Hero Group, India’s largest two-wheeler maker, is in advanced stages of discussion with New York Stock Exchange-listed Marriott International Inc to launch the global hospitality major’s ‘Edition’ hotel brand in India.

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Industry sources said the creator of Edition, Ian Schrager — who is also known as the godfather of trendy boutique hotels globally — was in India last week for a discussion with the Munjals.

“He (Schrager) also visited their recently acquired cold shell in Gurgaon to get an idea of the site and its suitability for the Edition brand. The latest on this is that officials from Marriott and Hero Group are currently working on the finer details of their arrangement and an announcement to this effect can be expected soon,” said a source familiar with the development.

A Hero Group spokesperson did not respond to repeated calls and text messages.

Marriott International’s India office, however, confirmed the development.

“We are in discussions with them (Hero Group) and Ian Schrager was in the country recently to discuss the possible association. We are in the process of finalising the details. The team is currently working on the hotels design element and we are hopeful to start work on the project in another six months from now,” said Navjit Ahluwalia, senior vice president - hotel development (India and subcontinent), Marriott International.

With 250-280 guestrooms and a host of other facilities, the Gurgaon Edition will mark Hero Group’s foray in the Indian hospitality market. The hotel, to be operational sometime in late 2013-14 or early 2014-15, is being developed on a 3.9 acre plot that was acquired by Hero Group through a bidding process organised by Punjab National Bank.

The overall cost of getting this project operational would be `650 crore, Pankaj Munjal, managing director of Hero Motors, had said in an earlier interaction.