Experience Delhi with IHCL's 'The Connaught'
The most intriguing fact about our national capital is its stature that the city has gained over decades through its range of heritage, age-old monuments, diverse culture and cuisines. From having the best local shopping arcades to being a party hub that has its roots intact to the culture, Delhi is a whole life in itself. And establishing a luxury accommodation property in the heart of such vibrant city,
The Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) has truly bagged a jewel in its bucket to offer a kaleidoscope of many avatars and charm of Delhi. The Connaught, New Delhi, places you in the midst of the city’s action and presents an immersive experience with its avant garde offerings. Centrally located, the hotel in Connaught Place is close to all the major tourist destinations in the city India Gate, Jantar Mantar, Qutab Minar etc, making it the perfect pad for leisure travellers. The historic Connaught Place, with its flea markets, street food, designer labels, pubs, restaurants, museums and art galleries, is literally a stone’s throw away as well.
For business travellers, the location is unrivalled by any. If being right in the middle of the Central Business District with proximity to government offices, corporate parks, courts, banks etc., weren’t enough, the hotel is located close to the central metro and railway stations, giving guests easy and swift connectivity.
To further understand about the newly operational property, we got in touch with the General Manager of The Connaught, Sonali Chauhan, who was a Resident Manager at Taj Palace, New Delhi. She explains, “The Connaught is an expression of the culture of New Delhi. The Connaught is, surely, a most joyous hotel to stay in Connaught Place. Or maybe, in entire Delhi. This hotel reflects the cultural and linguistic melting pot of New Delhi.”
DESIGN AND DÉCOR
A treasure of IHCL SeleQtions portfolio, The Connaught has 104 aesthetically designed rooms with exciting Food & Beverage options and a sprawling commercial space option of over 4600 sq ft.
The hotel’s design is influenced by the Georgian architecture of Connaught Place, with an overlay of contemporary styling, furnishings & accents. Hallways inspired by the corridors of power in the city, and cosy corners that beckon one to settle down with a novella, The Connaught’s design intent is to portray a mix of Renaissance and classical architecture with touch of quirky and contemporary elements. The design is not meant to compete and so it creates a landmark to flourish and to be seen in. Like a pearl!
According to Chauhan, the hotel offers a host of splendid experiences, signature to its locale, suited for the youthful and the discerning. “Step in, and you have the finest comforts to pamper a modern-day traveler or guest. Step out, and you have the best of Delhi’s shopping, culinary and historical experiences waiting for you,” she maintains.
By bringing together identified components of design the hotel aims to create a unique mix which helps the guest to both explore and remember. The interiors expressions are bold yet cosy with the use of various warm colours as well as strong vivid patterns which are unusual to hospitality interiors. The rooms and public areas are a visual treat with multiple items that catch your eye – whether it the very ‘instagramable’ cane peacock chair corner, to the hand-painted Puma in the lobby, the beauty of the chandeliers and of course, the uniquely attractive tiled flooring. Overall, the intent has been to create a hotel where the guest feels Welcomed, Surprised, Relaxed and Happy!
Rooms:
Designed keeping in mind the tired businessman or the enthusiastic leisure traveller, the Superior Rooms provide the perfect sanctuary to unwind and stretch back. With views of the quieter streets of city, it is easy to relax and get comfortable in the tranquility while keeping you close to the hustle and bustle of the city.
With chic interiors that exemplify youth along with calming verdant views of the Shivaji stadium, the elegantly designed Deluxe Rooms are the perfect retreat, whether you’re travelling for leisure or for work.The Premium Rooms are contemporarily modelled to offer modern efficiency combined with personalised traditional service.
They are individually designed to provide you with a unique experience each time you stay with us. They say three is a crowd - these spacious rooms provide the best option to unwind with your friends or family.
Event Spaces:
When like-minded people come together, incredible things happen. To live up to this tenet, the hotel’s four event spaces are uniquely designed and packed with amenities to serve every purpose that you would require them for. Be it a business conference or an intimate social gathering, these state-of-the-art spaces provide the facilities to bring alive every event, perfectly.
The venues are inspired by gems and jewels and are named accordingly. Opal –vibrant, spacious, soundproof, and pillar-less room with the option of extending into the luxurious space of The Terrace, stands on top among the wedding venues in Delhi. A gold standard when it comes to the banquet halls in the city, Opal is perfect for a small conference, an intimate reception, or just about any celebration with your closest ones.
