Being one of the largest investments in the state, the UAE-based retail major Lulu Group International has launched the Rs 1,800 crore convention centre and hotel project in Kochi.
Lulu Group International chairman and managing director Yusuff Ali M A said it is the largest convention centre in India with a total capacity of 10,000.
“The project is part of Rs 13,000 crore expansion plan of the group in India in the retail, hospitality and food processing centres,’’ he said. The proposed projects include a shopping mall in Lucknow; hotel, convention centre and mall in Visakhapatnam; shopping mall in Hyderabad and food processing centres in Telangana.
The hotel and convention centre at Bolghatty island will be managed by Hyatt Hotels and Resorts.
“It is my dream project and I am sure it will go a long way in making Kochi and Kerala the tourist and meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions (MICE) hub of India,’’ Ali said. According to him the lower cost, good connectivity and scope for leisure activities will lure more travellers to the centre at Kochi.
Lulu Group’s other projects in Kerala that are under construction include a shopping mall in Thiruvananthapuram, a cyber tower at Infopark in Kochi and expansion of its convention centre at Thrissur.
“The project will change the face of hospitality in India,’’ said Girish Bhagat, general manager of Grand Hyatt at Bolghatty Islands. He said with road shows held in Mumbai, Delhi and UK , the hotel is expecting an increased flow of domestic and international tourists especially for MICE and destination weddings.
