Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday laid the foundation for Meghalaya’s third 5-star hotel, the Aurika Hotel by Lemon Tree Hotels Ltd., at the Orchid Hotel premises in Polo, Shillong. The luxury hotel, with 130 rooms, will be constructed at a cost of ₹124 crore through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sangma described the project as the largest PPP model initiative in Meghalaya. “This is a PPP project, which means that we will be providing the land and the space, but an investment to make this hotel and complete infrastructure will be made by Lemon Tree Hotels Limited. An investment of ₹124 crore will be made by them to make this project a possibility,” he said.
“This is a luxury five-star hotel, top of the line, with facilities like banquet halls and other amenities, so that we can attract not just clientele from all over the country and the world, but also promote large-scale tourism. This will serve as a venue for meetings and conventions, as Shillong is already becoming a hub for large organizations and government departments to host their big meetings and conferences. This infrastructure will enhance Shillong’s capacity and attract more events, including family programs and weddings,” the Chief Minister remarked.
The redevelopment of the Orchid Hotel into Aurika Hotel includes a ₹5 crore upfront payment by Lemon Tree Hotels Ltd., along with ₹2.05 crore to be paid annually to the Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) and a 1% share of the gross revenue from the hotel. “This is a win-win model for all of us, and we are hopeful that as we move forward, we will have many such projects, not just in tourism but in other sectors as well,” Sangma said.
The Chief Minister suggested naming the hotel Aurika Orchid Hotel, keeping the beloved “Orchid” name intact, and requested Lemon Tree Hotels Ltd. to consider the proposal. He also emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to tourism. “What we have to remember is the tourism is not about a single event or a single hotel, or a single restaurant or a festival that we have, but it is about the larger ecosystem that we create so that tourists we see in Shillong, see in Meghalaya as a destination they can come to, the continuity will be there, the brand of Shillong and the brand of Meghalaya will grow and that’s when we will see the real outcome and real benefit of Tourism as we move along,” Sangma added.
The project is expected to significantly contribute to tourism growth, economic development, and employment generation in Meghalaya, with over 1 lakh jobs anticipated to be created in the sector.