TIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran launched the work on India’s first public sector hotel run entirely by women for women in the state capital on Wednesday. A flagship project of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC), the hotel named ‘Hostess’ will come up in six months at the KTDFC complex at the main bus station in the heart of the city, adjacent to the Central Railway Station.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said this project is a milestone initiative of KTDC, considering its purpose, security features and facilities of global standards at affordable rates. “There are many services being offered by KTDC which are affordable to common people and the facilities at Hostess at economic rates are expected to be of global standards,” Surendran said.
“The government has given administrative sanction of C 17.5 crore to set up a 42-room budget hotel at Kanyakumari. The nod of local self-government institutions in Tamil Nadu is awaited to start the work,” he said. Listing out other key projects on the anvil, he said about C39.6 crore has been sanctioned through KIFBI for development works at Muzhappilangad beach near Kannur and C7.69 crore for Kumarakom water scapes through destination development.
Also, C1 crore each has been allotted for the development of Samudra Hotel, Kovalam, and Tea County, Munnar. Besides, C2.6 crore has been sanctioned for tourism amenities centre at Thekkady and C3.1 crore for the renovation of cottages at Ponmudi,” the Minister explained. M Vijayakumar, Chairman, KTDC, who presided over the function said, “The all-woman hotel is the first-of-its-kind initiative from a government institution in the country. We give more emphasis on security and safety features besides comfort and convenience. If it becomes a success here similar hotels will be set up in other cities of the state.”
‘Hostess’ will offer state-of-the-art facilities, including automated security features, technology-oriented check-ins and checkouts, laundry service, complimentary breakfast, microwave oven and fitness centre. “It is women-friendly, stylish and offers all comforts to women travelers. We mainly target women officials, researchers, sportspersons, teenage girls, business women and pilgrim groups, who arrive in the city for short stay,” said Rahul R, IRS, Managing Director, KTDC.
It will have 22 AC rooms and two AC dormitories to host 28 people at a time. Rooms will be charged C1,500 and the dormitory facility C500 for four hours. The hotel will be run by female staff from bottom rung to managerial positions.Apart from modern facilities, it will also offer safety and security features for women travellers, who have easy access to railway and bus station from the hotel.