Hyatt Hotels Corp announces Indian expansion plans

Global hospitality company Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced a slew of plans for India in 2013. The brand, which currently operates 10 upscale hotels in the country, is planning to take it to 70 in the next five years.

“We are now planning to establish hotels in India under all our existing global brands. We opened the first Hyatt Place at the world heritage site Hampi, Karnataka, in December last year. By the end of 2013, we will be operating 20 properties in India, with an aim of adding 50 more across brands in the next four years,” Hyatt Hotel and Resorts Vice-President, Brands (Europe Africa Middle East/Southwest Asia), Eric Brun told Deccan Herald.

Globally, Hyatt operates properties across 7 brands - Park Hyatt, Andaaz, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Hotel, Hyatt Place and Hyatt House. In India, till last year, it operated three ultra-luxury Park Hyatt properties, two Grand Hyatt properties and five Hyatt Regency properties.

Besides Hampi, the chain will be launching a Hyatt Regency at Gurgaon and Ludhiana, Hyatt Hotel at Raipur and  Hyatt Place at Pune this year.
Recently, the chain converted five Ista hotels, including one in Bangalore, re-branding and introducing them as a new brand in India - Hyatt Hotels - which will commence operations in April this year.   
 
On the business model, Brun said, “Hyatt does not invest in infrastructure of hotel properties. We have signed management contracts, under which we manage and operate hotels under our brands. We do invest in training of personnel, expertise and design.” He added that only few properties are directly owned by the chain.
The hospitality sector in India has been witnessing slow growth of late, despite which many major hoteliers have been setting shop here. “After China, India is the next best destination for the hotel industry,” Brun said.