Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Friday, 5 November 2010 06:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Aitken Spence Hotels yesterday announced the addition of the fifth hotel to its portfolio in India.
The company has taken over the management of the hill resort, Grand Palace Hotel and Spa in Yercaud, owned by MSV Hotels Pvt Ltd, on 1 October 2010.
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| Exterior shot of Grand Palace Hotel and Spa in Yercaud |
Aitken Spence Hotels is an emerging player in the Indian hospitality industry already managing four other resorts in India — Atithi – Puducherry; Poovar Island Resort - on the backwaters of Kerala; Barefoot at Havelock -Andaman Islands; and Tamara - Coimbatore.
“We are happy to expand our portfolio in India with the addition of Grand Palace Hotel and Spa, situated in one of the most scenic locations in Tamil Nadu. This partnership will enable us to further consolidate our presence in South India,” Lakshman Ekanayake, Chief Executive Officer of Aitken Spence Hotel Managements in India said.
Surrounded by misty mountains, Grand Palace Hotel is a hill resort offering an enchanting view of the Yercaud Lake on one side and the picturesque valley of Killiyur on the other. The town has derived its name from the lake located at its center —”Yeri” meaning “lake” and “Kaadu” meaning “forest” in Tamil. This enchanting township situated close to Salem, surrounded by coffee plantations and orange groves is a very popular holiday destination.
The guest rooms at Grand Palace Hotel provide a breathtaking view of the lake or the valley and are equipped with LCD TVs, heaters and tea/coffee makers. The hotel is an ideal getaway for both honeymooners as well as holiday seekers, looking for a tranquil place to stay.
“The Orange”, multi cuisine restaurant, offers a delectable array of Tamil Nadu cuisine in addition to North Indian and Chinese dishes. The “Cloud 9” bar with its old world charm, offers the perfect ambience to relax and unwind. At the “Bliss Spa” therapists and aestheticians are at hand to bestow their expert touch to rejuvenate one’s senses. The hotel is also equipped with banquet and conference facilities.
“The tourism industry in India has tremendous potential and we are glad to increase our Indian portfolio. It is evident that we were offered the management of Grand Palace and Spa as we have established our presence in India. Further we have been recognised for our ability to identify the potential in existing properties and transform them into star class, award winning hotels”, stated Malin Hapugoda, Managing Director, Aitken Spence Hotels.
Aitken Spence Hotels is a part of the leisure sector of Aitken Spence Plc, a diversified conglomerate in Sri Lanka and is a pioneer and market leader in the hospitality industry. The flagship property of Aitken Spence Hotels, Heritance Kandalama was recently awarded Asia’s Responsible Tourism Award for the large scale hotel category at the ITB Asia Tourism Trade Show held in Singapore on 21 October 2010. Asia’s Responsible Tourism Awards is organised by Wild Asia and it is the only tourism award of its kind in Asia.
It is the vision of Aitken Spence Hotels to champion sustainable tourism by developing hotels committed to sustainable practices while focusing on its commitment to corporate social responsibility initiatives and respecting and nurturing the culture in which it operates in.
