French hospitality giant Accor is expanding its foothold in India’s luxury segment by launching two new hotels under its most premium brand Raffles in Jaipur and Udaipur, announced chairman and CEO Sébastien Bazin at a signing of both hotels earlier this week.
“It is with immense pride that we announce the arrival of the Raffles brand in India, a hallmark of luxury and sublime service in a country that is famous for delivering luxury at the highest level,” Bazin declared.
Jean-Michel Cassé, Accor’s COO – India and South Asia, said: “We are seeing increasing demand for luxury travel in India and are looking forward to expanding Accor’s globally renowned portfolio of luxury brands in this incredible country. The addition of the iconic Raffles brand signals a new era for our group.”
Since its acquisition by Accor in 2015, the iconic Raffles brand has undergone a renaissance and now boasts a strong pipeline that will see the portfolio double in the next few years.
The Raffles Udaipur will be located in the historic Udaipur, set on a 8.5ha private island in the midst of Udai Sagar Lake. The 101 lake-facing rooms are surrounded by spectacular hill scenery with views of the 400-year -old temple in the background, and suites will feature their own private pools. Expected to open by mid-2020, the Raffles Udaipur will be reached after a short 15-20 minutes’ drive from the Udaipur Maharana Pratap Airport, followed by a short boat ride.
The Raffles Jaipur is being built at Kukas in the city of Jaipur as a set of secluded private residences and courtyards adjacent to the larger hotel complex that presently houses the Fairmont Jaipur. The development is planned as a discreet destination for guests to “be themselves”. The hotel is anticipated to commence operations in 2022 and is located close to key tourist destinations in Jaipur including the Amer Fort, Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort and Jal Mahal palace.
