The Grand InterContinental Hotel

Kolkata, November 08, 2006: Mrs Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson & Managing Director, The Grand Group of Hotels, a Bharat Hotels enterprise, announced the formal plans for the ‘restoration’ and reopening of the 165 year old heritage property ‘The Grand Great Eastern Kolkata’.

On November 30, 2006, when Mr Lalit Suri had formally taken over the ‘Great Eastern’ – he had promised that ‘he would make this the finest heritage hotel in the country; a destination by itself in the global tourism arena. A hotel that Kolkata would be proud of - once again’.

Mr Lalit Suri’s shocking and untimely demise of a cardiac arrest on October 10, 2006 – made the Group even more determined to complete his ‘dream project’.

Today, Mr Lalit Suri’s wife - Mrs Jyotsna Suri, who has taken on the mantle of spearheading the Group with a commitment to realize all of Mr Suri’s dreams – formally unveiled the plans for the restored ‘ look’.

Speaking at the press conference, she said, ‘We would recreate the famous Victorian and Edwardian charms that had made this hotel the toast of the society in the nineteenth century and also bring back to life the popular Maxim’s and the famous Grand Bakery.

As a Company we have the proven expertise to artistically restore heritage properties, having done so for the century old palace hotels that we have in Srinagar and Udaipur.’

Supporting the efforts of this prestigious project are Architects 61 (A61) of Singapore, who have been involved in the restoration of the Raffles and the Fullerton Hotels of Singapore and Dulal Mukherjee & Associates – a firm involved with key conservation projects in Kolkata, including the Metropolitan Building, the Minerva Theatre, Park Mansion, to name a few.

Mr Ashvin Kumar, Director, A61, along with Mr Dulal Mukherjee presented the impressive new look of the restoration and renovation.

Spread out on 2.3 acres the hotel would be presented in two distinct styles. The original building - ‘the heritage block’ would radiate with the charms of the ‘British Colonial’ era – with the Great Eastern façade, the living accommodation and services restored to its gracious glory. Additionally, a modern ethos would reflect through a new building, which will incorporate contemporary international hospitality trends, enhanced by local Bengali art, craft and culture.

When re-commissioned the hotel will offer 244 rooms and suites, an all day dining, two speciality restaurants including the famous Maxim’s, the bakery, a 6000 sq feet Ballroom along with 5 conference rooms, a state of the art health spa, swimming pool, two level car parking. The hotel will also have a well-defined drive in porch from the Waterloo Street.

The project would be completed in two phases. The first phase, which would include the heritage building, would be re-commissioned by end 2007. The rest of the hotel would be completed in the second phase, by mid 2008. The restoration is expected to cost around of Rs 120 crores. Dismantling work on the unsafe structures has already commenced. While leading project contractors have been short-listed, contracts will be awarded by mid month – with a view to commence the work from the 1st week of December.

A brief history of The Great Eastern Hotel

Set up by Englishman David Wilson on November 19, 1840 (a date which, incidentally, is also Mr Lalit Suri’s birthday) it was then known as the Auckland Hotel or Wilson’s Hotel. However in 1865, during an expansion drive it was re-named The Great Eastern. The Hotel continued to grow in popularity and all through maintained its social exclusiveness. Its exterior style and ornamentation matched its interior elegance, and it became the favourite haunt of the city's elite, often referred to as ‘The Savoy of the East’. By 1883, the entire premises of the hotel were electrified, the first hotel in India to do so.