Hilton to enter Chennai in tie-up with Empee group

Our Corporate Bureau
06 October 2005

Mumbai: Hilton International is entering Chennai in association with the South India-based Empee Hotels Ltd, part of the Empee Group.. Empee Hotels and the Hilton have signed an agreement for Hilton to manage and operate Empee Hotel's luxury hotel, under development, in Chennai, at an investment of Rs184 crore.

The 40-year old Empee Group is a well-diversified business conglomerate with vested interests in business related to hotels, liquor, sugar, power, packaging, transport, construction and exports. Empee Hotels, is promoting its first five star hotel in Chennai. The Group also owns two other hotels at prime locations in Chennai.

The 253-room Hilton Chennai, which opens in December 2007, will have several restaurants, a destination bar, a swimming pool, a health club and a spa. Located 15 minutes from the Chennai airport, Hilton Chennai would also include four conference rooms, a ballroom and a business centre.

Wimberley Allison Tong & Goo (one of the leading global design teams has designed this property. The hotel design will be a blend of Indo-Saracenic Style of architecture with new generation state-of-the-art facilities.

Announcing the new tie-up,. M P Purushothaman, chairman of Empee Group said, "In the last 18 months Hilton's presence nationally and regionally has grown quickly making it a priority partner for our group."

According to Nisha Purushothaman, managing director, Empee Hotels Ltd, "With this tie-up we will take our hotel business to the next level and work with a global hotel chain that has a modern array of upscale properties. With the development of the new property, the Hilton brand will have a very strong presence in Chennai and will be a preferred choice for judicious travelers to this region."