Samode Hotels investing Rs 65 cr in 3 new properties

MUMBAI: Samode Hotels, a heritage hotel group from Rajasthan, has three projects in the pipeline, including one in Africa.

"We are from Rajasthan and so we developed our first three properties in the state. Now that we have ventures out of Rajasthan, we are confident of developing hotels anywhere in the country as well as overseas destinations. At present there are three properties in the pipeline, two in India and one in Africa," Samode Hotels Director and owner Yadavendra Singh said here.

The two properties in the country will be in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and they will be owned by the group.

The company has lined up about 65 crore investment to develop these three properties. The Rajasthan hotel will be operational by around October 2014.

"We are planning to invest about Rs 65 crore in the three projects that are in the pipeline. We are expecting the Rajasthan property to become operational by October next year and the other in another 2-3 years," he said.

The company is not looking at management contract or franchise models. "We are not interested in management contracts or franchise. We are passionate about the hospitality business and want to run a hotel according to our philosophy and style and maintain the quality."

The group currently has three properties in Rajasthan -- Samode Palace, Samode Haveli and Samode Bagh -- and Samode Safari Lodge at Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh.

Samode Hotels mainly caters to premium audience. Recently the group joined the Relais & Chateaux - an association of hoteliers, chefs and restaurateurs - for its Samode Safari Lodge at Bandhavgarh.

"This property has completed three years. With this marketing tie-up we want to strengthen the electronic distribution services for property reservations and create visibility among Relais & Chateaux customers worldwide. We are expecting 30-40 per cent growth in business from this property in 2-3 years with this association," Singh said.