Kingfisher Villa piques interest of hospitality players

TIL Desk/Business/Mumbai-While auctions of several assets of defunct Kingfisher Airlines failed to attract even a single bidder, the plush sea-facing Kingfisher Villa Goa has invited interest from at least half-a-dozen players in the hospitality industry and a media group.

The 17-lender consortium led by State Bank of India, which took physical possession of the property in May this year after a long legal battle with United Spirits over tenancy rights, is auctioning it later this month.

The villa was owned by United Breweries Holdings, and mortgaged by the now-grounded Kingfisher Airlines to the consortium of banks to obtain loans in 2010. Lenders had opened the villa for inspection to interested bidders in two slots — September 26-27 and October 5-6.

In the four days during which the property was thrown open, around half-a-dozen entities are known to have visited the palatial villa. “The response was good. Nearly 6 to 7 parties from the hospitality industry and a media organisation have visited the villa,” a source told.