WelcomHeritage eyes Madurai !!
WELCOMHERITAGE, a joint venture between ITC Hotels and Marudhar Hotels of Jodhpur, is looking at expanding its presence in south India. The company is eyeing new properties in Kodaikanal, Madurai and Kerala. It has also signed a few properties for development in Kerala and Karnataka. The group is planning to invest about Rs 20 crore this year for developing heritage properties. ‘‘We have signed an agreement with the Maharaja of Mysore for developing three properties — two in Mysore and one in Ooty. While the property in Ooty — Regency Villas Palace — is already commissioned, we are currently renovating Rajendra Vilas Palace in Mysore, which will be completed by October,’’ Mr Rakesh Mathur, president of WelcomHeritage.As part of the agreement, the group is also developing another property at Srirangapatnam in Mysore. ‘‘It is a forest bungalow and it will be ready to receive guests in an year,’’ he said. According to him, the group has got rights to receive some properties in Kerala as well. ‘‘We are developing a heritage property at Chinnar Tea Estate in Kerala. The bungalow has 12 rooms and we will be adding more space. Besides, we are also developing 10 cottages near the estate,’’ he said. It is also in talks with various individuals for signing franchise and management agreements for heritage properties at Kodaikanal, Madurai and Chettinadu in Tamil Nadu, and Alleppey in Kerala.
Though the group had earmarked about Rs 20 crore for developing properties, the budget could go up depending on the number of properties signed, Mr Mathur said. ‘‘It is a challenge to develop heritage properties. Most of them are tucked away in small villages where connectivity is a problem. Besides, space is also a constraint. Unlike a luxury hotel in the city, we will not be able to increase the number of rooms,’’ he added. The chain has presence in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. ‘‘Now our focus is on the south as these states are set to emerge as the most sought-after tourism destinations in the country,’’ he added.
