Nepal business group plans 30 hotels in Asia

One of Nepal's oldest and best known industrial houses has targeted neighbour India for rapid expansion in the hospitality industry, planning to build and run 30 hotels in Asia in the next five years, of which at least four will be in India.

Besides India, the group has planned two hotels in China, and more in Thailand, Cambodia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Dubai.

The Chaudhary Group (CG), a family-run conglomerate with interests as diverse as infrastructure, electronic items, fast moving consumer goods and financial services, is anticipating a strong presence in the hospitality sector in India with its first hotel in the subcontinent, Glow Studios, scheduled to open in Greater Noida this year.

The expansion is being led by Zinc l InVision Hospitality, a partnership between CG's hospitality unit abroad, Singapore-based Cinnovation l CG, and Thailand-based InVision Hospitality, in which the Nepali group acquired 51 percent stake.

Together, they are developing seven genres of hotels in Asia including Zinc City, the boutique hotels, Glow Studios that also offer serviced studios for longer stays, Zinc Edge, the businessman's luxury hotel, Touch by Zinc, the health and wellness destinations, and Zinc Journey, which combines local culture and adventure.

Three Zinc Cities are planned to come up at Greater Noida in 2012, and in Cochin and Surat in 2013. The group is also negotiating with the government of Orissa a suitable project in capital Bhubaneswar. Newsone.com