KGA Group to invest Rs 600 crore in Kerala

Kochi, Mar 1 (UNI) The Kuwait-based KGA Group of companies will set up a Rs 220-crore business hotel here and will pump in Rs 600 crore to venture into hospitality and tourism sectors in Kerala.

The state-of-the-art five-star hotel project in collaboration with International Hotel Chain ''Crowne Plaza'' of the International Hotel Group (IHG), for which the foundation stone was laid today, would have 210 rooms and conference facility for 600, said KGA Group Managing Director K G Abraham.

Mr Abraham said the hotel would commence operations in the second quarter of 2009.

He said the company, founded in 1982, had plans to invest Rs 600 crore in the next five years in the state to expand its operations to business and tourism destinations like Thiruvananthapuram and Munnar.

Mr Abraham said the company would set up hotels and resorts to cater to the rising needs of the tourism and hospitality sectors.

"With the expansion plan, the group expects to provide around 500 rooms to the hospitality industry by 2012," Mr Abraham said.

He said the company's projects would provide employement directly or indirectly to over 1,000 people.

IHG Director (Operations), South West Asia, Michael Herrmann said, "the partnership with KGA group is a clear reflection of our commitment for portfolio expansion and developing strong hotel brands in India." IHG, presently has 23 hotels in India under its brands Intercontinental, Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, he added.

UNI