Swiss International Hotels & Resorts forays in India, plans 45 hotels by 2017

MUMBAI: The Switzerland-based Swiss International today announced its foray into India and said it is planning up to 45 hotels by 2017, in business as well as five star categories.

"We are looking at 50 hotels across India and south Asia. Of this, around 40-45 hotels will be in India and for the rest we are looking at countries like Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal Pakistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Overall, we are looking at 6,000 rooms in three, four and five star categories," Swiss International Hotels and Resorts South Asia, chairman and managing director Anupam Narayan told reporters here.

Out of this, the company is planning about 40-50 per cent to be under the five star category and about 30 per cent under the business or four star category, he said, adding that Swiss International is also looking at managing resorts probably in Kerala and Goa.

"We are also scouting for opportunities to manage resorts in Kerala and Goa," Narayan said.

The five star hotels of the group are known as Swiss International, while the business hotels are known as Spirit Hotels.

Globally the company follows contract management model and is looking at brown field expansion in India, he said.

The Group is looking at signing two management contract deals in the country by the end of this calendar year, he said.

"We are already in advanced stage of talks with several developers and hope to sign at least two deals by the end of this year," Narayan added.

After these initial deals, Swiss International is targeting to sign 10 such deals every year, he said, adding, "Our key focus initially will be metro cities, before moving into Tier I and II cities."

Globally, Swiss International is planning to develop 150 hotels in the next five years, of which, 24 are near under completion, he said.