The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts recently signed a deal Summit Group of Nepal in the presence of Prime Minister of Nepal, Mr. Sushil Koirala, to collaborate on the first of four hotels, in Nepal.

The Leela Kathmandu, the first of the series, a 5-star deluxe hotel to be built in the heart of Kathmandu, is expected to be completed within 36 months. Summit Group, which has extensive interests in real estate, hotels and allied businesses, will develop the property, while The Leela will market and manage it as part of its portfolio of eight iconic properties in prime urban and holiday destinations across India.

At the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Koirala welcomed the entry of The Leela and urged the Group to establish hotels in other parts of Nepal. Both Prime Minister Koirala and his Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have shown serious intent in developing their tourism across the member nations of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

The Leela Kathmandu will be designed by the internationally renowned architect, Mr. John Gerondolis, of Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart & Associates, Inc, in Atlanta, US. Having already designed The Leela Palace, Delhi and Chennai, Mr. Gerondolis is also currently designing the property in Agra, where every room will offer a view of The Taj Mahal.