Shangri-La gears up New Delhi presence

Shangri-La recently signed management contracts with Adarsh Group to introduce three new hotels in Bangalore, starting from August 2007, adding a total of more than 1,000 rooms to the group's inventory in India. A spokesperson for the Bangalore-based Prasiddhi Conventions Events and Expositions K.Shardamba said:"The existing five-star properties in Bangalore such as Le Méridien, Taj West End, Grand Ashoka and others can accommodate 600-odd delegates for big conventions. There is definitely need for 1,500-odd delegate space, with an additional space for 150 exhibition stalls." According to an industry source, the five-star hotels in Bangalore charge around US$4,200 to US$4,700 per day for hiring these halls. Sharmba said: "Bangalore has venues like Karnataka Trade Promotion Organisation, where space for conferences is limited to 200 in each of its two halls and another hall with capacity." "If Shangri-La can cater to big conventions or simulcast conferences, it will be quite useful" Shangri-La stated that it will open a hotel in the central business district of Bangalore, offering meeting and banqueting facilities including a 500 sqm ballroom. In December 2008, Shangri-La will operate a 330-room business retreat and spa located at the outer ring road in the IT corridor, about six kilometres from the Bangalore airport, with a total meeting space of more than 1,000sqm. Other than this, a Traders hotel will also open in August 2007 with 250 rooms near International Tech Park. Apart from Bangalore, the group has launched Traders Hotel, Chennai and the Shangri-La Hotel, New Delhi will open in the third quarter of 2005, said Giovanni Angelini, Shangri-La's chief executive officer and managing director.