Date:16/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/12/16/stories/2004121601901700.htm

Back BCCI, Asian Hotels open Palladian Lounge

Our Bureau

Kolkata , Dec. 15

THE Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI), in association with Asian Hotels Ltd, on Wednesday unveiled the Palladian Lounge within the precincts of the BCCI heritage building. The initiative, it is hoped, will help augment the attractiveness of B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata's central business district (CBD), which houses several large corporates, the Calcutta Stock Exchange and the Reserve Bank of India, not to mention the Writers' Buildings, and the State Government headquarters.

Based on European architecture originally developed by the 17th century Italian architect Palladio, the lounge is expected to become a hub of corporate bonhomie and serious business deliberations for BCCI's corporate members and their guests.

The lounge will be managed by Asian Hotels Ltd, which owns three Hyatt Regency properties including the 250-roomed Hyatt Regency hotel in Kolkata. A multi-cuisine fare will also be on offer for members and their guests.

Speaking to newspersons here, the incoming President of BCCI, Mr Aniruddha Lahiri, said the idea behind the initiative was primarily two-fold. The first was to leverage on BCCI's assets and create facilities that would be comparable with the best.

Second, with a lounge and dining facilities right at the heart of the CBD, corporates and business executives need not have to travel outside the CBD to meet associates and clients in an appropriate environment.

Besides managing the facility and taking care of the dining, Asian Hotels would market the venue for conferences and business meetings. Guests of Haytt Regency, Kolkata, can also use the Palladian Lounge when they visit the CBD on work. For its services, Asian Hotels would share a portion of the revenue that is generated with BCCI, according to Mr Sandip Ganguli, Vice-President (Sales & Marketing) of Asian Hotels Ltd.