Marriott, Carlson to up presence in Bangalore

Global hospitality majors Marriott and Carlson are expanding at a fast clip in Bangalore. They aim to meet the increasing demand for deluxe hotel rooms in the city.

Washington DC- based Marriott International is setting up its third property in Bangalore on Bannerghatta Road, to be owned by New India Hotels Private Ltd.

Marriott's third property will be under its Renaissance brand and will be a 328-room five-star upscale deluxe category and is likely to be operational by 2009.

Marriott, which manages six hotels in India, under brands like JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance and Courtyard, has secured a long-term management contract for the hotel. Other Marriott projects in the city include the 250-room five-star Ritz-Carlton, being developed by Nitesh Estates, expected to be completed by 2010.

A 250-room J W Marriott Hotel, is coming up fast in the UB City and is scheduled to open this year.

Carlson Hotels Worldwide, is in the final stages of discussions with Dubai-based Phoenix Group, for its fourth property at Whitefield on the outskirts of the city and will be under the brand of Radisson Plaza.

Other Carlson properties which are in the various stages of construction include The Regent Hotel, Bangalore, being developed in partnership with realty group Unitech, besides the 120-room Radisson Hotel and Park Plaza Bangalore, to be managed by Sarovar Hotels.

Vice-president (operations) of The Phoenix Group Jaideep Singh told Business Standard they were in the "advanced stages of talk" with Carlson Hotels, to manage the 160-room property.

Being built at a cost of Rs 300 crore, the hotel is likely to be operational by the end of 2008. Room rents will be around Rs 9,500 per night.

This will be the third project in India for the Phoenix Group, which already owns the Radisson Plaza Resort in Kumarakom and Radisson White Sands Resort and, Country Inns and Suites in Goa.