INTER-CONTINENTAL EXTENDS GLOBAL REACH TO SRINAGAR WITH OPENING OF GRAND PALACE INTER-CONTINENTAL

Bass Hotels & Resorts today announced the expansion of the Inter-Continental brand in India with the opening of the 115-rooms Grand Palace Inter-Continental Srinagar.

Grand Palace Inter-Continental Srinagar is a superbly restored palace resort providing visitors with a delightful heritage experience and modern facilities amidst sprawling landscaped gardens. The original 'Palace' was built in 1910 AD. The hotel is situated 18 kms from the airport and located on the city's Gupkar Road, over looking the famous 'Dal Lake'.

Grand Palace Inter-Continental Srinagar, the former ‘Palace’ residence of the maharajas, offers a bouquet of 45 Palace Suites, including 2 Presidential suites, 60 spacious Palace Rooms and 10 self-contained Palace Cottages - 6 two bedroom and 4 one bedroom options. In room facilities include tea/coffee makers, room service, laundry, television with a range of entertainment channels and more.

This heritage hotel features four dining & entertainment options – Chinar Lounge, for 24 hour dining, Durbar Hall, Garden Bar-be-que, a Discotheque and a bar overlooking the Dal Lake with panoramic views of the mountains. In addition, the hotel will be the first to have a Casino (to be commissioned later).

Grand Palace Inter-Continental Srinagar also has a unique collection of conference rooms and facilities with a ballroom accommodating up to 120 guests, and smaller meeting rooms for up to 15 delegates. Further the hotel offers a business centre with internet access, a beauty parlour & barber salon. The property also has a health spa with a well-equipped fitness centre complete with a modern gym, sauna and jacuzzi, massage rooms and an indoor heated swimming pool. Sports facilities include two lawn tennis courts, billiards table, indoor game facilities and a putting green. There is a 9-hole golf course adjacent to the hotel and an international standard 18-hole golf course planned to open by June 2001.

Srinagar is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir situated at an altitude of 1,700 metres above sea level. The hotel overlooks the world famous Dal Lake and is located near historical attractions like the Shalimar and Nishat Gardens, Shankaracharya Temple, Dachigam Wildlife Sanctuary, Chashm-e-Shahi Gardens and Gulmarg which is famous for its superb skiing slopes and the highest elevation golf course in the world.

The opening of Grand Palace Inter-Continental Srinagar will bring the Bass Hotels & Resorts' distribution in India to a total of 15 hotels with over 2,100 guest rooms. Inter-Continental is now represented through 17 hotels and 8,103 rooms throughout Asia Pacific.

"We are delighted to establish our very first Inter-Continental presence in Srinigar, the capital city of Jammu and Kashmir. This will certainly reinforce our already strong position in India's growing market for both the leisure and business segments", said Richard Hartman, Managing Director of Bass Hotels & Resorts Asia Pacific.

Grand Palace Inter-Continental Srinagar, is owned by Bharat Hotels Limited, which also owns the 445 room Grand Inter-Continental New Delhi and the under construction Inter-Continental hotels in Mumbai & Goa (to open in November 2001). On the commissioning of Grand Palace Inter-Continental Srinagar, Mr Lalit Suri, Chairman & Managing Director, Bharat Hotels, said "This heritage hotel is truly a world class palace resort - a complete destination by itself. The Inter-Continental flag will assist in marketing the property to a world-wide audience comprising commercial and leisure travellers seeking deluxe accommodations for holidays, conferences, incentives and individual business."