Bangalore-based Royal Orchid Hotels Limited (ROHL) is likely to defer the launch of its first budget property in the city, located just off the arterial MG Road. The 'no-frills' hotel, christened 'Peppermint', was to have "five-star services at two-star rates" according to company sources. | |
| ROHL had earlier announced plans to set up 50 budget hotels across the country by 2010. Each would have around 60-100 rooms with room rents ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 per night. |
| |
| The first of the Peppermint hotels was launched in Hyderabad recently. Company officials had informed Business Standard that the Bangalore property would be open by November-December this year, which was announced early this year. |
| |
| However, ROHL chairman and managing director Chender Baljee told BS over phone that the launch was delayed as they were "focusing on other projects in the city." |
| |
| A company spokesperson added that ROHL had purchased land for the project but was yet to tie up with a developer. Construction is yet to commence. |
| |
| Peppermint Bangalore would have been ROHL's answer to Sarovar's Hometel and Tata Group's Ginger Hotel, both of which are budget properties located in the city's IT district, Whitefield. The company will employ a mix of leased, ownership and joint-venture models for development and running of the hotels. |
| |
| In Bangalore, ROHL plans to set up more four-star properties and is upgrading Royal Orchid Harsha to a four-star business hotel under the Ramada brand. |
| |
| The Royal Orchid resort, near the new Bangalore International Airport, is also being renovated at a cost of Rs 30 crore. |
| |
| "At present there are 54 rooms, we are adding 100 more now," Baljee said. It will be ready in six months. |
| |
| ROHL has also finalised a second property in Jaipur, where it recently launched its 70-room Royal Orchid Central, a four-star hotel. |
| |
