In what could add shine to the growing hospitality industry in India, New York-based hotelier and chairman and CEO of Hampshire Hotels & Resorts Sant Singh Chatwal on Saturday announced an investment of around Rs 5,000 crore across India to develop 25 hotels over four years.
Hailing from Faridkot, Chatwal plans to pump a major chunk of this investment into his home state?Punjab.
?Looking at the growth potential of hospitality industry in Punjab, we are ready to invest between Rs 1,500 to 2,000 crore here. If things go right, Punjab will soon be able to boast of a seven-star hotel in Amritsar, under our flagship brand Hampshire Plaza. We are already developing eight hotels under the brands of Hampshire Plaza and
Dream Hotels in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Chennai,? Chatwal, who is currently in India to attend Punjab?s first NRI Conclave, told FE.
?The project in Punjab will be unique in the sense that we plan to convert the Gobindgarh Fort in Amristar to a heritage museum based on the history of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, a cultural center and a seven star hotel. It will become a destination to promote Sikh culture and Punjabi traditions,? Chatwal, who is currently in India to attend Punjab?s first NRI Conclave, he said.
The project will kick off once it gets a green signal from the state government. ?The Punjab government seems affirmative about the project and we are keen to develop more hotels across the state in cities like Ludhiana, Mohali and Chandigarh,? he added.