French hospitality major, Accor, has lined up plans to launch projects in north east India. This is in addition to its plans to setup new properties in Kolkata, Chennai, Baroda, Lavasa, Agra, Coimbatore and Kochi. The company will also be launching Novotel Ahmedabad and Novotel Pune by the end of this year.
Speaking to FE Online on their further development plans in India, Lokesh Sabarwal, vice president development, Accor India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka said, “By the end of this year we will have 25 hotels and by next year it would be increased to 35. By the end of 2015 we will have 45 to 50 hotels.”
Accor has launched its first property in Goa, Novotel Goa Shrem Resort. This 85 room property is the eighth Novotel brand in India. The company also has plans to launch The Grand Mercure Goa Shrem Resort by March 2014, which would increase their inventory to 300 rooms in Goa.
Manish Dayya, general manager, Novotel Goa Shrem resort, said, “Goa is one of the most sought after leisure destination. We are a brand which is suitable for leisure as well as business travellers. But as compared to other cities, business travel to Goa is from the MICE segment, which contributes almost 10 per cent to all hotels, while 90 per cent is leisure travellers. For the MICE segment we can cater to approximately 250 people.