Diversifying its investment portfolio, Riaz Group of Companies has ventured into hospitality sector in a big way opening its state-of-art ‘Six Seasons’ Hotel at Nowgam, here which will be followed by two other properties at tourist destinations Gulmarg and Pahalgam.
The ‘Six Seasons’ conceptualized over six unique weatherseasons in Kashmir will have a chain of hotels run and managed by Riaz Ahmadwho is already running many successful ventures including Cement manufacturingunit and an infrastructure development company.
While four seasons in a year are known across the globe, MD,Riaz says, Kashmir has unique six seasons namely Sounth, Grasuim, Wahrat,Harud, Wand and Sishur, which are the inspiration behind the name of his newhospitality venture.
Having made name in the infrastructure sector across theValley, Riaz believes that the tourism sector has a huge potential to generateemployment opportunities in investment starved Valley.
“Beautiful locales are our natural gift from Allah, peoplewill visit Kashmir always. So we need to have a world-class facilitiesinfrastructure wise. ‘Six Seasons’ is my humble attempt to try to bridge thisgap,” Riaz said.
He said his motive behind venturing into the hospitalitysector is to generate employment avenues.
“Six Seasons has already employed scores of people,” he saidadding that ‘Six Seasons will be a chain of hotels with its properties atGulmarg and Pahalgam within next month.
The Six Seasons Hotel has 75 deluxe and premium rooms. It islocated 2 kilometers from Srinagar Railway station and 5 kilometers from theairport.
The hotel’s interior design has a blend of Kashmiri heritageas well as modern outlook.
The hotel has a multi-cuisine restaurant for guests as wellas outsiders.
“We have two banquet halls having capacity to host 200persons each. It is equipped with modern technology, centrally heating and airconditioning facilities, best to host wedding functions, conferences, partiesetc,” he said.
Vice President of American based Radixx internationalTechnology, Unis Kamili while praising the management of the hotel said it is alandmark achievement which would pave way for others to invest.