Best Western, Cabana to invest in hotel industry

Bangalore, Jun 1: Leading global hotel chain Best Western International today announced its aggressive development plan for India under the leadership of its master licensee Cabana Hotel Management to build new or take over operation of existing hotels with an investment of more than 1.2 billion dollars during next ten years.

Best Western's India expansion was consistent with its overall growth strategy for increasing brand awareness and performance in new markets by building high-caliber hotels that receive Best Western 'Premier' descriptor, Chairman of the Board Charles Helm told newspersons here.

He said Best Western International provides marketing, reservations and operational support to 4200 independently owned and operated member hotels in 83 countries. The brand host to an approximately 400,000 guests each night.

Cabana Group Chairman Prabhu Goel said under the partnership, the group intends to add more than 100 hotels and 10,000 rooms to the burgeoning Indian hospitality market. It would also provide hotel management services and establish an advanced hospitality institute in Bhubaneshwar.

''To start with we have begun developing hotels first in metro cities. We will move on the Tier II cities. The first project has begun in Bangalore with the construction of a 200-room hotel in the IT hub Whitefield,'' he said.

Dr Goel said the room tariff in 5-star hotels had been priced too high in India compared to other parts of the world. ''300 dollars a night is too high. This is because of the severe shortage of luxury hotel accommodation. The shortfall is estimated between 70,000 to one lakh rooms in India and in Bangalore alone it was 10,000. We want to cash in on this shortage by providing best hospitality at lower rates,'' he said.

The Cabana Group plans to convert hotels and render the Best Western brand at 3.5-star and 4-star levels or above in multiple markets in cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Jaisalmer, Bangalore, Ooty, Kanyakumari, Rameshwaram, Bhubaneshwar and Hyderabad. Cabana would also develop its own property for Best Western brand, he said.

Best Western President and CEO David Kong said, ''India's booming economy and growing travel market make the country an excellent strategic fit as Best Western furthers its global reach.''

UNI