Tourism Breaking News
Qatar-based Al Sawari Holding, with interests across hospitality, real estate and education sectors has signed an MoU and management agreements to mark its entry into India. The collaborations were formalised on the occasion of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Qatar. The MoU was been signed by H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman of Al Sawari Holding and Al Faisal Holding and Vivek Nair, CMD, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. Under this agreement, the Al Sawari Group will purchase a 6 acre site from The Leela Group in Agra to develop a hotel complex. This will include two hotels – a-100 room Leela Palace Hotel and a 150-room Aiana Hotel on the same plot. Al Sawari Holding has also entered into management agreements with both the Leela Group as well as Aiana Hotels and Resorts to operate the respective hotels. The land is located less than one kilometre from the Taj Mahal.
“Qatar has a long history of bilateral relations with India and there is a lot of synergy between the two cultures. We are delighted to enter into these landmark agreements with The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts and Aiana Hotels and Resorts during the historic visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Qatar. We are confident that Al Sawari Holding’s foray into the Indian hospitality industry will further enhance the economic and culture relations between the two countries”, said Thani.
The two new hotels will offer a host of signature restaurants and lounges along with spacious banquet halls and state of the art health centres and spas. Both hotels will cater to the upmarket leisure tourists and the MICE segment. Construction is expected to commence soon and will be completed within 36 months. “These agreements are the first of many that we as a group plan to enter into in India. We firmly believe in the potential of the Indian market and will continue to seek growth opportunities to create value and expand our portfolio in India,” said Mohammed Shafiek, Managing Director, Al Sawari Holding.
“We are also looking forward to further strengthening our presence within the golden triangle by adding a Palace hotel in Jaipur and will continue our efforts to expand in Jodhpur and Jaisalmer,” said Nair. “We are delighted to announce the expansion of the AIANA portfolio in India with the signing of a management agreement with Al Sawari Holding to operate AIANA Agra – a 150 room hotel in one of the most visited leisure destinations in India,” said Amruda Nair Joint Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Aiana Hotels & Resorts. “With the signing of our 6th hotel in India, we will continue to follow the cluster strategy that has been successful for the AIANA brand in India. Our next focus will be to complete the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur and further enhance our existing developments.”
