Hotel operator Millennium Copthorne is to rekindle its plans to roll out a budget hotel chain into the Indian market.

In 2007, the group formed a joint venture in India to develop two limited service hotels in Bangalore and Chennai, as a first step towards penetrating the fast-growing Indian hospitality market.

Development plans were suspended in early 2009 as a result of the rapid deterioration in the global economy.

In light of improved trading conditions, however, the board has now approved a plan to commence construction on a 110-room hotel at Chennai.

Millennium has also signed four management contracts this year in the Middle East region. The new hotels - in Jordan, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates - will offer 1,034 rooms on completion between now and 2012. The Group's worldwide pipeline has 30 hotels offering 8,818 rooms.