KSTDC to Invest Rs 100 Crore to Upgrade 24 Hotels, 2 Restaurants: Minister

Bengaluru: KSTDC will invest Rs 100 crore to comprehensively upgrade 24 hotels and two restaurants at key tourist destinations across the state, Tourism Minister K J George said on Monday. The upgrade programme will focus on improving rooms, bathrooms, food quality, cleanliness, housekeeping, hospitality and other visitor amenities, with several properties to be progressively brought up to three-star and higher service standards, he said.

George said the objective was to leverage the location advantage of Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation’s (KSTDC) Mayura Hotels to improve guest satisfaction, occupancy and revenue.

“The biggest strength of KSTDC’s Mayura Hotels is their location. We have properties at some of the state’s finest tourism destinations and in locations that are difficult to replicate. We now have to match that advantage with better rooms, quality food and professional hospitality,” he said, according to a release.

The minister said the Rs 100-crore investment would be implemented in phases and would make KSTDC properties more competitive and commercially stronger.

The properties include hotels at prominent tourist destinations such as Hampi, Jog Falls, Nandi Hills, Madikeri and KRS.

The programme will cover guest rooms, bathrooms, restaurants, kitchens, reception areas, common spaces, furniture, lighting, landscaping and other visitor facilities, officials said.

Equal emphasis would be placed on service quality, cleanliness, food standards, housekeeping, staff hospitality skills, online booking systems and structured guest feedback, they said.

“Visitors should not have to compromise on quality simply because they are staying at a government-run hotel. Mayura Hotels must set strong standards in location, amenities and service,” George said.

KSTDC Chairman M Srinivas said the corporation’s existing brand recognition and locations, combined with modern amenities and improved services, could help attract more guests, increase room occupancy and enhance revenue.

Tourism Secretary Ram Prasath Manohar said the initiative was not merely a renovation exercise.

“Each property will be assessed individually based on its location, visitor demand, current utilisation and revenue potential. Along with infrastructure improvements, we will strengthen service standards, room upkeep, food quality, online booking and guest feedback systems,” he said.