Indian spa operator IHHR Hospitality Pvt (IHHR) – probably best known for its destination spa Ananda – In the Himalayas – is to launch its new training institute in March 2008.

The Ananda Spa Institute will be situated in the grounds of the Hotel Istra in Hyderabad, India.

Covering 22,000sq ft (2,100sq m) across three floors, the institute will have three student intakes a year, with enrollment taking place in January, May and September. In full operation, there will be 120 students on campus.

Training programmes at the institute, which is initially working towards CIBTAC and ITEC accreditation, will be offered in a variety of sectors, such as beauty, body, yoga and ayurvedic therapy.

IHHR is also planning to invest US$335m (242m euro, £164m) from 2008 to 2010 in new developments including three Ananda spa retreats in south Asia. The new spas will be located in Jaipur and Puri, India, and in the Maldives. The average development cost per spa facility will be US$37m (26.7m euro, £18.1m).

The flagship property Ananda – In The Himalayas is located near to the holy town of Rishikesh in Uttarakhand.