Hotel Leela Venture Ltd is one of the leading players in the Indian hospitality industry. The company operates in both, the leisure and business sectors. The Leela palaces and resorts include a chain of five star luxury hotels and resorts. The company properties include The Leela Kempinski in Mumbai, The Leela Palace in Goa, The Leela Palace Kempinski in Bangalore and The Leela Kovalam in Kerala. The company became a popular name in the hospitality industry in India due to their high quality of service to their customers._x000D_ _x000D_ The Leela Kempinski in Mumbai is one of the best deluxe hotels of 5-star rating in India. The Hotel is spread over an area of 11 acres and has 396 rooms. The Leela Palace in Goa is a luxury resort and has around 152 rooms. The Hotel is spread over an area of 75 acres and boasts of a 12- hole golf course._x000D_ _x000D_ The Leela Palace Kempinski in Bangalore is located near shopping, cultural, and business centers. The Hotel has 358 rooms, a business center, a royal club, and a fitness and pool center. The Leela Kovalam in Kerala is the biggest beach side resort in the state. _x000D_ _x000D_ Hotel Leela Venture Ltd was incorporated in the year 1981. The company entered into collaboration with Penta Hotels in UK to set up and operate 5-star hotels, which was subsequently transferred to Kempinski Hotels, a European chain of 5-star deluxe hotels, owned by Lufthansa, the German Airline._x000D_ _x000D_ In the year 1986, the company set up their first 5-star deluxe hotel namely Leela Penta, in Mumbai. The hotel was renamed as Leela Kempinski in the year 1988, following the change in their marketing and sales tie-up._x000D_ _x000D_ During the year 1993-94, the company commissioned 60 new rooms at the Leela Beach Resort and set up a mini golf course of 6 holes. During the year 1995-96, the company entered into management agreements with Four Seasons Hotel, Canada, for the management of the company's hotels and resorts at Mumbai, Goa and Bangalore. The Leela Palace in Goa started their operation in September 1998. During the year 1998-99, the company entered into sales and marketing agreement with the Kempinski Group for The Leela Palace, Goa._x000D_ _x000D_ During the year 2002-03, Leela Hotels Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary company merged with the company and during the year 2004-05, another wholly owned subsidiary company, Vision Hotels & resorts Ltd merged with the company._x000D_ _x000D_ During the year 2005-06, the company acquired the Kovalam Beach Resort Hotel located in the pristine and scenic Kovalam Beach with 194 rooms. The Hotel after acquisition was renamed as The Leela Kovalam Beach, Kerala._x000D_ _x000D_ During the year 2006-07, the company sold Leela Business Park to their associate company Rockfort Estate Developers Pvt Ltd for an aggregate amount of Rs 139.7 crore. Also, they acquired land at Adyar Beach, Chennai, Banjara Hills, Hyderabad and Yerwada, Pune for setting up new hotels._x000D_ _x000D_ Kovalam Hotels Ltd, a subsidiary company was amalgamated with the company with effect from December 4, 2007. During the year 2007-08, the company entered into strategic relationship with Global Hotel Alliance to enhance the global reach of sales and marketing network. Also, they made a tied up with ESPA of London, one of the leading SPA management companies in the world, to manage their SPAs across all their properties. They established marketing presence in New York to support their overall sales and marketing strategy._x000D_ _x000D_ The company entered into an alliance with Preferred Hotels during the year. This will give the company a greater recognition in USA and other parts of the world as Preferred Hotels are renowned for up market and luxury hotels in the world. _x000D_ _x000D_ The project in Gurgaon, Delhi with 319 rooms and 9 service residences is under progress and the project is expected to de ready for operation during the financial year 2008-09. The Leela Business Park, a world class Business Park at MRC Nagar in Chennai is under construction and is expected to be operational during the year financial year 2008-09._x000D_ _x000D_ The company is constructing The Leela Palace at Udaipur in order to enter the Rajasthan market is at an advanced stage of completion. The resort is expected to open in January 2009. The Leela Palace hotel at MRC Nagar in Chennai is under construction and is expected to have a soft opening by September 2009. _x000D_ _x000D_ The Leela Palace at New Delhi, is located in the prestigious diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri, New Delhi is under construction. The hotel is planned to have a soft opening by October 2010. Also, projects the in Hyderabad and Pune are likely to be operational during the financial year 2011-12._x000D_