Absolute signs First U Hotel in India

Thailand-based Absolute Hotel Services has signed a consultancy and management agreement with KBJ Group Mumbai to manage the first U Hotel in Varanasi, India.

The hotel will be called The U Grand Varanasi which will be a member of U Hotels & Resorts group. Construction is scheduled to begin October 2009 for completion by the third quarter of 2011.

“The total cost of the project is estimated at US$ 12 million and we would like to set the market trend and make sure that we are the market leader in the destination. This is the first hotel development of our group for which we plan 4 more hotels with-in 3 years and we are delighted to work with U Hotels & Resorts having visited their unique properties in Thailand,” said Mr. Mohit Kamboj, Director of KBJ Group Mumbai, India.

Mr. Jonathan Wigley, CEO of Absolute Hotel Services, added, “We could not be more pleased to set foot on the ground in India, especially at such a unique location like Varanasi. The U Grand Varanasi will be another unique U Hotel that demonstrates the quality of product and services combining the heritage of its location. In addition, with the new International Airport terminal well under development and scheduled to open in late 2010, this will open direct international air links for travellers wishing to explore this cultural and spiritual centre. We are currently concluding an additional 8 hotels in India which we plan to announce later this year together with the opening of our Absolute Hotel Services India office in Mumbai.”

Varanasi is one of the major pilgrimage sites in India located on the holy River Ganges and a major tourist attraction with world renowned Ghats and Temples. For over two thousand years, Varanasi has been a great centre of learning and civilization.

The 117-room U Grand Varanasi Hotel will feature 700 square meters of event space, 3 restaurants and bars, a spa, fitness centre as well as a historic library.

It will be located 2 kms from the airport and 10 kms from the main city's sacred aura, secular vitality, palaces and temples.

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