Bengaluru-based GD Group has announced its major push into the hospitality sector with a plan to open as many as six properties by the end of 2019 under the brand name of Great Destinations Hotels and Resorts.
The Group, with a turnover of Rs 1,200 crore, is looking to capture the growing segment and intends to have a pan-Indian spread on acquisition and lease models. The company chose to make a foray into the hospitality sector as the GD Group has a foundation rooted deep in services. It has ventures in retail, education and healthcare.
Great Destinations Hotels & Resorts CEO and Founder GD Balaji clearly believes in a vision of becoming a premium global conglomerate with a clear focus on each and every business vertical being the group’s ethos. Balaji felt this was the right time to expand their reach into the hospitality industry with the launch of two brands simultaneously under the Great Destinations Hotels and Resorts.
“We are not new to the hospitality sector as the family-owned group was already operating a large star hotel in the heart of Bengaluru. We have completely demolished it and a brownfield hotel is coming up in its place. The group has major plans of penetrating other market segments and will work towards a planned and fast expansion of the business,” Mr Balaji said.
Great Destinations will have two categories of hotels. One brand will cater to the premium segment and three other hotels that will come up by mid-2019 has been targeted at the budget traveller. The premium segment brand, Vividus is meant for the young, techsavvy and trendy traveller. The other three associate brands under “My Space’ product focuses to be a light- on-the-pocket service with world-class amenities.
Vividus, along the Race Course Road in Bengaluru, is just 45 minutes away from the international airport and plans to engage with all segments - from business travellers to explorers and from backpackers to business tycoons. By the end of the financial year 2019-2020, the GD group is looking at establishing 14 properties under its portfolio. “A majority of these additions will be either through franchisees, managed or leased & managed options for which we are in discussion with various stakeholders,” Balaji announced.
