ARLINGTON, Va., May 4, 2010 � Interstate Hotels & Resorts, the
United States� largest independent hotel management company, today announced
that India-based JHM Interstate Hotels India, a 50/50 joint venture management
company between Interstate and JHM Hotels, has signed agreements to manage
two new-build hotels in India: a 62-room independent luxury resort
in Kukas, Jaipur, expected to open in August 2010, and a 140-room Ramada
Hotel in Amristar opening in September. Including these hotels, JHM
Interstate Hotels India has executed a total of four management contracts
in that country.
�India has tremendous growth potential for the hotel industry,� said
Thomas F. Hewitt, Interstate�s chairman and chief executive officer.
�Last year there was a 19 percent increase in branded hotel rooms there,
with no decline in occupancy. Another nearly 60,000 hotel rooms are
expected to be added over the next five years, according to HVS India.
AMRITSAR HOTEL
The Commercial Plot acquired by Starex Developers is located in Hall
bazaar, which is the core market area located in the walled city of Amritsar.
A heritage building built by Standard Chartered Bank which was leased to
Life Insurance Corporation was located on the site which has been broken
down for construction of the Hotel. http://www.starexgroup.in |
�Our joint venture platform for third-party hotel management with JHM
Hotels continues to yield positive results, as evidenced by these new contracts.
India plays a key role in our international expansion plans, and we continue
to build a robust pipeline of hotel management opportunities throughout
the country, establishing a strong foundation for future expansion.
Our ability to successfully source management contracts is a direct result
of our relationships on the ground in India, a hallmark of our international
growth platforms. The joint venture is actively sourcing other management
opportunities throughout key markets in India.�
H. P. Rama, founder and CEO of JHM Hotels and director of JHM Interstate
Hotels India, added that the company�s ability to attract quality owners
is extremely gratifying. �Our proven management track record, as
well as our experience worldwide in operating premium hotels and resorts,
makes our association with these high quality projects the logical next
step to our growth in this country. We look forward to matching the
product quality represented here with the service excellence we are known
for worldwide.�
Jaipur Resort
The upscale resort is being developed by Rajhastali Resorts & Studios
Ltd., a commercial real estate developer based in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and
is the company�s first hotel resort project. Located at the entrance
to Jaipur on National Highway #8, the resort is easily accessible from
Delhi and proximate to all major points of interest in the city.
The property is situated in a beautiful landscaped setting at the foot
of the Aravali mountain range. Facilities and amenities include luxuriously
appointed and spacious guestrooms, two restaurants, high-speed Internet
access, fitness facility, swimming pool, spa, ancillary retail, and indoor
and outdoor banquet space with two large picturesque party lawns.
Ramada Amritsar
New Delhi -based Starex Developers is developing The Ramada Amritsar,
its first hotel project. The under-construction, five-story hotel,
located in the heart of the city, inside the Hall Gate at Amritsar, is
approximately 30 minutes drive from the airport and 15 minutes from the
railway station. Hotel amenities include a full-service restaurant,
serving both continental and regional specialties, free high-speed Internet
access, gym and swimming pool, ancillary retail and approximately 3,000
sq. ft. of function space.
About JHM Interstate Hotels India Pvt. Ltd.
JHM Interstate Hotels India Pvt. Ltd (www.jhminterstate.com)
is a 50/50 joint venture partnership between Interstate Hotels & Resorts,
Inc. and JHM Hotels. It is headquartered in the NCR, with a
fully staffed Resource Center in Gurgaon, Haryana. The management
team in Gurgaon provides expertise in all aspects of hotel operations including
sales and marketing, food and beverage, information technology, human resources,
construction and design, finance and quality assurance.
About JHM Hotels
JHM Hotels, Inc., a premier lodging company based in Greenville S.C.,
with offices in Mumbai and Surat, India, has developed, acquired, owned
and operated hotels throughout the United States for more than 37 years.
The company currently owns and operates 40 U.S. hotels with more than 6,250
guestrooms, operating under such well-known brands as Marriott, Hilton,
Starwood and Hyatt. For more information about JHM Hotels, visit
the company�s Web site: www.jhmhotels.com.
About Interstate Hotels & Resorts
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of
a 50/50 joint venture between subsidiaries of Thayer Lodging and Jin Jiang,
is the nation�s largest independent hotel management company based on revenue
managed. The company and its affiliates manage and/or have ownership
interests in 232 properties with more than 46,000 rooms in 36 states, the
District of Columbia, Russia, India, Mexico, Belgium, Canada, Ireland and
England. The company has ownership interests in 56 of those properties,
including six wholly owned assets. For more information about
Interstate Hotels & Resorts, visit the company�s Web site: www.ihrco.com.