The Hindu Business Line : WelcomHeritage poised for expansion

WELCOMHERITAGE is all set to expand, having signed in two 150-year-old properties, Sheikhpura Kothi at Hansi near Rohtak and Lal Niwas at Phaludi in Haryana.

WelcomHeritage, a joint venture between ITC Hotels Ltd and Marudhar Hotels Private Ltd of Jodhpur, is the country's largest chain of heritage hotels with 31 properties.

While Lal Niwas has 10 rooms at present, with the potential of adding 10 more rooms, Sheikhpura Kothi offers six large rooms with plans of adding another six rooms within a year.

In the southern region, its two properties at Ooty, Fernhills Palace and Regency Villas, are set to open on May 7 this year, while Rajendra Villas at Mysore will open in early October this year.

Meanwhile, the Vatika Group, one of the leading groups in real estate and hospitality, plans to launch the first 5-star deluxe hotel in Gurgaon.

In a statement, the Group has said that the hotel will be positioned as a business hotel catering to the needs of the frequent business traveller.

The hotel site was acquired by the Group through an auction conducted by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) and the project has a net outlay of over Rs 225 crore.

The hotel, comprising 300 rooms and serviced apartments, is scheduled for completion in 2006.

"We have already opened talks with various international hotel chains and should be able to finalise the details in the next six months," the Vatika Group's Executive Director, Mr Gaurav Bhalla, said.