Unique Group to build Taj and Vivanta hotels in Dhaka

Unique Group, a leading hotel and hospitality management company in Bangladesh, has announced its plan to introduce the iconic Taj and Vivanta hotel brands in Dhaka's upscale Gulshan.

The group will invest around Tk2,000 crore to build these hotels, according to a senior official of the group.

Unique Group's concern Borak Real Estate Ltd and the Indian Hotels Company Ltd, the owning company of Taj and Vivanta, signed a deal in this regard on Monday.

Unique Group also owns Unique Hotel & Resorts PLC, which is the leading hotel management company in the country and successfully operates Marriott International's 5-star hotels – the Westin Dhaka and Sheraton Dhaka as well as a 4-star boutique hotel HANSA, A Premium Residence.

Md Shakawath Hossain, CEO of Unique Hotel & Resorts PLC told TBS that Taj will be a 5-star and Vivanta will be a 4-star hotel. Hotel Taj will have 230 rooms and Vivanta will have 130 rooms.

He said the infrastructure construction of two hotels will be in the same place near Hotel Westin in Gulshan. The hotels will go into operation after finishing construction and decoration in the next two years.

Borak Real Estate Ltd is financing the total investment and the hotels will be operated by the Indian Hotels Company Ltd, added Shakawath Hossain.

On 17 April the agreement was signed by representatives of the Indian Hotels Company Ltd and Borak Real Estate Ltd at the Sheraton Dhaka. Suma Venkatesh, executive vice president (Real Estate & Development) and Rajendra Mishra, executive vice president and general counsel of Indian Hotels Company Ltd and Mohd Noor Ali, managing director of Borak Real Estate Ltd signed the agreement on behalf of their respective companies.

The agreement will be valid for a period of 30 years.

"We are thrilled to partner with India's leading company which is known for its world-class hospitality. These signings will introduce the iconic brand Taj, the worlds' strongest hotel brand as per Brand Finance, in Dhaka and bring the Vivanta experience to the city," said Mohd Noor Ali, managing director of Borak Real Estate Ltd.

"We are delighted to debut in Dhaka adding an important international destination to our portfolio," Puneet Chhatwal, managing director and CEO of Indian Hotel Companies Limited said.

"Bangladesh, one of the fastest growing economies in the world, is also the second largest economy in South Asia. Its close proximity and cultural affinity to West Bengal with the significant presence of our company makes it a strategic association," he added.

Advocate Mr Mahbub Ali, state minister of civil aviation and tourism graced the signing ceremony as the chief guest while Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman, chairman of CAAB, Abdul Matlub Ahmad, chairman of Nitol Niloy Group and Shubham Yadav, second secretary of High Commission of India were present as special guests among others.

The ceremony was also attended by all partners of Tata Group in Bangladesh.