French hospitality major AccorHotels is exploring the possibility of bringing some of its international brands to India, besides strengthening existing brands, said a top executive.
“Currently, we have 10 brands operating in India out of the 30 established brands,” said Jean-Michel Casse, chief operating officer — India and South Asia, AccorHotels. “Raffles and Banyan Tree will be coming to India soon.”
In June 2017, AccorHotels entered into a management pact with Surya Palace Hotel owners in Vadodara and rebranded it as Grand Mercure Vadodara Surya Palace. This will be followed by converting an existing property in South Goa to the Novotel brand.
As of now, AccorHotels has 53 properties with 9,700 ‘keys’ (rooms) operating in India. By year end, this will increase to 55.
There are plans to add 30 more over the next five years to take the total number to 15,000 ‘keys’.
Mr. Casse was in Chennai to inaugurate the first combo property in the city and second in the south (Novotel-ibis). The new property will start functioning from Sunday.
Combo property
The first combo property (Novotel-ibis) was opened in Bengaluru during 2011, followed by New Delhi (Novotel-Pullman).
“Following six years of successful run of Bengaluru hotels, we decided to start a combo property here. Chennai is already home to Novotel and ibis hotels along with Formule1. The next Novotel Hotel will be opened at Chamiers Road and Mercure in Oragadam, by April 2018,” he said.
In Chennai OMR, Novotel has 153 ‘keys’ and ibis 189 ‘keys’. Novotel and ibis remain the most prominent brands with a network of 15 and 18 hotels respectively across the country, he said.
“It is very difficult to measure the benefits of combo hotels. But it certainly saves around 15% of the capital expenditure with common infrastructure facilities such as air conditioners, laundry, kitchen and staff,” he said.
Daniel Chao, area general manager, ibis Chennai OMR, said, “Professionals, individuals and business travellers are the target audience. As part of a special inaugural offer, the hotels offer the scheme of ‘stay for three nights and pay for two nights’.”
