Not too far from Grand Chola is the 201-room Park Hyatt, another five-star property which opened this month, while the 326-room sea-facing Leela Palace is expected to open in November, adding over 1000 rooms to the city's five-star room inventory.

JW Marriott, another five-star property, is also expected to open later this year.

The old guard, meanwhile, is not sitting back twiddling their thumbs.

"The increase in business is allowing hotels to reinvest in upgrading facilities," says Prakash Nataraj, general manager of Taj Coromandel in Chennai, which opened in 1974.

The oldest five-star in the city now has a new lobby, luxury rooms and renovated F&B outlets while its grand ballroom will reopen in November with 50 per cent more capacity and bespoke services, says Nataraj.

Rather than creating a glut, the increase, he says, will only bring more events such as larger conventions to the city that will feed all hotels.

Image Courtesy: Park Hyatt, Chennai