From correspondents in Gujarat, India, 12:32 AM IST

Phoenix Group Global, a promoter of luxury resorts, Tuesday announced the launch of its own brand of Zuri luxurious hotels and resorts in India.

The first five-star hotel will open at Whitefield in Bangalore in January next year, said Priti Chand, media officer of the business group.

'We are acquiring land for five other hotels in Ahmedabad, Visakhapatnam, Kochi, Chennai and Nagpur and will be investing around Rs.10.5 billion for these projects,' Chand told the media.

Phoenix Group Global, a multinational conglomerate based in Dubai has interests in the hospitality, real estate and floriculture sector and owns and manages hotels under the franchise of Carlson Hotels Worldwide.

At present it has two hotels in Goa (Radisson White Sands Resort and Country Inns and amp; Suites) and one in Kerala (Radisson Plaza Resort and amp; Spa, Kumarakom).

The Indian arm is managed by brothers Aditya and Abhishek Kamani.

'All our hotels will be under the Zuri brand,' Chand said.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)