WelcomHeritage, a joint venture between ITC Hotels and The Maharaja of Jodhpur, has signed five properties in India taking its tally to 67 heritage hotels across the country. Out of the five properties three are located in West Bengal (Chilapata, Garumara and Mandarmani), one in Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi) and one in Uttarakhand (Almora). The heritage operator also plans to venture into Orissa by the end of this year. The upcoming properties will be a mix of franchise and management contracts.

While all the three properties in West Bengal belong to a single owner, Roofers Hotels Ltd, the property in Almora belongs to Trans Himalayan Hospitality Ltd, a local hospitality company and the Varanasi hotel is owned by Jukaso Group, Delhi. As far as inventory is concerned, the five properties put together will add around 120 rooms to the total room inventory of the hotel group.

Rakesh Mathur, President, WelcomHeritage asserts that the properties in West Bengal will help the Group enhance its presence in the eastern region and the company is scouting for more locations in the state including the Sunderbans. WelcomHeritage will soon embark on a re-branding exercise, with which all the hotels under their fold will be classified in different categories depending on their heritage value, location, etc. Similarly, the Group is also looking at different business models and is considering management and long-lease models of management with property owners.

The WelcomHeritage Khimsar fort, Khimsar, near Jodhpur was recently renovated. Post renovation the 67 rooms (37 Deluxe Rooms and 29 Suites) within the fort are all equipped with air-conditioning, heating, hot and cold running water, mini bar, telephone with ISD facilities The décor varies though from the traditional to art deco and some of the rooms have their own private terraces and balconies. The hotel also offers swimming pool, yoga, sauna steam bath, health club, camel riding, golf driving range and conference facilities, home theatre, Continental and Indian cuisine with Rajasthani specialities.