Hilton International Co. (Hilton International) and EIH Limited announced a strategic alliance for co-branding hotels in India under the ‘Trident Hilton’ brand. This alliance covers nine hotels with approximately 1,900 rooms across India, including the Oberoi Towers in Mumbai which will be re-branded as ‘Hilton Towers’. The existing Trident hotels in Agra, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Cochin, Jaipur, Udaipur and the proposed new hotels in Gurgaon (140 rooms) and North Mumbai (440 rooms) will be re-branded as Trident Hilton.

This alliance will also give the Hilton Group immediate representation throughout India. While EIH limited will continue to manage and operate all of the hotels. EIH will continue domestic marketing, promotion and reservations in India, while Hilton will be responsible for international marketing, promotion and reservations through the Hilton International network.

Collectively, the number of hotels would amount to 2,400 properties in more than 60 countries worldwide. The re-branding of the hotels is expected to be completed by March 31, 2004.

The city of Mumbai will soon witness the opening of yet another swanky new hotel - InterContinental The Grand Mumbai. The hotel is located two kms away from the city’s international airport. The 400-room property is expected to be fully operational by October. Adjoining the hotel is a commercial complex with showrooms, offices and 21 service apartments. The complex will also have a movie preview theatre and a speciality Chinese restaurant.

The hotel will also have a health club, a beauty parlour, a banquet hall, shopping arcade, business centre, car park, crew lounge, travel centre, concierge and ‘24/7’ their all day dining. Other F&B outlets include Trendz, Baluchi serving Indian cuisine, WOKS - the Oriental and Chinese fine dining restaurant, Beluga - the cigar lounge and a Bollywood Bar which is positioned as a fashionable fun pub.

The hotel will also have a conference and banqueting facility spread over 8,100 sq ft columnless banquet hall ‘The Majestic’ with a 4,600 sq ft pre-function area for over 1,500 persons. It also has two separate party rooms for 100 persons. A full range of conference and meeting support services as well as outdoor gardens for up to 2,000 persons.

The hotel is designed to cater to corporates, national and international guests, the MICE (Meetings,Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) market. It is also targeting the film industry with the opening of Bollywood Bar and Preview theatre.