Brand Ashok plans to set up airport property

Kolkata: The Ashok brand is scripting a comeback to the hospitality scene in the state.
It was Indian Tourism Development Corporation's (ITDC) umbrella hotel brand prior to its divestment of 11 properties, including Hotel Airport Ashok in Kolkata. Now, ITDC officials are in talks with at least four hoteliers and developers to set up franchise hotels in Kolkata, Siliguri, Santiniketan and Shankarpur.
ITDC vice-president Kuldeep Verma will fly into Kolkata on Monday to negotiate a deal with a realty major for a 200-room hotel close to the airport. Seven years ago, the company had sold off stake in Hotel Airport Ashok, once a leading five-star property that had suffered from poor occupancy after flights to the city nosedived.
"We are in talks with a realtor who plans to set up a 200-room property on Jessore Road, close to the airport. The Rs 150-200 crore project should be up and running shortly after the modernization of Kolkata airport," Verma told TOI from Delhi. Though he refused to name the partner, industry sources said the Fort group was in the forefront.
28/08/09 Subhro Niyogi/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Aug 2009