Kolkata, APRIL 4, 2024: Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company today announced its partnership with Merlin Group, the leading real estate group in Eastern India with presence across the country, to enhance its footprint in the tourism sector of West Bengal. Under this collaboration, IHCL has signed a management contract with the Merlin Group for the renowned resort IBIZA in Kolkata near Joka. The resort will now operate under IHCl’s SeleQtions brand as “IBIZA- an IHCL SeleQtions , Kolkata. The partnership will commence in October 2025.
Commenting on the signing, Suma Venkatesh, Executive Vice President – Real Estate & Development, IHCL said, “This signing is another step in IHCL expanding its footprint in Kolkata, a thriving metropolitan state capital. It will address the need for getaway destinations at a short driving distance from the city, that will help tap into the increasing demand for both leisure as well as MICE. We are delighted to collaborate with Merlin Group, a leading real estate group in East India for this resort.”
Mr. Sushil Mohta, Chairman, Merlin Group, said, “We are excited to partner with IHCL, India’s leading
hospitality company. The resort will be an ideal destination for a quick escape from the bustle of the city.”
IBIZA – an IHCL SeleQtions, the 130-keys urban resort, nestled in 11 acres of lushly landscaped gardens, is strategically located on the Diamond Harbour road in Kriparampur, a popular tourist destination. The resort will offer an all-day diner, a specialty restaurant, a bar, a sprawling swimming pool, a serene lake and a variety of recreational activities including an indoor and outdoor activities and kids arenas. The versatile banqueting will feature an over 5,400 sq. ft. ball room, conference halls, pre-function areas, meeting rooms and scenic outdoor venues. The resort will open October 2025.
Kolkata, the capital of the state of West Bengal is an important commercial center for East India. The city is regarded as an artistic and cultural hub.
With the addition of this resort, IHCL will have seven hotels across Taj, SeleQtions, Vivanta and Ginger
brands in Kolkata including two under development.
About Merlin Group
Established in 1984, Merlin Group is now one of India’s pre-eminent conglomerates in the real estate industry. Over the past four decades, the group developed a plenitude of prestigious residential and commercial complexes, office buildings, and townships to its credit. Its presence spans Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Raipur, Pune, Chennai and Colombo. With the shifting epoch, Merlin Group has now extended its movement to contemporary shopping malls, resorts, industrial estates, clubs, etc. Merlin Group is your go-to place to find it all under one roof. With a fleet of prestigious residential and commercial complexes spanning across India, Merlin Group has innovated with various formats and core projects, including premium housing, essential housing, country homes and bungalows, specialty malls, office towers, I.T. buildings, hotels, new generation clubs, and resorts, serviced apartments, stadium, and townships.
Acropolis Mall, and Princeton Club are some of the landmarks among the prestigious projects. Recently, Merlin Group announced the setting up the first-of-its-kind sports city in Eastern India with internationally acclaimed sports academies owned by icons like Ronaldinho, Yuvraj Singh, Michael Phelps, and Tiger Shroff in Kolkata. Princeton Club has already brought Michael Phelps Swimming to Kolkata. World Trade Center, the prestigious project of the first World Trade Center in the state, has added a new feather to the group’s achievement.
Mr. Sushil Mohta, Chairman of Merlin Group is a founder member of CREDAI, an umbrella organization of the real estate industry in India and President of CREDAI West Bengal.
visit www.merlinprojects.com
About The Indian Hotels Company Limited
The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) and its subsidiaries bring together a group of brands and businesses that offer a fusion of warm Indian hospitality and world-class service. These include Taj – the iconic brand for the most discerning travellers and ranked as India’s Strongest Brand 2023 as per Brand Finance; SeleQtions, a named collection of hotels; Vivanta, sophisticated upscale hotels; and Ginger, which is revolutionising the lean luxe segment.
Incorporated by the founder of the Tata Group, Jamsetji Tata, the Company opened its first hotel – The Taj Mahal Palace, in Bombay in 1903. IHCL has a portfolio of 310 hotels including 92 under development globally across 4 continents, 13 countries and in over 100 locations. The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is India’s largest hospitality company by market capitalization. It is listed on the BSE and NSE.