This month, Hilton Hotels & Resorts opened the Hilton Chennai, its first hotel in Chennai, India’s fifth most populous city. The full-service property features 204 guestrooms and more than 7,000 square feet of event space and is located within a 15-minute drive from Chennai’s domestic and international airports.
India, in particular, represents a key growth market for the brand, and Hilton expects to add six more properties in the region this year alone. Other Hilton properties currently located in India include the Hilton New Delhi Janakpuri, Hilton Garden Inn New Delhi Saket and Hilton Mumbai International Airport.
“India is one of Hilton Worldwide’s key growth markets,” said Martin Rinck, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton Worldwide. “We plan to open another six properties in India this year, which will more than double our trading estate for 2011. The opening of Hilton Chennai marks another milestone in our growth plan. With three other operating hotels — Hilton New Delhi Janakpuri, Hilton Garden Inn New Delhi Saket and Hilton Mumbai International Airport, which opened in January — we are steadily expanding our footprint in the key cities of India.”
By opening a property in Chennai, Hilton hopes to attract business travelers from a varied range of industries, as well as leisure travelers. Chennai, which is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is known as the country’s second largest exporter of software, information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services. It is also home to a number of leading companies based in the car, computer, technology, hardware manufacturing, healthcare and Tamil film industries.
The 10-story Hilton Chennai is a newbuild and offers a range of accommodation options, from deluxe rooms to executive rooms and suites. Guestrooms are decorated in a contemporary style and feature state-of-the-art technology. All guestrooms come with a signature Hilton Serenity Bed, a work desk, a flat-screen LCD television, a walk-in rain shower, a bathtub and high-speed Internet access. Leisure facilities include an infinity outdoor pool and a 24-hour fitness center.
Food and beverage outlets include five restaurants and bars. Est is a casual contemporary cafe located in the lobby, and features a glass-enclosed live bakery. Vasco’s is an all-day dining restaurant serving fresh, global cuisine from four live kitchens. Vintage Bank is a wine-and-cheese bar. Ayla, named after a popular variety of local fish, will showcase Kadoloram or coastal Indian cuisine. Q Bar, a poolside bar and grill on the roof of the hotel, features views of the city. Both Ayla and Q Bar will open in April.
Meeting rooms feature fully integrated audio-visual equipment and high-end conference amenities. The Hilton Grand Ballroom is spread over 4,790 square feet of space, with a ceiling height of nearly 16 feet, and is equipped with sky-fold soundproof partitions.
The property is also strategically located in Guindy, which is home to many important landmarks in the city of Chennai. Nearby famous tourist attractions include the Guindy National Park; Marina Beach; the old town of Mylapore, which houses the ancient temple of Kapaleeswarar; San Thome Basilica Church; and one of the city’s most prominent museums, the Government Museum.
The Details
Hilton Hotels & Resortswww.hilton.com
