharma, regional director (sales and marketing), Middle East & West Asia, India & Nepal, Le Meridien, said.

Le Meridien has identified Munnar, Thekkady, Kumarokom and Kochi in Kerala for development. In Rajasthan, the chain is planning to pick up heritage properties in Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur. It is likely to add Jaisalmer to the circuit at a later stage. The hotels in Rajasthan are expected to have 60-70 rooms each.

"Since the destination holds tremendous tourism potential, we are talking to both individual property owners and existing local chains in Rajasthan for a potential tie-up," Sharma said.

The chain is also planning to set up hotels at Baroda and Ahmedabad in Gujarat, and will consider some locations in Punjab later, Sharma disclosed.

He said Le Meridien was not interested in picking up ITDC properties because they were not available at the right prices. At present, India accounts for 12 per cent of the chain's turnover in the MEWA (Middle East and West Asia) region.

The chain has several new products on the anvil. Its 'Art and Tech' rooms, where the customer is offered the latest technology with the best in art, have already been launched in London, Sharma said.

Last year, Nomura Bank of Japan, which holds a stake in Nikko Hotels, bought the Le Meridien brand from the UK-based Forte group. Under the strategic tie-up, Nikko and Meridien market each other's hotels worldwide.

At present, the chain has six operational properties in India -- one each in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Pune and Kochi. Another property at Juhu in Mumbai is expected to go on stream by the year end.

In Nepal, the chain is constructing the continent's largest property -- The Gokarna Forest Resort -- spread over 450 acres of land, with an 18-hole golf course.

The cost of construction, excluding the cost of the land and the golf course, is estimated at around $18-$20 million, Sharma said.

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