By the end of the year, the Chennai five star hotel market would have nearly doubled in size. Four hospitality players Hilton, Hyatt, Leela and ITC are set to open their new properties.
"In Chennai, there are less than 2,000 rooms of four star and five star hotels as of now. By year end, these four hotels will add nearly 1,500 rooms," said T Nataraajan, honorary secretary of Southern India Hotel and Restaurant Association (SIHRA) and CEO of GRT Hotels.
The 204 room Hilton is likely to come up first with its opening in March. This property is located in Guindy, near Olympia and Tamarai Tech Parks. "The Hilton will enjoy some stability in occupancy since it is likely to find favour from airline crews given its proximity to the airport," says an industry source. The hotel's interiors have been done up by Hong Kong's DiLeonardo and Dallas-based Wilson and Associates and will feature five food and beverage (F&B) offerings.
Action will warm up later this year when the other properties open. The Hyatt, which is coming up on Anna Salai, above the upcoming Ramee Mall, will have 327 rooms (which includes 27 luxury suites) and a spa. The property used to be Aboostbury hall and has been somewhat jinxed with property developments. The mall, which was supposed to open last Diwali with departmental store Shoppers Stop as the anchor store, is also likely to open around the same time as the hotel.
The Leela is looking at replicating its success in Bangalore by recreating the palace in the heart of a city' feel. The 330 room property in Chennai is by the beach near the Adyar creek, with a 25,000 sq ft conferencing and meeting area and a hall and pre-function area of 15,000 sq ft.
The ITC Chennai the largest of them all will have 600 rooms. The property will house 55,000 sq ft of conference and exhibition facilities, which includes a pillar-less main ballroom of 30,000 sq ft. Add to that, nine F&B destinations and a luxury preview theatre targetted at the local film fraternity. Plus 40,000 sq ft of luxury retail a model that has worked in The Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai and The Leela Bangalore.
"While Hyatt and Hilton will be attractive to the four star audience, The Leela and ITC Chennai will attract the five star customer, particularly the expat crowd. The latter two, however, will face stiff competition from J W Marriott which is set to open in 2012," says an industry official. "Chennai has been one of the most challenging markets in terms of pricing, where rates rarely cross the four figure mark. With so many new properties coming up at around the same time, the rates are likely to stay below that mark."
Source