Taj group of hotels announces 100 crore investment in cochin airport's 112-Key 5 star hotel project
Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) steps ahead in realizing the dream of growing into an eloquent airport city
Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), which operates the iconic hospitality brand Taj group of hotels, wins the global bid for operating Cochin International Airport Limited’s (CIAL) five-star hotel at the airport premises. The project aims to enhance the airport's hospitality services and provide its passengers the finest experience. The agreement was signed on March 31st, 2023, between the Taj group and Cochin International Airport Limited in the presence of key officials from both organizations. Mr. S. Suhas IAS, MD, CIAL & Chairman, CDRSL and Mr. Dinesh Chadha, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Indian Hotels Company Limited signed the agreement on their company’s behalf. According to the agreement, IHCL, South Asia's largest hospitality enterprise, which is a part of India’s Tata group, will invest an amount of INR 100 crores on CIAL’s five-star hotel, for standardization of its interiors as per their brand’s grades and measures. The hotel is being constructed in a prime area within the airport premises. The agreement is for a term of thirty years, and shall be extended for additional terms.
Commenting on the partnership, Managing Director, CIAL & Chairman, Cochin Duty Free and Retail Services Limited (CDRSL), Mr. S. Suhas IAS said, "We are pleased to announce this association with IHCL. As the Taj group is one of the renowned hotel operators in the world, we hope that this collaboration will give a spur to our growth and potential. The collaboration also fills up our development plans which includes the integration of airport operations, hospitality and service industries. Also, CIAL is eyeing for an exponential progress with the introduction of the new aircraft by Tata owned Air India”. “CIAL has already made great progress towards building a thriving and independent community around our airport. We already have an established an 18-hole golf course to cater to the burgeoning golf tourism industry, as well as a state-of-the-art convention center, an exceptional venue ideally suited to host a multitude of successful MICE tourism events.Together, these initiatives form a strong foundation upon which we will build our dream airport city. We are committed to creating a dynamic, thriving, and sustainable community that will not only benefit our airport but also the region as a whole”, he added.
Mr. Dinesh Chadha, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Indian Hotels Company Limited expressed his excitement about the partnership, saying, "We are very very happy to associate with CIAL and have another hotel in the state of Kerala and in the city of Kochi. ‘The Taj’ assures that this project will come up as one of the nicest properties in the city. We have presently almost 20 properties operating and upcoming and this project is going to be one of the 5th properties in Kochi, and the third largest”. “The Taj group will try to expand this collaboration and partnership in other phases also in the similar model. Abiding the long defined bond, we will try our best to protect our brand, and add to the facilities in the existing structure to make CIAL’s 5 star hotel project, now our mutual interest, a landmark grace in the city”, he added.
CIAL’s star hotel project is going to be a 112 key 5 star hotel spreading across 4 acres of land very next to the airport entrance, occupying a building footprint of 2.04 lakh sq.ft., fully airconditioned. This is planned as a ‘Basement+Ground+6 structure with a Terrace floor’ having a speciality restaurant, service bar etc. The hotel is located opposite the Cochin International Airport, boasts an uninterrupted view of the runway on one side and mountains on the other. Owing to this monopoly, the planning is done to host rooms on either side. Other features of this project include a 440 sqm banquet hall facing the runway, two boardrooms and a terrace dining area offering a panoramic view of the airport.