Bangalore: Spurred on by the encouraging revenues from Leela Palace in Bangalore (it contributes nearly 50 per cent to the top line) and properties in Goa, Mumbai and Kovalam, Hotel Leelaventure Ltd. has chalked out a road map for expansion and also to fulfil its objective of being the "best premium hotel chain."

President of Leelaventure Peter Leitgeb told presspersons here that next year the group would begin operations in Delhi and Goa followed by properties coming up in Chennai, which will have the largest meeting facility in the country, Hyderabad and Pune. The Leela, at the Kovalam beach in Kerala, is also being repositioned with the introduction of the "club concept" there.

In the next five years, Leelaventure will be investing Rs. 1,200 crore by raising funds through internal accruals and FCCBs (foreign currency convertible bonds for which it has an approval of U.S. $100 million). Mr. Leitgeb said the hotel group had growing revenues (Rs. 344 crore), up by 30 per cent from last year and net profit was up by 60 per cent. It hoped to touch Rs. 430 crore this year.

Leela is tying up with Deccan Aviation to use helicopters to take their clients to destinations such as Mysore and Hampi from Bangalore and also from its other properties.

Repositioning Bangalore

Mr. Leitgeb said the image of Bangalore had taken a hit with people talking of not getting rooms. "We are in the process of changing that image. Maybe from Monday to Thursday hotel rooms are chock-a-block, but on weekends the occupancy level drops to 50 per cent. We have had meetings with the Karnataka Minister for Tourism and the Commissioner for Tourism on repositioning Bangalore."

In Cavelossim in Goa, where Leela has an exclusive resort, the hotel is working on going strong on the "monsoon packages," which has had an increase of 50 per cent over last year.

The monsoon packages are for domestic tourists because international arrivals almost stop in May as tourists come mostly for the sun.

With the international-domestic mix of its occupancy being 60:40, the hotel chain will be opening sales offices in Dubai and London soon.

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