THE Taj Hotels & Palaces is set to unveil a plethora of its offerings at this month’s World Travel Market (WTM) in London.
The group’s upper-upscale Vivanta by Taj brand is continuing rapid expansion. The brand was introduced in September 2010 with a portfolio of 19 hotels. It launched two hotels in 2011, a further four properties in 2012 and two in 2013. The brand offers a stylish take on ‘cool’ and contemporary with hotels are located in key metropolitan areas as well as popular leisure destinations such as Goa, Kerala, Rajasthan, Sri Lanka and The Maldives.
Vivanta by Taj – Gurgaon, Delhi, which opened in March, is strategically located in one of India’s largest business hubs. Vivanta by Taj – Bentota, Sri Lanka announced the completion of its $12.5 million extensive renovation. Its timely makeover coincides with the three-times-a-week British Airways inaugural flight from London Gatwick to Colombo, via the Maldives, which launched on April 14, 2013.
Vivanta by Taj – Madikeri, Coorg was the 25th Vivanta by Taj property to open since the brand was launched in 2010. Vivanta by Taj announced the brand’s foray into the picturesque destination of Bekal, in Kerala with the opening of Vivanta by Taj Bekal in February 2012. A Condé Nast Traveller Hotlist winner, the hotel’s design is inspired by the Kettuvallam houseboats unique to the region. The hotel’s Jiva Grande Spa is the largest in the Taj portfolio at 165,000 sq ft.
Located in the corridor connecting Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Vivanta by Taj - Begumpet, Hyderabad is the region’s fifth Taj property after Taj Banjara, Taj Krishna, Taj Deccan and the iconic Taj Falaknuma Palace. Vivanta by Taj - Surya, Coimbatore is the third Vivanta property in Tamil Nadu, and the first outside its capital Chennai.
The latest addition to the Vivanta portfolio is Vivanta by Taj Surajkund, NCR, which opened in September, 2013 and will add Vivanta by Taj – Dwarka in 2014.
The Gateway Hotels and Resorts brand was launched by Taj in 2008, and is suitable for those seeking a slick and contemporary hotel experience and a chance to, ‘refuel, refresh and renew’. The brand’s identity is divided into eight focus zones – Enter, Stay, Hangout, Meet, Work, Workout, Unwind and Explore.
The latest in the portfolio is The Gateway Hotel IT Expressway Chennai, which was opened in September, 2013. The new hotel marks a debut for the Gateway brand in Chennai, which is fast-emerging as a business hub and an important new investment destination within India. This opening increases The Gateway Hotels & Resorts portfolio, to 23 hotels.
The Gateway Hotel Lakeside Hubli launched in June 2013 and is the first five star hotel in this area and marks a luxury Taj stamp on this destination, currently relatively unknown to the UK traveller. The Gateway Hotel, Kolkata is expected to open by the end of this year.
Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces will open and manage the Taj Palace Temple of Heaven, Beijing, expected to be complete in 2015, which has been developed by the Zhong Qi Group. In close proximity to the landmark heritage site of The Temple of Heaven, a Unesco World Heritage Site, a deluxe luxury hotel with 46 rooms is to be developed in the traditional Chinese style with another 60 rooms to be added shortly thereafter.
The Zhong Qi Group is also planning to develop a 500-key resort with 40 villas over 60 acres of land on Hainan Island, the premium resort destination in China, considered the ‘Hawaii of the East’. The resort will be located 30 kms from Sanya City in the upcoming Xianghsui Bay. This is expected to open in 2015.
Plans are also in place for the opening of Taj Resort & Spa Tangiers, Taj Resort & Spa Mayzad Fort A1 Ain and Taj Resort & Spa Yas Island Abu Dhabi. The hotels will be at the Taj Group stand on GV320.