Indias hospitality industry seems to be in an expansion mode, further fuelling the real estate boom that simply refuses to die out. The latest entrant to the field is Ramapuram Group, owners of the Orange County Resorts and Hotels in Coorg. With plans to invest Rs. 120-crore on the acquisition of four properties across Karnataka, the group has already acquired 20-acres in Hampi. If dreams were made out of stone, it would be Hampi! Seat of the Vijayanagara empire in 1336 A.D., an empire famous for its support towards renovation and reconstruction of temples through out India., renowned for re-establishment of Indian culture, its support for music, art and literature, this empire stretched and covered Karnataka, Andhra and Maharashtra, only to become a by-word for a golden reign.
And, with Ramapuram Group entering the area with a view to setting up a hospitality industry in the region, something that should have been done much, much earlier on, as Hampi and its surrounding areas have great tourist potential, overrun as it is with ruins that silently narrate a story of grandeur, splendour and fabulous wealth. The splendid palaces and gateways of this broken city tell a tale of men of infinite talent and creativity, the ruins of Hampi offering a reminder of the greatest land in the whole world. Every rock, every path and every monument at Hampi speaks the same language; a language of glory and beauty, leading the Government of India to announce the development of Hampi into an international destination centre.
Apart from Hampi, the Ramapuram Group is in the process of acquiring 40-acres in Karvar and 28-acres in Kumbalgodu, and will be launching Orange County in Beerampally village by December 2006. Becoming operational in 3 to 4-years, all Ramapuram resorts except for one (Kumbalkod village) will operate under the Orange County brand. As for Kambini spread over 20-acres, it will see Rs. 14-crore in development and comprise of 34-luxury suites built by the side of a reservoir. Very different in theme from the Coorg Orange County resort, this one will be based on the concept of a tribal village to target in-bound, high-end premium tourists in the main.
As India outperforms itself in the economic sector, and a growing number of multinationals establish their presence on the sub-continent, the traffic flow of businessmen and tourists has increased. Now, 5-star to 1-star, all hotels and motels are going house full, while the queue waiting outside to be accommodated grows larger. It is just as well, developers are venturing into the hospitality industry, instead of just putting up residential and commercial complexes.
Not so far into the future, India will become the focal point of the world, and in keeping with its ancient tradition of hospitality, when honoured guests were treated on par with God, it is only natural that India upgrades and builds more hospitality centres to cope with the endless Guest Gods that are streaming into India. The good fortunes of the Indian IT industry in a ripple effect are widening and spreading their happy destiny to every conceivable field, last but not least, the hospitality industry. And, for every new industry, real estate is required, a real estate market already booming and expected to continue to boom!
