MICE tourism to take off from a new runway in Kerala

The lakeside destination will soon house one of the Kerala's biggest international convention centre, complete with a five-star resort hotel, luxury villas, spa and a marina. It is expected to provide a shot in the arm for Kerala's efforts to promote MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibition) tourism.

Roped in to build the project is Raheja group company Chalet Hotels, which forays into God's own country at a time when the state's tourism is experimenting with unique aspects.

In an exclusive interview with Business Standard, Ramnidhi Wasan, chief operating officer (business development), Chalet Hotels, sounded upbeat about the whole project. Fetching the bid to build the state capital's most prestigious convention centre project is seen as driving the group's foray into the state in a big way.

"The location is ideal, the state is open to good investment and we are looking at the project as one of great importance. An area spread across 46.6 acres would, in a few years time, be home to a picturesque complex on a picturesque location," he said.

The group is pumping in Rs 805 crore into the project in two phases. "The first phase will see an investment of Rs 205 crore, while the second phase is expected to attract Rs 600 crore. This might even go up as more features are likely to be added," Wasan said.

Talking about the features of the international convention centre at Aakkulam would boast of, Wasan's list incorporated all that a convention centre-resort combination could have by international standards.

"On a proposed built-up space of 310,000 sq ft in the first phase, the international convention centre itself is going to be huge with a 1,500-seat plenary hall. This apart the centre would house as many as 3 meeting halls to accommodate 75 people, 8 smaller halls with a capacity of 30 seats and an exclusive VIP hall for 50-people," he said. Besides the convention centre, the site would house a 249-room hotel and 25 ultra luxury villas.

Adding to the charm would be a marina close to the entrance of the hotel complex. The hospitality giant is also including water sports facilities to add to the excitement the convention centre can offer.

Spreading the word that there would be a new fully equipped international convention centre in Thiruvananthapuram to the global clients would be the Marriot group.

"We have entered into an exclusive marketing tie-up with Marriot, and are sure that this alliance would make the Thiruvananthapuram international convention centre a preferred destination for global corporate houses," Wasan added.

The convention centre, in which the Kerala government would hold 26 per cent stake, would ride on the back of a SPV, Chalet Hotels and Properties (Kerala) Pvt Ltd, floated for the project. To be built on the Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT) basis, the lease period is 90 years.

The land has been provided on a 90-year lease to the company to build the project. Wasan added that the design for the project, created by Singapore-based SRSS, is ready.

With the first phase of the convention centre to be ready by the beginning of 2011 and the entire project to be complete in five years time, MICE tourism in Kerala will have a new runway to take off from.