West Bengal is set for a major hospitality boom, with 32 luxury hotels, including several five-star properties, planned over the next three years. The initiative, with an estimated investment of Rs 5,000 crore, marks the largest expansion of star properties in the state’s history.
Key announcements and MoUs for these projects are expected during the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) on February 5-6.
Tourism officials revealed that at least 10 of these luxury hotels are slated for Siliguri, a region with immense tourism potential. With these additions, the number of five-star rooms in Kolkata could double from the current 3,500, significantly boosting the state’s hospitality infrastructure.
In line with the hospitality push, Bengal’s tourism department will also host the state’s largest MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) conclave during BGBS. According to officials, MICE tourism has the potential to generate Rs 4,700 crore directly and up to Rs 11,000 crore in indirect revenue.
Sudesh Poddar, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Eastern India (HRAEI), hailed the initiative, calling it a “game changer” for the state’s tourism and hospitality industries.
Industry leaders like K Mohanchandran, Senior VP of Operations at IHCL, emphasized the significant economic contribution of MICE tourism, which helps stabilize tourism revenue throughout the year.
West Bengal’s strategic location as a gateway to Southeast Asia, coupled with its cultural heritage and modern infrastructure, is expected to attract substantial global and domestic investments, cementing its position as a leading MICE destination in India.
Source : TOI
