Waldorf Astoria to enter India with two properties
Waldorf Astoria to enter India with two properties
New Delhi: Luxury hotel brand Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts will soon announce the launch of two properties in India, said a person with direct knowledge of the development.
Waldorf Astoria, part of Hilton Worldwide, which in turn was acquired by Blackstone Group LP in 2007, is likely to firm up its tie-ups for the two hotels in two different cities, said a senior executive with Hilton Worldwide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the deals.
“The agreements for both hotels are likely to be signed in the next 3-5 months," he said.
India will be the third Asian country after Saudi Arabia and the Maldives to host the Waldorf Astoria brand, which has 20 hotels worldwide and has been part of the Hilton Worldwide group for more than 60 years now, with the acquisition of the Waldorf Astoria New York in 1949.
Hilton Worldwide is bringing six of its brands into India that include Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, Hilton, Doubletree, Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton.
It recently launched two hotels—the Hilton Garden Inn in New Delhi’s Saket and the Hilton New Delhi in west Delhi’s Janakpuri.
“The group is also planning to open a hotel in Ludhiana (Punjab), which could either be a Hilton or even a more upscale brand," the executive said. The group’s focus clearly is to tap the cash-rich north Indian consumer segment, which has been underserved by premium hospitality brands thus far.
The next 12-14 months will see the chain opening a Hilton in Chennai, Hilton Residences in Bangalore, besides a Doubletree and a Hilton Garden Inn in Gurgaon on the outskirts of New Delhi.
“We will also be opening two more Hampton hotels, one in Talegaon in Maharashtra and one in Baroda (Gujarat)," the official said. These should be up and running in the next 18 months, he added, and would compete with the likes of Ibis from the Accor Group.
tejeesh.b@livemint.com
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