Sarovar Hotels has announced the opening of a luxury resort, Vasundhara Sarovar Premiere, at Vayalar in Alappuzha. The property, set up at an investment of Rs 70 crore, is owned by the Kerala-based Vasu Coco Resorts Pvt Ltd.
Spread over 7 acres on the banks of Vembanad backwaters, the 5-star resort offers 60 lake facing rooms, including floating cottages and heritage villas.
The company has relocated a traditional Kerala home Nalukettu for guests. The resort also has a two-bedroom luxury houseboat with a private Jacuzzi on the upper deck.
Speaking to a group of visiting media persons from Kochi, Mr Ajay K. Bakaya, executive director, Sarovar Hotels and Resorts, said that the resort is the company's second property in Kerala and another 50-room facility, Sarovar Portico, will open in Thekkady in 2013.
He pointed out that the MICE and leisure tourism is growing in this region, thus creating a demand for top quality accommodation. “We are confident that with Sarovar's unmatched services and hospitality, the new resort will soon become a preferred choice for travellers,” he said.
The dining options at the resort include all-day dining restaurant and a seafood speciality restaurant Chemmeen. There is also a poolside café and a bar.
The banquet facilities can host events for up to 250 guests and conferences for up to 120 guests. The resort also offers a host of wellness facilities, including a 5,000 sq ft luxury spa.
Sarovar Hotels currently operates 59 hotels under brands Sarovar Premiere, Sarovar Portico, Hometel, Park Plaza and Park Inn. Both Park Plaza and Park Inn in India are under a franchise agreement with Carlson Hotels Worldwide.
According to Mr Bakaya, additional 27 hotels are at various stages of development. The company aims to be a 65-hotel chain and targets to achieve the 100-hotel portfolio by 2020.
The next five years will see the company spreading to cities such as Goa, Kochi, Shirdi, Puducherry, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Manali and many others, he said.
Dr P. Vasudevan, promoter, Vasu Coco Resorts, said that they were planning to open four such resorts in various parts of the State. They include an adventure tourism resort in Mannarkad, ayurvedic resort in Palakkad and a heritage village at a total investment of Rs 20 crore.