Aiana Hotels and Resorts, an independently owned new brand company with a presence across the Middle East, the Indian Sub-Continent and South East Asia, has adopted a cluster strategy to create a new benchmark in the hospitality industry. “We currently have seven hotels under development, in Qatar, India and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We will continue to grow the portfolio over the next five years, all under management contract. In India, we are looking primarily at leisure destinations and a few key gateway cities. Our growth will be determined by a cluster strategy that offers hotel owners and our guests, accessibility and consistency in service delivery,” Amruda Nair, MD & CEO, AIANA Hotels and Resorts, said.
Replying to a question over setting up a new hospitality company instead of joining her family’s hospitality venture Leela Hotels, she says “I have been blessed to have hoteliers as parents (both attended the Hotel School at Cornell University) and my grandfather was a true entrepreneur and thus establishing a new hotel brand was a natural next step for me. I was fortunate to meet a partner who shared my passion for hospitality and supported my dreams and ambitions of creating an Indian brand with a global presence. My partner in this business is Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, one of Qatar’s leading entrepreneurs and Chairman of Qatari Business Association and Al Faisal Holding, who has played a significant role in the development of the Qatari economy and infrastructure. I would call it a meeting of minds that’s redefining hospitality.”
Sharing the philopshy of the venture, she says that the joint venture to form Aiana is the result of a focused and proactive strategy to create a niche in the hospitality market. “The Aiana service culture, in tune with the needs of the next generation of travellers, is underpinned by our intuitive and unobtrusive Indian service ethic. Aiana will cater to the upper-upscale category of hotels with fresh and relevant product design complemented with immersive, experiential concepts. Our USP’s will be our Indian service ethos, commitment to the environment and community, signature Indian specialty restaurant and spa concept based on the 5 elements of Ayurveda,” she says adding that our authentic service, design, and operating philosophy is geared to exceed the expectations of a new generation of savvy travellers and explorers.
In India, Aiana is currently focussed on South India because of the diversity of experiences offered by vivid tourism products. Aiana has also adopted fractional ownership concept that is becoming increasingly popular with busy professionals looking for a hassle free and maximum utilization of their vacation time. “At Aiana Munnar resort we will provide an option to buy an entire villa from the developer or a pocket friendly 1/6th portion fraction. Other properties that will function under the same model are the Bengaluru-based real estate firm Ferns Estate & Developers who will manage and operate four resorts in Karnataka. Expected to open in 2019, the resort will have 75 villas in the first phase,” she adds. In addition to existing expansion strategies in the Middle East and India, AIANA will seek management opportunities for hotels and resorts in South East Asia.
