Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces, India's largest hospitality group, plans to open 17 new hotels under 'Vivanta by Taj' and 'Gateway' brands across the country this year, a top company official said on Monday.
     
The company is also in talks to open Vivanta by Taj Hotels in China, Africa and Dubai soon.
 
"We will open four new Vivanta hotels in Kerala, Coorg, Gurgaon and New Delhi and about 13 Gateway hotels beginning with Kolkata, Raipur and Hubli this year," Indian Hotels Company Managing Director and chief executive officer Raymond N Bickson told newsmen after inaugurating the Vivanta by Taj hotel at Begumpet here this afternoon.

Vivanta by Taj hotel at Begumpet is a five-star hospitality hotel positioned in the upper-upscale segment, the hotel was built with an investment of Rs 150 crore. The 181-rooms hotel, the first Vivanta and Taj's fifth property in the city, offers over 7,000 sft of space for various activities     

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) and its subsidiaries are collectively known as Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces.
     
"We opened one new hotel every six to seven weeks last year and in 2012 we will open one every three weeks," Bickson added.
     
Vivanta is a five-star hospitality brand in the Taj portfolio positioned in the upscale segment.
  
Taj opened 23 Vivanta hotels so far, including one each in Sri Lanka and Maldives.
  
"We will take this number to 35 in the near future," the CEO and MD said.
  
Bickson said they were in "active discussions" for opening Vivanta by Taj hotels in China, Africa and Dubai soon.
     
Talking about the current scenario in the hospitality business in India, Bickson said: "We are witnessing tremendous growth ... sustainable for the next 10 to 15 years.
  
"With six million in-bound international tourists and 740 million domestic travellers, the demand for hospitality space is growing."
     
"There is good demand for hotel rooms in secondary as well as tertiary towns. We can’t forget the strong domestic market," Bickson said.
 
Vivanta will be Taj’s fifth star hotel in Hyderabad after Taj Krishna, Taj Banjara, Taj Deccan and the Falaknuma Palace Hotel.
 
"We are scouting for a place to set up our Ginger brand of hotel as well in Hyderabad. We will open it in the next 12 months," Bickson said.