Taj forecasts Australian growth
Indian hospitality group Taj Hotels and Resorts is hopeful its sales from the Australian market will double over the next five years as business ties between the two countries strengthen.
Director public relations, Raakhee Lalvani, said Australian volumes are "sufficient", but insisted the market has "tremendous potential" for the expanding hotel firm.
"It's not one of our big markets, not yet," Lalvani told Travel Today.
But she revealed Australia has replaced Italy as its fifth most significant market, although it remains some way behind top source countries the US and the UK.
Lalvani predicted growing trade relations between Australia and India would boost business. In addition, she highlighted growing interest in India as both a leisure and business destination from around the world.
Taj's international hotels, particularly its Maldives properties, are seeing healthy interest from the Australian market while in India, Rajasthan and Varanasi are proving popular.
Meanwhile the hotel firm, which opened its first property The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai in 1903, continues to expand. It opened six properties last year and is looking to open a further five this year with the focus on growing its middle range portfolio.
The majority of the expansion will take place in India, but internationally it has plans to open properties in China with a luxury Shanghai property on the cards, whiile a deal has been stuck for four properties in Hainan.
Lalvani added that although there are no plans for a second Australian hotel, it would not be ruled out if a suitable opportunity presents itself.
"If a great property comes along in Australia, say in Melbourne or some other region which has potential, and it works well in terms of timing, then we will look at it," she said.
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