Leela Bangalore expansion on anvil

Board of directors of Hotel Leela Venture Ltd has approved the purchase of additional land in Bangalore to expand its facilities.

This will enable 'Hotel Leela Palace' to add another 30 rooms to the new wing and the expansion is expected to be completed by October 2006, the company said in a release.

According to C P Krishnan Nair, chairman, Leela Palaces and Resorts, the Bangalore property is set to add another 144 rooms and an international restaurant to the existing hotel.

The construction of an additional wing to house the new rooms commenced in May 2005 and will be operational by October 2006. The investment planned is to the tune of Rs 40 crore.

The expansion is in response to the market demand, if the buoyant traffic inflow of the business traveller is any indicator. Our expansion is well in place to cater to the demands of tomorrow, he added.

Presently, the Leela Palace has six floors of 256 rooms and suites. Commenting on the expansion programme, the company's president, Peter Leitgeb, said, "With the strategic investment in expansion, we will enhance the hotel's appeal and position not only in Bangalore but in the country as well. Our effort is to increase the scope and scale of the 'Essence of India' through a larger and luxurious Leela Palace, Bangalore."