Ayana Hotel debuts in Kerala

MUMBAI: The lodging unit of ICS Group has launched a boutique hotel in Fort Kochi, Kerala. Branded Ayana Fort Kochi, this is ICS’s flagship property in Kerala, said a statement from the company.

The unit, Ayana Hospitality, has strategically identified Fort Kochi for its launch in Kerala as the place holds historical significance. The location where the hotel is situated is the country’s oldest international trading market. The street, Bazaar Road, was the epicentre for trade by the European, Arabs and Chinese merchants for centuries. Today, it houses the ruins of British warehouses and interesting graffiti on the walls.

Ayana Hospitality, a joint venture between Mumbai-based ICS Group and South Africa's Mantis Developers, has converted a 200-year-old courthouse in Fort Kochi into a boutique hotel but has preserved its original architecture. Apart from hospitality, the ICS Group has a presence in real estate and financial services.