Park Plaza, Royal Palms tie up for 5-star hotel

Carlson Hospitality Worldw¿de's Park Plaza brand is launching its first 5-star venture in the city in collaboration with the Royal Palms group. The property, a 223-room luxury business hotel built in the heart of Mumbai's last green belt by the Royal Palms group, will be managed by Park Plaza.

This would be the first hotel in Mumbai under the Park Plaza brand. The Carlson group already has a presence in the city with its Radisson and Inter Continental brands.

This is also the Royal ¿alms' first foray into hospitality in the city. The group, that predominantly deals in residential estates business in addition to the Royal Palms golf course, is now shifting to hospitality.

Dilawar Nensey of Royal Palms Park Plaza said, "There is a huge opportunity in the hospitality business, both in tourist and business segments. When we look at the shortfall in the number of rooms that are required in the city. To cater to the growing traffic into the city, we plan to build another 5-star, a two star and a three star in the estate."

A 30,000 sq ft convention hall is also on the cards. Another segment, which is expected to drive traffic to the hotels are the 60 plus start up and mid-level ventures that have set up offices in the Royal Palms estate.

All of these properties will be branded around the 130 acre golf course at the Royal Palms estate, Nensey said. While the second 5-star, overlooking a six-acre lake, is expected to come up by end of next year.

The 2-and 3-star hotels and the convention centre will be up by 2010. Nensey said the projected asset value of the estate, including a 600,000 sq ft mall, would be close to Rs 2500 crore (Rs 25 billion).

In addition, Royal Palms is planning foray into other metros like Bangalore and Hyderabad in the south.