Kamath Group to venture into Kerala

Kochi, Mar 25 (UNI) Concept Hospitality, a subsidiary of the Mumbai-based Kamath Group, is set to foray into the Kerala market with the opening of its first hotel in Kollam next month.

Another resort is on the anvil along the famous Kumarakom backwaters, Concept Hospitality Chairman and Managing Director Param Kannampilly told UNI here.

The property in Kollam, called the 'Beach Orchid' will be a 114 room luxury hotel which will be certified as ''environmentally sensitive.'' It is scheduled to be opened by April-end, Mr Kannampilly said.

Concept Holidays will operate 'Beach Orchid' on a management contract with the hotel owners Quilon Hotels Private Limited.

Asked why the group chose little-known Kollam for its first venture in Kerala, Mr Kannampilly said the town had immense potential to be developed as a major tourist spot.

It is by the side of the famous 'Ashtamudi' lake, has a beach, is on the Sabarimala route and is just an hour away from the Thiruvananthapuram international airport.

He said the Kamath Group was also planning to develop luxury tourist cottages on a 14 acre plot in Kumarakom at an estimated investment of about Rs 20 crore. The project, which is on the drawing board stage, will be a combination of a heritage and eco-friendly property.

The group was also seriously considering opening a hotel in Kochi before expanding into resorts in other tourist destinations in the state, he added.

The Kamath Group, a public limited company, currently has hotels in Mumbai and Pune, while Concept Hospitality manages 14 hotels in different parts of the country. It also runs a catering college in Mumbai, while another is on the anvil in Nagpur.

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