Clarks Group to manage other hotels

The Clarks group of hotels, owned by UP Hotels Ltd, is getting into the business of managing other hotels.

The group currently operates a chain of five-star hotels under the brand name 'Clarks group of hotels', namely, the Hotel Clarks Avadh, Lucknow; Hotel Clarks, Amer-Jaipur; Hotel Clarks Shiraz, Agra; and Hotel Clarks Khajuraho, Khajuraho.

Talking to Business Standard, Amresh Gupta, vice-president and senior general manager of Clarks Avadh, said: "The group has recently floated another brand called Clarks Inn, which will be managing hotels. This company will look take care of the management of the hotels on contract. We have taken three hotels, one each in Gorakhpur, Sahibabad and Goa, and next year we hope to have 7-8 more hotels in the country."

The group has another brand 'Great Value Hotels' on lease.

"We will assist them, right from selecting the staff to drawing up menu charts for their food court as well," said Gopal Krishnan, deputy sales manager (Clarks Avadh), to Business Standard.

The Clarks group started its first hotel in 1951 under the brand Hotel Clarks at Varanasi, while the Clarks Shiraz, Clarks Amer and Clarks Avadh were opened in 1962, 1971 and 1973, respectively. The latest is the Clarks Khajuraho, in 1998.

Initially, the hotel business was not considered a core business for the group, because it was also involved in manufacturing and exporting garments for many international brands under the name Indian Textiles Company.

But now the group is focusing on its hotels and regards the business as its core entity.

"We are expanding our units and for this a lot of renovation work is going on. As the industry sector is booming in the state, we want our hotels to be up-to-date to cater to the needs of the corporate people. Our group enjoys the privilege of being the first one to bring hospitality at places like Agra, Varanasi and Lucknow," added Gupta.

The Hotel Clarks Avadh is the only hotel in Lucknow to have a rooftop restaurant with live music.

The hotel has recently introduced an open air pool side restaurant in the existing unit.