Topaz, Emerald and Garnet are the other meeting rooms which boast of modern and convenient amenities, striking artwork and warm and welcoming colours. The Terrace is a unique and spacious venue for business lunches and dinners, special celebrations, themed events and an enjoyable afternoon tea.
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Be it Delhi’s delicacies, mouth-watering grills, signature cocktails, the Art Deco themes, or balmy ambience of the bar, everything at the property is crafted to entice your mind, taste buds, and soul. For the epicure, The Hub offers a gastronomical journey across global cuisine and local flavours. The all-day diner opens into a picturesque patio that creates the perfect setting for dining al fresco.
The Hub features a cocktail bar that is poised to become the most sought-after tavern in the city.
Dining:
The streets of Delhi define gastronomy like nowhere else. The Connaught’s culinary experiences are the testament to this truth and are inspired by the strong sense of place. The authenticity of flavours and aroma stems from the love with which each dish is cooked, that’s the spirit of Delhi.
A stroll around Connaught Place will tell you that the streets are lined with some of the most delightful fine dining restaurants. Taking inspiration f rom that, the dining experience at The Connaught is one that takes the authentic street food to a whole new level while serving a platter of delectable world cuisines as well. To add to this, the ambience and lively music are sure to satisfy your soul too. Also, the ambience of Art Deco bar along with its signature cocktails are sure to cast a spell on you.
The Bar works as a ‘Hub’ of the Hotel where you can sit throughout the day and in the evening. Guests can dine-in at The Hub, enjoy a beverage of their choice at the eclectic and charming bar, savour the pool-side grills and relax by the pool side amidst a beautiful ambience or simply experience the flavoursome repertoire in the comfort of their room.
EXPERIENCES
The Connaught welcomes you to experience the city’s finest in hospitality, dining & living at the most eclectic and inspired address to stay when in New Delhi. You can also choose from a rich variety of experiences to participate in from cycling tours of the old walled city, guided tours of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Humayun’s Tomb, Red Fort and more; or for those seeking a sense of calm, spiritual excursions to the Sri Bangla Sahib Gurudwara, Sacred Heart Cathedral, Hanuman Mandir, and Jama Masjid. The hotel also customises an itinerary of experiences to suit a guest’s wish list.
One of the best thing about this property is its pet friendly feature. For a pawfect vacations, all your family members, and we mean pets too, are in for a treat at SeleQtions. Believe us when we say leave no one behind on a family vacation with in-room amenities for you and your furry baby. Chauhan, a firm believer in growing with the team, expresses that there is no comparison of The Connaught as it is a unique product and one of the first few Boutique Hotels launched in the heart of the city.
Further in conclusion she said, “I eagerly look forward to developing relevant hospitality initiatives and building brand positioning for this great new jewel in IHCL’s Crown – The Connaught, New Delhi.”
ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY AND CONSERVATION
Sewage Treatment Plant (STP): STP of 75 Kilo Liters per Day with MBR technology is installed in the property for the treatment of waste water. Membrane bioreactor (MBR) is the combination of a membrane process like microfiltration or ultrafiltration with a biological wastewater treatment process, the activated sludge process.
The treated water is used for irrigation, flushing in the guest rooms and public area washrooms, and to feed cooling tower.
Automatic Organic Waste Composter (OWC):
OWC machine of capacity 200 Kg is installed in the property that can process waste up to 200 Kg per day in batches. It processes all kind of organic waste (kitchen waste, garden waste etc.) into compost with a volume reduction up to 85-90 per cent within 24-36 Hrs. The compost is directly in the garden by mixing with the soil. Rain Water Harvesting: A dedicated rain water harvesting tank where the rain water from all over the property is collected and the same water is used for internal purpose and helps in recharging the ground water table.
Electronic Air Cleaners:
Magneto electronic air cleaners are installed in a l l HVAC systems at the premises. This advanced multi-stage central air cleaner unit integrates with the HVAC system to eliminate PM 2.5, pollen, bacteria and other pollutants from the entire area.
It can even control CO2 without compromising on the fresh air needs of the occupants. This certified healthy air system has been meticulously engineered to protect people and their assets.
Heat Pumps:
Air to water and Water to Water Heat pump sare installed in place of Boilers for hot water generation. These heat pumps are both cost efficient as well as energy efficient. It also helps to reduce the carbon foot prints which increases vastly when diesel fired boilers/ generators are used.
