Phoenix Group announces launch of own brand of luxury hotels

Ahmedabad, Oct 22 (UNI) Phoenix Group Global, the owners and promoters of luxury resorts in India, have announced the launch of their own brand of luxury hotels in India.

Priti Chand, Director (PR and Communication) of the compny, told reporters yesterday that Phoenix Group Global has launched its brand of luxury hotels and the first property under this brand, 'The Zuri Whitefield', at Bangalore built at a total investment of Rs 200 crore would be operational from January next year.

She said that the company also plans to set up a chain of five star hotels across the country, including star-rated properties in Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Kochi, Chennai and Visakhapatnam in which land acquisitions are in the advanced stage.

''Since we are headquartered in Bangalore, the company is first concentrating the business strategy in southern parts of the country. Besides hospitality business, we are also developing floriculture and real estate business from India,'' she said.

The Bangalore hotel will have 166 rooms including two presidential suites and four junior suites and will also five food and beverage options, a heated swimming pool and a gymnasium.

''We expect the average room rate to be at the range between Rs 9,000 to Rs 10,000 as we are more concentrating the maximum occupancy ratio,'' she said.

''Presently our existing projects include the Radisson White Sands and the Radisson Plaza Resort in Goa and Spa in Kumarakom in Kerala, which is being operated under franchise agreements with Carlson Hospitality group,'' Ms Chand said.

Regarding its real estate division, the Group has been planning to make its foray into the highly lucrative Indian real estate market with two luxurious villa projects in Goa -- overlooking the Zuary River, these villas will provide five star amenities, a mall and an 18 hole golf course.

On the Group flociculture division, she said ''currently we operate two rose farms in Kenya spread over an area of 150 hectares, which exports over 100 million roses a year to United Kingdom, Middle East and Holland.'' UNI PVN SSS/RDS1045