Inaugurating the commencement of operations at the much delayed Aerocity hospitality district, JW Marriott became the first hotel to begin commercial operations. The hotel located in the hospitality district next to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport was formally launched on Thursday morning.
However, it has been granted only partial clearance by security agencies. Out of the 523 rooms, 200 tarmac-facing rooms will be opened only when security parameters, including the installation of bulletproof windows is complete.
The hotel has been granted a period of 45 days to meet the requisite security parameters for the rest of its rooms. In the meantime, the remaining 323 rooms, restaurants, business centres and swimming pool will be operational and open to public. According to hotel authorities, it has faced a nine-month delay during its conceptualisation phase and the total cost of construction for the 523-room property is Rs9,000 crore.
Four other hotels — Ibis, Red Fox, lemon Tree and Holiday Inn — are awaiting clearance for nearly two years by security agencies to be opened. According to officials at the airport, even the first inspection of these hotels is yet to be carried out.
The hotel managed to get security clearance by the agencies as the quality of the bulletproof glass used at the hotel was approved by a team from Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).