The growing footfall from foreign and domestic tourists has created a demand for upmarket business and family-friendly hotels in Tiruchi and other cities of Tamil Nadu, V. Vasudevan, managing director, Sangu Chakra Hotels, said on Friday.

Speaking at a press gathering to launch the 50th anniversary celebration of Sangam Hotel, Mr. Vasudevan said that Sangam Hotel’s growth from its inception in 1975 in Tiruchi, to its new avatar as a Courtyard by Marriott-managed property, had encouraged the company to expand its reach to other cities in Tamil Nadu.

In the immediate future, a second hotel (to be managed by Marriott) would come up in the city’s Cantonment area with 120 rooms. Also on the anvil are a beachfront resort to be built in Rameswaram with focus on water sports and a hotel to be constructed in southern Chennai.

“We are expecting to invest approximately ₹400 crore on these projects and double our room inventory in the next four to five years,” said Mr. Vasudevan.

Besides the flagship hotel in Tiruchi, the group runs hotels in Thanjavur and Madurai. The group made its foray from business properties to heritage tourism in 2008 with the restoration of a Chettinad house — Chidambara Vilas — at Kadiyapatti village in Karaikudi region.

At present, Tiruchi and Madurai properties are operated under the Courtyard by Marriott brand.