Claridges to re-build Sea Rock at Bandra Lands-end in Mumbai

14 September 2007

Mumbai: It will soon be a story of rising from the ashes for the 1993-bomb blasts survivor, Mumbai''s Sea Rock Hotel. But first it will be razed to the ground, before it rises again.

Delhi-based Suresh Nanda and son Sanjeev Nanda, the new owners of the hotel, have reportedly secured the necessary approvals to rebuild the hotel, once a preferred locale for several Bollywood blockbusters.

According to Peter Leitgeb, president and CEO of The Claridges Hotels & Resorts, which is Sea Rock''s holding company, the demolition is expected to commence by the end of 2007, with the detailed blueprint being put in place. The "new" property would be soft-launched by the company by mid-2010, and the new owners say, it would host some never-before features that would be a first in Mumbai.

Claridges has reportedly earmarked $220 million for the hotel component alone. The overall development cost is yet to be made public.

Taj Lands End''s "new" neighbour will boast around 350 five-star deluxe hotel rooms, and could also have state-of-the-art meetings and conferencing areas, exotic food and beverage concepts, with health and wellness facilities.

If the promoters have their way, the sea-front area would wear a "beach resort look", with of adventure/water sports activities being part of the deal. The other parts of the property will form 90 serviced residences, and a shopping mall housing the most premium of brands.