Lebua to add 1,660 rooms,up to 7 new hotels in India in 5 yrs

Bangkok-based hospitality chain Lebua Hotels and Resorts today said it is looking at adding 1,660 rooms in up to 7 properties across India in five years as part of its expansion plans.

In order to meet its growth plans in the country, the company will also be hiring around 3,320 people during the period.

"We are looking at adding 1,660 rooms spread across 6 to 7 properties across India in next five years," Lebua Hotels and Resorts Chief Executive Officer Deepak Ohri told PTI.

At present the chain has three properties, all in Rajasthan, with a total of 140 rooms.

For the new properties, Lebua is looking at destinations like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Goa and Rishikesh.

Ohri said the company is in talks with potential partners for the different properties but did not disclose their names.

When asked about investments for the expansion, he did not share a number but said: "We are an asset light company. We will follow the management contract model and our investments will be in manpower, in offices and in establishing procedures."

On adding manpower for the new properties, Ohri said: "We may hire around 3,320 persons as usually it is two persons per room."

In the immediate future, the company will be hiring 200 people for its Rajasthan and Goa properties, he added.

The company is betting big in the Indian middle-class, which according to Ohri, will play a significant role in reshaping the global tourism industry along with those in China and Indonesia.

 "China, India and Indonesia will be major growth drivers. Out of the global tourism business share in terms of spending, Asia will grow from the present 26 per cent to 74 per cent in the coming years."

The hospitality chain plans to charge between $450 to $700 for a room per night.

Lebua Hotels and Resorts currently has two properties in Jaipur and another in Udaipur. Globally the chain is present in Thailand and New Zealand. It will soon enter the European market and China.

"Europe will be our biggest in terms of inventory, followed by China and India," Ohri said.