Thaindian News

Chennai, Sep 22 (IANS) City-based Empee Group is drawing up an expansion plan for its hospitality business that includes setting up new luxury hotels, renovating the existing ones and acquiring new properties, company officials said.The group, which has interests in hotel, liquor, sugar, power, packaging, transport and construction businesses, is aiming to emerge as a major business house in south India.

“As per our existing plans, the group will have total room strength of around 600. Earlier, our focus was on growing the liquor business,” Empee Distilleries Ltd joint managing director Nisha Purushothaman told IANS.

Empee Hotels Ltd, a group company, will set up a 362-room hotel, Hilton Chennai, and a 100-room three-star hotel in Sriperumbudur. The group will also expand the business-class Grand Orient Hotel to four-star category and renovate the New Victoria Hotel, both located in Chennai.

Empee International Hotels and Resorts Ltd, Empee Hotels Ltd, South (India) Hotels Pvt Ltd and Empee Heritage Inn Pvt Ltd are the four companies that deal with the groups hotel business.

“We are also scouting for a suitable three-star 50-room hotel property for acquisition. Our idea is to first set up hotels in places where we have a land bank,” Purushothaman added.

While the group is looking out for land or an existing property for acquisition in Hyderabad, it has identified eight locations in Kerala for budget and heritage hotels.

“Our plan is to have seven hotels in seven years and be present across the categories including resorts,” Empee International chief executive Ravi Chawla told IANS.

“Barring Hilton Chennai, all other group hotels will be re-branded. The group is in the process of finalising the new brand and the strategy,” he added.