The company is negotiating for six heritage properties in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, including one in Udaipur for entering into a management tie-up.

Le Meridien Hotels' representative (India and Nepal) Vasudha Sondhi told The Financial Express that all the heritage properties will carry the Le Meridien brand name. ``We are negotiating for four properties in Rajasthan and one each in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh,'' said Sondhi.

Besides the heritage properties, the company is exploring the possibility of setting up three five-star deluxe hotels under the Le Meridien brand name in Chennai, Chandigarh and Ahmedabad.

``We want to open all proposed hotels under the Le Meridien brand name as we have consolidated the brand in the Indian market in the past few years and customers identify to it,'' said Sondhi. However, the company may introduce its other hotelbrand names such as the Royal Meridien in the future, she added.

The company has three five-star Le Meridien hotels in Delhi, Bangalore and Pune and three are under construction in Mumbai, Cochin and Goa. Another resort hotel is coming up in Kathmandu, Nepal. The hotels in Mumbai, Kochi and Goa will be operational by mid-2001, said Sondhi.

While the Delhi and Bangalore properties are through the franchise route, the company has entered into a management contract for the Pune property.

Sondhi said the company has made a decision to enter into management contracts only with the owners for all the proposed hotels, both in the five-star and heritage categories.

``By year 2002, Le Meridien Hotels plans to have in place 12 hotel properties, including the existing ones and the heritage properties,'' she added.

To cater to the growing clientele in the Indian sub-continent -- both inbound and outbound -- Le Meridien Hotels also plans to set up a dedicated sales and marketing network in the next two years atan estimated cost of 1.25 million.

``We will have two offices in Mumbai by the end of the year and by April 2000, there will be one office each in Delhi, Chennai and Calcutta,'' said Sondhi. In the second phase, an office will be set up in other major cities including Pune, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad by early 2001, she added.

Le Meridien Resorts and Hotels is a division of the Forte Hotels and has over 100 hotels worldwide. Forte Hotels was taken over by Grenada of the UK.