We are set to expand in India, boost heritage tourism: KB Kachru, Chairman, Radisson Hotel Group South Asia
The hospitality group operates over 200 hotels across the country
Radisson Hotel Group is set to boost its presence in Eastern India by balancing its properties across major and Tier-2 cities.
KB Kachru, Chairman, Radisson Hotel Group, South Asia operations, has emphasised the importance of conserving and restoring historic structures by redeveloping them as heritage properties instead of demolishing to construct large, modern complexes.
Kachru stated, “One of the reasons for our growth has been our focus on key locations across India. In fact, our performance in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities has been as strong as in Tier-1.”
The official spoke on the sidelines of the national tourism and hospitality conference hosted by the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) in Bengaluru (September 18-20).
Along with senior executives from the ITC Group and The Postcard Hotels & Resorts, Kachru participated in a panel discussion titled ‘Building Iconic Indian Hospitality Brands that Travel the World’.
He remarked, “We started 28 years back with nothing. We are now 207 hotels in India and growing. It is encouraging for us that the government has introduced specific initiatives to attract more inbound tourists while also strengthening domestic tourism. There is a well-defined action plan, and as an industry, we are fully engaged in supporting it.”
In April, Radisson Hotel Group announced that under its ambitious 2025 growth plan, it achieved a ‘historic milestone in India’ by crossing 200 hotels, following the signing of five new properties.
While discussing the Group’s expansion in new markets in the eastern region, Kachru added, “We are currently working on three properties in Bihar. The government has recently introduced incentives, particularly in the Buddhist sector, and that is where we plan to focus.”
Recently, the Bihar government announced plans to develop three five-star hotels in Patna, including one at the site of the more than 100-year-old Sultan Palace.
Previously, there was a proposal to demolish the historic palace and construct a high-rise luxury hotel. However, following public outcry, the plan was revised. The site will now be redeveloped into a hotel while preserving the heritage of the landmark structure.
Responding to the replacement of historic buildings with modern structures in culturally rich Tier-2 cities as a strength or weakness for Brand India, Kachru said that his company focused on restoring and adding value to existing properties. Emphasizing the importance of preserving the unique identity, culture, and heritage of these cities, he added that he did not believe in demolishing heritage buildings to build generic modern structures.
Providing the example of a Radisson Blu in Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan, he expressed, “We have developed a modern hotel in Kumbhalgarh. And not many people know that after the Great Wall of China, the longest such wall is in Kumbhalgarh, Rajasthan.”