Plans for seven hotels in next five years in India, the Middle East and SE Asia
Sudipta Dev – Mumbai
The newly launched Aiana Hotels & Resorts, aims to become a global hospitality brand, with a presence across the Middle East and South East Asia. The first property will be launched in Doha, Qatar in early 2016.
“We plan to have seven hotels, either operational or under development, in the Middle East, India and South East Asia in the next five years,” said Amruda Nair, joint MD and CEO, Aiana Hotels & Resorts.
In India, the company is looking at two conversions starting next year. “Our greenfield developments in the country are expected to come online in 2018,” stated Nair. She pointed out that the company will be building greenfield projects that will be designed and constructed to Aiana brand specifications but will also look at a few select conversions in key destinations that comply with its brand standards.
Aiana Hotels & Resorts is a management company which will not invest in the development of properties, informed Nair. Qatar headquartered Al Sawari Holdings is a joint venture partner with an equal stake in the operating entity. “We will operate hotels for owners under management contracts. To begin with my partner Sheikh Faisal has offered support by investing in a few flagship properties that are owned by him independently but managed by Aiana,” stated Nair.
A third-generation hotelier who carries with her The Leela Hotel Group legacy, Nair sought to clarify that Aiana Hotels and Resorts is an independently owned, completely new brand of hospitality and not an extension of The Leela. “The Aiana service culture is in tune with the needs of the next generation of travellers. It is underpinned by our intuitive and unobtrusive Indian service ethic. Aiana will cater to the upper-upscale category of hotels with fresh and relevant product design complemented with immersive experiential concepts,” said Nair, asserting that, Aiana Hotels will be different from The Leela in terms of service philosophy, positioning and signature elements.
“Our authentic service, design, and operating philosophy is geared to exceed the expectations of a new generation of savvy travellers and explorers. We call it Hospitality 2.0,” stated Nair.
