Choice Hotels to open 60 hotels in next 2-3 yrs

Banking on the growing economy and rapid infrastructure development in India, international mid- scale hospitality chain Choice Hotels plans to open more than 60 hotels in the country over the next three years, a top company official said.

The chain plans to add around 20-30 hotels in the country every year. "Our target is to open 20-30 hotels every year in India for the next 2-3 years. In 2011, we plan to open 14 hotels mainly in Tier II cities.

All are in various stages of construction. We are looking at a double-digit growth in India," Choice Hotels India CEO Vilas Pawar said here.

The US-based firm, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Choice Hotels India (CHI), currently operates 28 hotels in the country through the franchise route.

"The mid-scale segment has a huge potential in India and is expanding due to rise in the number of budget conscious domestic business and leisure travellers," Pawar said.

The hotel chain, with a tariff size ranging from Rs 2,000 -7,000 per night depending on the location, operates in the country across five brands -- Sleep Inn, Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Clarion and Cambria.

These hotels are in various destinations, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kodaikanal, Lucknow, Faridabad, Amritsar, Pune, Nashik, Haldwani, Tuticorin and Vijayawada.

Choice runs 6,200 hotels across 12 brands globally - Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn Clarion, Cambria Suites, Mainstay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Ascend Collection, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn.