Playing For Big Stakes

By aligning themselves with global hospitality brands such as Four Seasons and Hilton, and positioning the hotels within their vibrant business parks, the Bengaluru-based marque realty company is aiming high. Jitu Virwani, CMD, Embassy Group speaks to Gurmeet Sachdev about the hospitality arm’s eventful journey and the future of dual-branded properties.

- Gurmeet Sachdev

Can you tell us about Embassy Group’s initiatives in the hospitality industry? Which are the big projects that your company has executed till date?

Embassy is one of the leading property developers in India, with a track record of over three decades in real estate development. It has an extensive land bank across the country and has developed over 40 million sq.ft. of prime commercial, residential and retail space in India, as well as in Malaysia and Serbia.

Embassy's portfolio of real estate development spans the commercial, residential, industrial and warehousing, retail and hospitality segments of the real estate industry. Embassy’s hospitality business commenced with the 247-keys Hilton at Embassy GolfLinks. Since then, we have acquired the legendary Four Seasons as a brownfield mixed-use project in 2014, and the landmark 200- keys Le Meridien Hotel near Bengaluru Gold Club in 2016. While the Four Seasons Hotel is scheduled for opening first quarter of 2019, the Hilton Hotel and the Le Meridien are operating successfully in their segments.

Which are some of the leading hospitality brands that you have partnered with, till date?

We have partnered with the world-renowned Four Seasons Hotel and Resorts brand to open the first combined Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences in the country. We also have a growing footprint with Hilton Worldwide and the Le Meridien brand, which is now a Marriott brand (erstwhile Starwood).

What is your aggregate room inventory across India?

We have 450 operational rooms across upscale categories in Le Meridien and Hilton. We have planned for 1,400 keys over a four-year timeframe, across luxury, upscale and midscale segments. These are all international [hospitality] brands and [will be built] in Bengaluru, Embassy Group’s headquarters.