Corinthia Hotels International has set up a new regional sales office in New Delhi, in line with its international marketing strategy, the company said.

The office is based at Mango IT Solutions (P) Ltd of New Delhi, under the guidance of Kavita Bhardwaj, who has been appointed regional sales director for CHI in India.

Mango IT solutions provides comprehensive IT support and web creation and development services to the travel and hotel industry via its IT and call centre and it will shortly be launching an India-centric site for CHI.

This will offer an online booking facility and live text chat with an operator. The company builds on the success of its sister company, City Vacations of London, England.

CHI sales and marketing group director Geoff Andrew said: "This collaboration will undoubtedly strengthen our international presence by attracting business from this previously untapped vast market, while also building on the existing good relationship we have enjoyed for many years with City Vacations in the UK."

Ms Bhardwaj has been involved in all aspects of the tour operation process from hotel and airline contracting to the actual reservations process.

"I am convinced that CHI will benefit from an increased presence in all segments of the Indian travel industry, most importantly expanding the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) segment," she said.

Corinthia Hotels International has 20 four- and five-star city and resort hotels in 11 destinations.

Its most recent hotels, Corinthia Grand Hotel Royal in Budapest, Corinthia Alfa Hotel in Lisbon and Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel in Tripoli, offer altogether 1,270 upscale hotel rooms and extensive conference and events facilities that enable all three properties to individually handle bigger meetings than any other hotels in their respective cities, the company said.