TravTalk India Online Magazine
In the dynamic landscape of the Indian hospitality industry, Fortune Hotels has stood the test of time, evolving and expanding over its remarkable journey of more than two and a half decades. Samir MC, Managing Director, Fortune Park Hotels, shares the exciting developments and future plans of the renowned hotel chain.
Janice Alyosius
Fortune Hotels’ journey has been marked by adaptability and a keen understanding of the evolving demands of the Indian hospitality market. As the brand continues to grow and expand into new destinations, its commitment to offering quality experiences for business and leisure travellers remains at the core of their mission.
With a legacy dating back to more than 25 years, Fortune Pak Hotels has firmly established itself in the Indian hospitality landscape. Samir MC, Managing Director, Fortune Park Hotels, highlighting the brand’s accomplishments, said, “Fortune Hotels has been around for over two and a half decades. Currently, we operate 47 hotels with over 3,500 rooms in more than 40 locations.”
The brand is well spread out, having a long history in the industry, and a deep understanding of the Indian market. Sharing insights about this year and their expansion plans for next year, Samir said, “At this stage, we are excited to share that this year has been fantastic for us. We have opened five new hotels in the last few months, one in Kalimpong, one in Khajuraho, two in Amritsar, including one close to the Golden Temple, a location we particularly admire, and a wedding-centric hotel in Hoshiarpur. We are thrilled to share this accomplishment. Looking ahead, we have plans to open eight to 10 hotels in diverse destinations across the country in next few months.”
The hospitality industry in the Northeast has tremendous potential that everyone is eyeing. There is an increasing interest among travellers to explore the region, and the hospitality industry wants to leverage the potential by establishing a presence in the region. Emphasising on the region’s potential, Samir said, “The Northeast appears to be an emerging destination, primarily due to the improvements in connectivity to various locations in the region. I’m confident that it will become a preferred destination for many tourists in the next few years. At this stage, we are actively seeking interesting properties in the area. We have recently started exploring this region. While we have opened a hotel in Kalimpong, which technically serves as the gateway to the Northeast, we are also planning to open more hotels.”
In terms of market segmentation, Fortune Hotels has shown a remarkable adaptability. Originally known for its business-oriented hotels, the brand has recognised the growing significance of the leisure segment. This realisation led to a strategic shift towards a balanced portfolio. Samir shared, “When we consider our segments and reflect on our journey, Fortune Hotels originally began as a business hotel chain. However, over the last few years, we have recognized the growing importance of the leisure segment. We have gradually expanded our presence in the leisure market. Looking ahead, our aim is to strike the right balance between business and leisure locations, targeting a 50-50 per cent mix in terms of business and leisure properties.” He added, “In the coming year, we are set to open approximately eight to 10 hotels with an even split between business and leisure properties. This expansion covers tier I, tier II, and tier III locations. Notably, around 65 per cent of the new hotels in our pipeline will be situated in tier II and tier III cities.”
Speaking about their relationships with tour operators and travel partners, Samir said, “We are currently offering standard pricing to tour operators. Additionally, as one of the pioneers in providing net pricing to our travel partners, we have recently integrated with the ITC distribution system.”
