The Sub Indian Continent was entered by signing a joint venture agreement with Leland Group, and  will focus on developing and servicing hotels in the Indian Sub Continent focusing primarily in India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Golden Tulip Southern Asia aims to establish Golden Tulip Hotels, Inns & Resorts as a leading hotel chain in the four and three star hotel sector in the Sub-Indian Continent. The office will furthermore develop the necessary infrastructure to provide maximum support to its franchisees and owners. Golden Tulip Southern Asia aims to achieve a portfolio of 40 hotels in a five year period by both converting existing hotels into Golden Tulips and Tulip Inns as well as developing new hotels.

Leyland Group is a diversified real estate and hospitality investment, development and management company based in New York. The group brings an extensive experienced development team with established relationships with developers and hotel owners.

Mr. Vimal J. Singh, Executive Vice President of Leyland Group joins Golden Tulip as the Managing Director and Senior Vice President of Golden Tulip Southern Asia. Bringing along more than twenty five years of experience in real estate and hospitality industries, Mr. Singh previously was the Managing Director and founder of HI Hotels India, a joint venture with Holiday Inn Worldwide to develop Holiday Inns in India. This venture developed 14 hotels in India and Nepal. He was also a Principal with a hospitality investment banking firms, Wilder Group and Helmsely Spear in New York.

Hans Kennedie, President & CEO of Golden Tulip Hospitality Group states: "I am very pleased with the opening of Golden Tulip Southern Asia office. Our aim is to establish a strong position in the Indian Sub-Continent through the development of franchise and management agreements for existing and new hotels. I am confident that with the combination of the Leyland Group's experience and the full roll out of our management and franchise formulas we will achieve the targets set."

Vimal Singh, Senior Vice President & Managing Director for Southern Asia adds: "We enter with great enthusiasm into this business adventure. Golden Tulip's brand recognition and its proven success track record gives us the necessary tools to develop new projects in this region. The opening of the office of Golden Tulip Southern Asia is the initial step to a fruitful cooperation between Golden Tulip and Leyland Group."