Odisha encourages local hoteliers to tie-up with International Brands

In order to enhance inbound foreign tourism, the Odisha tourism department is joining hands with the major state-based hoteliers to tap the franchise business model with leading brands like Hilton Group, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Radisson Hotels, Taj Group and Starwood.

The tourism ministry hopes, collaboration with renowned hotel brands would help propagate Odisha as a global tourism destination.

Recently, the state tourism department had a word with the leading hospitality brands, seeking collaboration for enhancing the tourism industry of the state. Odisha is having a gloomy record in attracting international tourists and hopes the collaborations with the leading local hoteliers would help to overcome this weakness.

“The main reason of our inefficiency to host high-class international tourists is the shortage in five-star hotels in the state. We have suggested to local hoteliers to explore collaborations with hospitality brands of international repute like Radisson or Novotel so that they can get franchisees to operate,” said a government official.

Most of the leading hotel groups in the state have welcomed the state government’s initiative.

“Collaborating with international brands likes Marriott, Starwood, Hilton Group, Sheraton Hotels and Indian brands like Taj Group, Trident will ease the marketing process as these global players have properties worldwide. Odisha’s hotels will get visibility and accessibility to the global market through franchisee model,” said J K Mohanty, the chairman of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) and the chairman & managing director of city-based Swosti Group.

According to the Odisha tourism website, the state has about 13 star-category hotels with an inventory of 1,200 rooms. Out of the total star-category hotels, only two properties- Mayfair Lagoon and Hotel Trident -are in the five-star deluxe category and the rest are below them.

With the new initiative, the government hopes to have more international tourists to the country, contributing to the tourism industry and the economic development of the state.