Banyan Tree is set to add to its portfolio with Angsana Club & Spa in Ludhiana by 2015. The property will follow the debutant Kerala establishment, slated to open by the end of the year, and the Goa property which is a couple of years in the making. According to Abid Butt, CEO, Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts, tier II cities in India are growing rapidly and Indians with the wherewithal to travel will travel both abroad and within India. Domestic consumption, he opined, will be huge. Quality accommodation will be provided by Banyan Tree.
Butt further revealed that the hotel group is developing another brand under the Banyan Tree umbrella, and the details of the same will be divulged at a later stage.
Speaking about the India market, Butt stated that the company hopes to be established here soon and is targeting double digit growth over the years. “We should get good traction in a short time since we have a good following in India anyway. We would love to be in the gateway cities and resort destinations in India, but are in reality open to operating across the country wherever we find developers who understand the individuality of the brand and have the financial backing to maintain the standards that go alongside it. We are looking for partners who will add brand value and believe in the brand,” he said.
Banyan Tree is working with the travel trade to increase visibility in India. Training and educating the trade will be their key strategy. Speaking about the Kerala property, Butt revealed that owing to the uniqueness of the location, development has been a challenge. “The villas and pools have been built and the public areas are ready. However, there are several nuances that need to be overcome before we open at the end of the year,” he said.
