Mumbai gets India’s first floating hotel

Bellevision Media Network

Mumbai, 23 May 2014: In what can be termed as a major fillip to luxury tourism in the state, a floating hotel, which is also called as floatel, has opened in the city. ‘AB Celestial,’ which is also country’s first luxury floatel for the tourists, was thrown open for the public at Bandra jetty on Wednesday.

In this project, the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has partnered with WB International Consultants and AB Hospitality, who will be running the service to boost tourism in the state.According to MTDC officials, AB Celestial is made and imported from USA and it will be docked at the Maharashtra Maritime Board’s jetty at Bandra under the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The floatel will also give a stunning view of the city and the Sea Link.AB Celestial is a professional state-of-the-art three-tier luxury dining floatel with a sky deck, two galleys, and will have two multi-cuisine restaurants, including a club lounge equipped with a 24-hour coffee shop. The overall capacity of the floatel is focused at accommodating minimum of 660 guests distributed between its four tiers.

 

State tourism minister Chhagan Bhujbal inaugurated the floatel. He said, “The floatel concept was conceived and spearheaded by Maharashtra state government with numerous government bodies involved in making this a reality and a jewel in the crown of Maharashtra. Maharashtra receives maximum number of foreign tourists in India, besides many domestic affluent tourists. This floatel will certainly become a huge attraction for the tourists.” Chief secretary J.S. Saharia, Sumit Mullick, additional CS etc. were present at the event.

(Inputs from Agencies)