ITC eyes options to set up 2 hotels in WB
ITC Ltd is scouting for prime locations to set up hotels in West Bengal. It is exploring a clutch of options, including launching these hotels under the Fortune or WelcomHeritage, two key brands in its hotels portfolio.
By TNN |
KOLKATA: ITC Ltd is scouting for prime locations to set up hotels in West Bengal. It is exploring a clutch of options, including launching these hotels under the Fortune or WelcomHeritage, two key brands in its hotels portfolio.
"We expect these hotels to come up over the next three to five years. Each will have a separate manager while the ITC Sonar Bangla will be the nodal hotel," said Mr Ranvir Bhandari, GM, ITC Sonar Bangla Sheraton and Towers. He was speaking to reporters at Tourism@Resurgent east organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce.
The growing importance of the east in ITC's overall business plans is further reflected in Mr Bhandari being given additional responsibility as ITC Hotels' area head (east). Mr Bhandari also spoke about the possibility of another super deluxe ITC property coming up in Kolkata.
Earlier, speaking at the same event, West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had stressed on the need for building tourism infrastructure in the state, especially by way of hotels. He also spoke of ITC expressing interest to set up hotels in Haldia, Durgapur and Siliguri.
Mr Bhandari, however, said, that the locations were yet to be decided. "Tourism is an industry which has the largest opportunity of creating employment for trained, skilled and semi-skilled labour," said Mr Bhattacharjee.
ADVERTISEMENT
Both he and Manab Mukherjee, West Bengal's tourism minister, reiterated the need to emphasise on development of sectors like tea tourism, beach tourism, eco-tourism, river tourism and even health tourism. According to Mr G D Gautama, state principal secretary (tourism), "As part of the master plan to promote tourism, the district administration has been asked to identify unexplored spots. We need to encourage hotel projects of the star category and promote and encourage private participation in the tourism sector."
Start a SIP with as low as ₹500 with ET Money App!
Download
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
The Economic Times News App for Quarterly Results, Latest News in ITR, Business, Share Market, Live Sensex News & More.
ADVERTISEMENT
