Indian Hotels plans 28 upscale properties

Indian Hotels Company's upscale brand Gateway Hotels & Resorts said it is looking at opening up to 28 new properties in next three years as part of expansion plans.

"Currently there are 22 Gateway properties across India. We have four more launches scheduled for this year and six in the coming year. We aim to reach a target of 45-50 hotels in the next three years," Gateway Hotels & Resorts Chief Operating Officer Prabhat Verma said.

Tata's IHCL also plans to soon open properties under the Gateway brand in Chennai, Kolkata, Raipur and Hyderabad.

Gateway Hotels & Resorts are full service upscale hotels and resorts that are currently located in 21 cities and holiday destinations.

On being asked the model the company intends to follow for further expansion of the brand, Verma said:

"We are open to exploring all forms of growth. The upcoming properties will be a combination of management contract and joint ventures."

He, however, did not share the financial details of the expansion plan.

The company is mainly looking at domestic travellers for the expansion and is targeting corporates, entrepreneurs, families and professionals.

"We have a large number of domestic travellers and are looking at corporate, regular travel as well as weekend travellers. The Gateway Hotel is targeted at the modern traveller looking for smarter choices in business and leisure travel," Verma said.

The hospitality major currently operates in four categories - the luxury brand Taj, upper upscale brand Vivanta by Taj Hotels and Resorts, upscale/mid-market full service hotels and resorts under the Gateway Hotel brand and economy hotels under the Ginger brand.