Luxury hotel chain The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts and Kempinski Hotels have mutually agreed to bring its 25-year association to a close, effective October 1. This follows a progressive phase out which began in 2012. The agreement will allow The Leela to further consolidate its sales and marketing network, facilitating Kempinski Hotels’ direct penetration into the Indian market.
In a statement, Captain CP Krishnan Nair, Chairman Emeritus and Founder Chairman, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, said, “The strong cooperation enjoyed by the two luxury brands over more than two decades has immensely benefited both The Leela and Kempinski, and helped significantly increase brand awareness globally and in the Indian market.”
Kempinski Hotel’s President and Chief Executive Reto Wittwer said, “We are proud of the rewarding relationship we had with the Leela.”
The debt-laden Leela owns and operates eight luxury properties spanning Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Udaipur, Goa, Kovalam and Gurgaon.
The group is developing properties at Jaipur, a 60-room Palace property, Bhartiya City near the Bangalore airport, an Agra hotel that has every room facing the Taj, Noida near Delhi and Lake Ashtamudi in Kerala.