Interglobe Hotels, a 60:40 joint venture bet-ween Delhi-based Inter-globe Enterprises and French economy hotel

RELATED ARTICLES Give fresh property returns or lose promotion: Govt to babus

chain, Accor, plans to roll out 14 hotels under the brand ‘Ibis’ in as many cities across India in the next two years.

When contacted, Uttam Dave, president and CEO, Interglobe Hotels, refused to disclose the proposed investment for these projects. These hotels together would have a total of 2,700 rooms. “While the Pune hotel is five minutes away from the airport, the Mumbai project, set to be launched soon, would be close to the airport,” Dave said.

The company recently launched its second hotel in Pune, near the airport, on Nagar Road. The company’s first ‘Ibis’, with 217 rooms, was launched in Gurgaon last year.

“The concept is to provide a 3-star facility to our valued customers with restaurant, bar, meeting place, fitness centre and 24-hour snack bar”, he told FC Estate. Ibis hotels are designed to be compact and efficient and located in city centres or business districts and close to the airports, he added.

He said the Ibis brand was expanding rapidly in the Asia-Pacific region, with room occupancy registering a healthy growth in the region. He said 21 Ibis hotels would be added to the existing tally of 71 Ibis hotels in Asia Pacific within two years. “We are experiencing a boom-time in Thailand, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong,” he added.

Ibis Pune has 183 fully equipped guest rooms with en suite modular bathrooms, a contemporary fit-out including flat screen TV, Wi-Fi and broadband internet access to suit the needs of both business and leisure travellers.

Maverik Mukherjee, general manager, Ibis Pune, said the hotel would provide round-the-clock reception, value accommodation and food and beverage services to clients. Tariff is affordable at Rs 4,000–Rs 4,500 per room per day whereas the same facility will cost Rs 8,000–Rs 9,000 in a five star hotel,” Dave, who is also the head of development of Accor Hotels in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, said.

The Pune hotel’s restaurant — Spice It — is a multi-cuisine facility serving both a la carte and buffet from interactive cooking stations. “An outdoor alfresco area alongside Spice It enables guests to enjoy Pune’s pleasant weather”, Mukherjee said. The Hub, the hotel’s bar with its energetic ambience, refreshing beverages and free Wi-Fi will serve as a gathering place, he added.

Ibis, the worldwide economy hotel brand of the Accor group, claims to offer consistent quality accommodation and services in all facilities at the best local value for quality.

Launched in 1974, Ibis is at present the leader in Europe and one of the top economical hotel chains in the world, with more than 1,00,000 rooms and 847 hotels in 43 countries.