After yesterday's delWine item on Dipak Haksar's elevation as the Vice-President for ITC-Prefixed Hotels, we received a number of emails from our readers updating our information on Mandeep Lamba, former managing director, Fortune Park Hotels.

Lamba is now heading the India operations of the UK-based Dawnay, Day Group, which has announced plans to enter the hospitality sector in this country by launching a chain of hotels in the metros and mini metros. The combined gross asset of Dawnay, Day, an investment company based in London, exceeds US$3 billion.

The company intends to have 30 three- and four-star business hotels over the next 3-5 years. Dawnay, Day would initially invest about US$200 million in the business, Peter Klimt, Chief Executive, Dawnay, Day International, had said at a press conference that was reported by The Hindu Businessline some time back. Dawnay, Day Group would fund the business through debt and equity.

The hotels would target corporate executives and foreign tourists. Each hotel would have 100-125 rooms of around 30 sq. metres. The average price of the rooms would be about US$100, Lamba had informed the media.

In 2004, Dawnay, Day established Dawnay Shore Hotels plc to acquire four-star hotels in the UK. Since its launch, hotel assets with a gross value of approximately £350 million have been acquired by the company. Dawnay Shore owns and manages 20 hotels with about 2,700 rooms.