Tribute Portfolio Hotel arrives in Kerala, India, with the opening of Port Muziris

The Hotel Joins the Growing Portfolio of Marriott International in South Asia, Celebrating Vibrant Indian Old-World Charm and Characteristic Design

Kochi, India, May 13, 2019 – Marriott International, Inc. opened the Port Muziris, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, the first ever Tribute Portfolio hotel in South Asia. The hotel marks the fifth Marriott International property in Kochi located at just 300 meters away from the Cochin International Airport. Tribute Portfolio unites a family of over 30 independent hotels across the globe. Each celebrate the sense of character and passion for captivating design, vibrant social scenes and for experiences that feel like the ‘real deal’.

The name of the hotel – Port Muziris is rooted in the history of the region. Much before everything, the Greeks, Romans, Jews, Arabs, and the Chinese knew Kochi's neighbour, the port of Muziris, as a trading hub dealing in spices such as black pepper and cardamom. History's true significance lies in the fact that Muziris — India’s most important trading port from 300 BC — assumes a larger-than-life significance and summons an unrivalled romanticism.

Commenting on this launch said Neeraj Govil, Area Vice President, South Asia- Marriott International, “The addition of the Tribute Portfolio in Marriott International’s brand footprint for South Asia reinforces our continued focus on providing a diverse collection of prime, distinctive properties across high potential markets in the region. Port Muziris, a Tribute Portfolio hotel is set to exemplify the brand’s vision, offering travelers a unique blend of old-world charm and contemporary amenities, topped off with signature Indian hospitality. The hotel presents guests with the opportunity to spark connections and experience the taste of surrounding communities in the state of Kerala.”

“Port Muziris is going to add to the efforts to make Kerala a world-class tourism destination. I believe that it is where Kerala starts. The property’s uniqueness is visible through the soulful art spread across the property, the homely local food and the untypical rooms that bring out the vibrancy, vigor, and life of Kerala. At Twenty14 Holdings, we strive to keep our peerless hospitality growing by ensuring that each of our hotels is unique in its identity, intent, and immersion,” said Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director of Twenty14 Holdings.

Port Muziris, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel features 54 artistically designed rooms, including three Executive Suites. The hotel design evokes grandeur and is reminiscent of the heritage residences found in Kerala.

The hotel offers an exciting range of dining options, each with its own unique flavours and identity. With an aim to keep Kerala traditions intact, the all-day dining outlet Lila’s Kitchen serves locally-inspired dishes carefully curated by our chef, as well as international cuisine for guests from around the globe. Meanwhile, Kettle features a diverse selection of drinks complemented by local snacks and nibbles. To complete this holistic artistic experience, the hotel offers a swimming pool, pool bar and fully-equipped fitness center. The property is also home to a flexible 3000 sq.ft. banquet and meeting space, which are equipped with state-of-the-art technology and MICE amenities, making it an ideal venue for intimate gatherings or quick business meetings.

An alluring feature of the property is the art that is on display at the hotel lobby, rooms, restaurants, banquet venues and exterior. Artists with roots in the geography of Muziris and the larger Malabar Coast, living across the world in the present day, were handpicked to render the art compositions at Port Muziris. The high standard of décor reflects the re-imagination of Kerala. Rendering interesting and lesser-known facts about the region, the cultures, and the people into complex narrative images, the magical, exotic, and colourful compositions represent the layers of history revealing themselves in the present. In essence, the hotel's art is everything about paying respect to the lost past and re-imagining it as a part of now.

“With travel to Kochi on the rise, we are happy to introduce Port Muziris a Tribute Portfolio Hotel to the city,” said Harish Gopalakrishnan, General Manager, Port Muziris, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel. “Port Muziris has a rich history to share and is a vibrant growing community. We are confident that this new Tribute Portfolio hotel will provide a truly unique and dynamic experience to guests who are curious to discover and dig into the community”.

For more information and reservation, please visit portmuziriskochi.com or follow them on Facebook: @portmuzirishotel and Instagram @portmuziriskochi

About Tribute Portfolio

Tribute Portfolio is a growing global family of characterful, independent hotels drawn together by their passion for captivating design and their drive to create vibrant social scenes for guests and locals alike. With 32 hotels open and growing, Tribute Portfolio has struck a chord with those who seek out independent experiences and crave a connection with the community when traveling. From boutique resorts like Inn at Rancho Santa Fe in California and urban hotels such as The Vagabond Club in Singapore, to hotels in indie-spirited locales like Noelle in Nashville and The Slaak in Rotterdam, each Tribute Portfolio hotel celebrates its individuality offering travelers a fresh, often colorful, perspective. Stay with character and stay connected: Instagram, Facebook and twitter. Tribute Portfolio is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the new name of Marriott’s travel program replacing Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz- Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest® (SPG). The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including earning points toward free hotel stays and nights toward Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com.

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,000 properties in 30 leading hotel brands spanning 130 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company now offers one travel program, Marriott Bonvoy™, replacing Marriott Rewards®, The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®(SPG).

About Twenty14 Holdings

Twenty14 Holdings is the hospitality investment arm of LuLu Group International, founded in 2014 to capitalize on the growth in the global hospitality industry. The company currently has assets worth more than $750m spread across Europe, Middle East, and India. In India, the firm owns Port Muziris, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Kochi, while two other properties are under construction. In Europe, the group owns the historic Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian in Scotland and has also made a £110m agreement with property developer Galliard Homes to create a luxurious five-star hotel at 1-5 Great Scotland Yard, while earlier this year, the firm entered into a forward purchase contract with Necron AG

to build the IntercityHotel Zurich Airport in Rümlang, Switzerland. In the Middle East, the firm co-owns the landmark Sheraton Oman Hotel in Muscat, and owns the Steigenberger Hotel Business Bay in Dubai.