Leela Group mulls overseas foray

Hotel Leela Venture, which currently owns four five-star properties in the country, is planning to expand abroad in the next 2-3 years.

Speaking to Business Standard, general manager of The Leela Palace Kempinski, Bangalore, Charles de Foucault said the Leela Group was looking to set up five-star hotels in Maldives, Mauritius, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The group has also opened offices in London, Dubai and New York to strengthen its international marketing and distribution network in the United Kingdom, West Asia and North America.

"We are still in the preliminary discussions stage. But are looking for partners best suited to our style of management.

Leela would typically like to own and manage properties and not merely manage it for someone else," Foucault said.

Earlier this year, the Leela Group became a member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), an international alliance of independent luxury hotel brands.

Set up in 2004, the GHA partners hospitality groups like Kempinski, Omni, Pan and Pacific, and comprises 190 luxury hotels and resorts.