Sarovar Hotels to venture into more religious destinations

Sarovar Hotels and Resorts, a leading hotel management company is all set to open three-four star hotels in temple towns like Tirupati, Rishikesh , Amritsar and Bodhgaya. The group already has hotels operating in Badrinath, Haridwar, Rajkot and Nashik.

Talking to Business Standard, Anil Madhok, managing director, Sarovar Hotels Pvt Ltd said, "a pilgrimage is no longer a journey only to meet God, the new definition of it is soulful retreat. With an increase in spending power, religious tourism is now witnessing a boom, though quality and branded accommodation and services in most of the holy cities is in short supply."

Besides this, the group plans to open seven-eight properties across India in 2014. Madhok said that Sarovar was a hotel management company, so the investment in the projects would be infused by the different owners of various properties.

Talking about the economic slowdown and its impact on hospitality sector, he said that hotel operators in India are pressing ahead with their expansion plans, undeterred by the worst economic slowdown in a decade that has eroded their earnings and value of their shares. The hotel industry is going through a little rough patch and this is a temporary lull.

"As soon as the economy picks up, our business will pick up. In the next one year, it's going to be tough and the results of the hotel companies show that.

Amid such a "challenging" environment caused by a prolonged crisis in Europe and a slump in the US, a "positive long-term outlook" for room demand has helped the company sustain investment in hotels.

At Sarovar Hotels, we have 21 hotels in India and a few overseas will see commissioning in another three years. "

Commenting on food and beverage business, he said that as a difference in price has narrowed between standalone and hotels offering gourmet cuisine food and beverage business was doing well. The gennext wants to live life to its fullest and earn and burn simultaneously.

Hotels that earlier saw footfalls only from elite, now have dining spaces targetting well-to-do middle class group as well, he added.

Talking about the overseas presence he said, "We are present in Africa; New Africa in Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania and The Heron Portico in Nairobi and The Premiere in Nairobi is slated to open in 2015."

The impact of weak rupee on inbound traffic might help the tourismm industry October onwards, he added.