Hotel Talk

Choice Hotels teams up with Royal Indian Raj

To erect 12,000 rooms with investment of over $6 bn

ETW Staff - New Delhi

Choice Hotels has signed up with Royal Indian Raj International Corporation (RIRIC) to build at least 12,000 budget-style hotel rooms under different brands namely the Comfort Inn, Quality, Sleep Inn and Clarion Brands. The deal increases RIRIC's current proposed FDI in the real estate sector under the Integrated Township programme and in the hospitality and resort sector to over US$ 6 billion, including its Royal Garden Villas & Resorts projects in Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Manoj C Benjamin, its chairman and CEO, said that RIRIC's hotel initiatives will commence over the next 12 months throughout India. Speaking about the role of Choice Hotels, its CEO, Vilas Pawar said, "Choice Hotels India will develop and manage the brand and additional 15,000 rooms in all the key destinations in the country." Incorporated in Nevada, US, RIRIC is currently selling Phase I of its inaugural Royal Garden Villas & Resorts project in Bangalore. Phase II and III will hitting the markets in Q2 of 2007 as will its Royal Garden Villas and Resorts Hyderabad, situated near the new Hyderabad International Airport. RIRIC will also be launching its Royal Garden Villas and Resorts brand in Mumbai, Goa, Delhi, Chennai and Pune over the next 12-18 months.