Hotel Talk

Another from the Tata fold dons hospitality garb

Savio Rodrigues - Mumbai

Tata Coffee, from the stable of the Tata Group of companies is all set to enter the hospitality arena alongwith it’s sister concern Indian Hotels, by adding a new portfolio to its operations - plantation resorts.

The success of its pilot project 'Plantation Trails' by Tata Coffee in Coorg, initiated due to the growing interest of tourists in unique destination products in India is to now become a fully proposed hospitality project by the company. Speaking exclusively to Express TravelWorld, M H Ashraff, MD of Tata Coffee, "The venture into hospitality is yet another pioneering endeavour for us. The tourism sector is responding to an increasing demand for eco-tourism. With increased activity in tourism development along eco-tourist spots and wildlife circuits, we have decided to focus and capitalise in this yet untapped market."

Currently in its Coorg project the company has three bungalows with 14 rooms and by the year-end, 12 bungalows with 38 rooms will be covered under their expanded tourism portfolio. Following which the company is to expand its plantation resorts concepts to other coffee estates in Hassan and Chickmagalur by the year-end. Ashraff further added, "Tata Coffee has built up heritage value with its coffee brand. It is now time to take advantage of the heritage value and make the most of it for an enterprise that not only complements our business, but also is in a fast-developing sector - the tourism and hospitality sector. We are sure Plantation Trails will make a world of difference to tourists this season."