Aitken Spence PLC aims to operate about ten hotels in India by 2012

Sri Lanka-based blue-chip conglomerate Aitken Spence PLC is now aiming to operate about eight to ten hotels in India by end of 2011 or early 2012. The Group currently operates the Heritance Madurai – its premium brand in Madurai, Tamil Nadu; Anant Raj Exotica in New Delhi; Atithi in Pondicherry; Barefoot in Andaman and Poovar Island resort in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It is also looking at more properties in the Southern parts of India.

Talking about the latest developments, Lakhsman Ekanayake, CEO – India Operations, Aitken Spence PLC said, “We got into the Indian market about two years ago with an aim to become one of the most preferred hospitality groups in the country. Today we manage five properties in India and are now looking at managing about eight to ten properties in the next two years. We would prefer to manage properties in the Southern parts of India but are also open to properties in other parts of the country.” Apart from managing properties in India, the company is also open to the idea of working on a franchise model. Ekanayake said, “We have no franchise model operations at the moment