Iconic luxury chain Peninsula is planning to begin operations in India as part of its global expansion plan, the chain has confirmed.

Clement Kwok, the CEO of Peninsula owner Hongkong & Shanghai Hotels Ltd, told BusinessWeek magazine that the brand would open a maximum of 15 properties globally in the next five to ten years.

Among the new locations, which will include Paris in 2012, will be new hotels in China and India. He declined to say where the Indian location would be situated.

The ultra luxury Peninsula Hotels chain is most famous for its flagship Hong Kong building.

The hotel was the first to open in the former British colony and has since become one of the most iconic buildings in the country and an internationally renowned hotel. Peninsula owns a further eight hotels in Asia and America.

Peninsula joins other ultra-luxury brands pursuing the Indian market.

Ritz-Carlton plans to open its first property in Bangalore in 2010, and Fairmont will open in Jaipur in 2011.

The mid-range Marriott chain, which already owns 11 hotels in the region, intends to quadruple its portfolio to 40 by 2013. Competitor Starwood has also said that it plans 41 in the region by the same time.

Source: AFPrelaxnews – Photo: Annie Leibovitz