Hospitality Industry Expects to Grow By 7-10 % in Four Years: Akash Gupta, GM, Gokulam Grand Hotel & Spa Bangalore

BANGALORE, BEING the IT and e-commerce hub has evolved as one of the most rewarding markets for the hospitality sector. Many hotel giants have set their eyes on the city after realising its immense potential. Recently, Gokulam Grand Hotel and Spa, Bangalore joined their hands with Preferred Hotels & Resorts for its global presence.

The hotel claims to compete in the ADR range of INR 5000 – 6000 bracket with occupancy rate in the range of 60 percent to 70 percent average. After the strategic partnership with Preferred Hotels and Resorts, the hotel aims to leverage the hotel’s past international history and to strengthen their reach in overseas markets.

“We will be competing with the best of brands gaining an international exposure. Our guests and patrons have a wealth of benefits to enjoy, thanks to the I Prefer loyalty program, spanning across 700 hotels globally. Lastly, we will have access to great sales and distribution channels globally,” says Akash Gupta, GM, Gokulam Grand Hotel & Spa Bangalore in an interaction with BW Hotelier.

Formally named as MSR Hotel and Spa Bangalore, the hotel began its operations in 2011 under the brand name of Movenpick Hotel and Spa Bangalore; a strategic partnership between MSR Hotels Pvt. Ltd and the Swiss Hospitality giant Movenpick Hotels and Resorts. This alliance concluded at the end of 2017, and the hotel has now been bought over by Gokulam Hotels and Resorts.  

“This latest acquisition, rebranding and launching a new brand means, we have a lot of nitty-gritty to look into. Our first priority is to ensure that the operations of the hotel stay unaffected, with our guests and patrons enjoying their stay with us. We are streamlining all the systems and processes, and along with our Human Resources team, am working to induct and sensitize our employees to this new change and culture,” said Gupta.

According to Gupta, last year, the industry witnessed a steady growth, though marked by challenges like the GST roll-out and regulations on liquor sales. “2018 – 2022, these four years, we expect growth to pick up, by at least an industry average of seven percent to ten percent , with e-commerce and digital medium playing a significant role in hotel sales,” he adds.

As an upcoming hospitality company, Gokulam Hotels and Resorts further plan its growth in South India. From innovating f&b offerings to standards, brand building, visibility with systematic consistent marketing and sales is the main agenda for this year and the next.