Carlson inks pact with Mustaq Group to open 7 hotels in J&K

Carlson Rezidor has partnered with Mustaq Group to open seven hotels, under Radisson Blu and Country Inn brands, to cater to high end tourist flow into Jammu and Kashmir.
"We will have six Radisson brand hotels in Kashmir. We have signed a seven hotel deal with Mushtaq Group of Hotels in Kashmir valley. As part of that deal, we will be having our hotels in multiple destinations in Kashmir valley," Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group CEO (South Asia) Raj Rana told PTI.
"We expect out of these, Radisson Blu Srinagar and Country Inns & Suites in Jammu open this year", Rana said.

According to the deal, Carlson Rezidor in partnership with Mustaq Group will open two Radisson Blu hotels in Srinagar and one each in Tangmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam. Under the pact, Country Inns & Suites will be opened in Gulamrg and Jammu.
"We have two other hotels in addition to a seven hotel deal signed with the Mushtaq Group of Hotels. One is Radisson Blue in Jammu and another hotel Country Inn at Katra. Presently we will have nine hotels in Jammu and Kashmir, of which two are operating, two we are hoping to open this year and rest in the coming years", he said.

Carlson will have 6 Radisson brand hotels in valley and one in Jammu, and thereby increasing total number of the hotels in Jammu and Kashmir to 9.

"This multiple-hotel portfolio deal underscores the rapid rate of Carlson Rezidor's expansion and reinforces our leading position in India, a key market that we remain deeply committed to," said Rana.
The first hotel is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2016 in Srinagar.
Rana said that the region enjoys strong domestic leisure demand and is home to some of the most visited leisure destinations in India. Integral to our growth in India is an emphasis on expanding in leisure markets and state capitals.

"We will make inroads into the summer and winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as provide our Club Carlson members an international brand choice in high demand leisure driven markets such as Srinagar, Pahalgam and Gulmarg", he said.