By BW Hotelier SHANGRI-LA HOTELS Bengaluru, was conferred with the prestigious WB Honours 2015 by Washrooms and Beyond in the category ’Exclusive Light Design for Fine Lighting Design in the Spa’ at a function held at The Trident in Mumbai today. The WB Honours is presented every year in December for excellence in design in the washroom and related segments. The ceremony, this year, was attended by top designers, architects, corporates and professionals from the hotel industry and the washroom industry. Gaurav Arora accepted the award on behalf of Shangri-La Hotel Bengaluru. The recognition, bestowed during the fifth anniversary celebrations, is about superior light design that is technically efficient and lends an aesthetic aura to the spa and also at the washrooms in the guest rooms. Jens Corder, general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, Bengaluru said, ’It is with great pride that we accept this prestigious award for ’Fine Lighting Design in the Spa’ by Washrooms and Beyond. In keeping with our brand’s desire to deliver our guests excellent standards of hospitality today, we are very happy to receive this recognition from our peers in the industry and we hope to continue providing our distinctive brand of Asian hospitality to guests.’ Shangri-La Hotel, Bengaluru is designed by Adarsh Design Studio and the interior design is done by Singapore-based Wilson Associates. The 19-storey hotel features CHI, The Spa (see photo) which is also the first CHI Spa in India, with a dedicated Ayurveda room. CHI is the signature spa of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts worldwide. This luxurious sanctuary, located on the hotel's dedicated wellness and lifestyle floor features nine luxurious treatment suites outfitted in soft neutral tones, including three couple suites to share their spa experience together.
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By BW Hotelier INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS Group (IHG) and Uber has a new collaboration designed to make it easier and more rewarding for guests to get to and from their hotels. From this week, anyone who is traveling within the US and signs up as a new Uber rider can earn 2,000 IHG Rewards Club points and USD 20 off their first ride with Uber. Now, travelers can conveniently request a ride from the award-winning IHG App through the Uber API and in early 2016, they will be able to set Uber ’Ride Reminders’. Lara Hernandez, Vice President, Digital, Loyalty and Partner Marketing, The Americas, IHG, (see photo) said, ’IHG Rewards Club is constantly evolving, based on member and consumer insights, to ensure we are delivering the most innovative, relevant and rewarding experiences for our guests. Our strategic relationship with Uber coupled with our digitally-driven innovations already in market, allow our guests to have a seamless experience throughout their travel journey.’ Jonathan DiOrio, Head of Travel, Entertainment and Venue Partnerships, Uber, said, ’Both Uber and IHG are focused on combining travel with technology to provide a better experience for users. We are excited to offer Uber’s rapidly growing service to the millions of IHG Rewards Club members traveling throughout the US each year.’ > Guests can enjoy the benefits of this new partnership by following these simple steps: > Update the IHG App or download it. > Book a stay at an IHG hotel anywhere in the US. > To get to your destination, select the Uber button in the IHG App to request a ride. > Guests will be directed to the Uber App where the hotel’s address will be pre-populated. If the Uber App is not installed on the guest’s mobile device, they will be directed to an app install link. > New Uber riders will receive USD 20 off their first ride and a digital voucher code from Uber via email to deposit 2,000 IHG Rewards Club points into their member account. Points can be redeemed toward a future stay at any of the more than 4,900 IHG hotels in the world. IHG Rewards Club continues to make earning and redeeming points simple and rewarding for members. IHG’s 2015 Trends Report showed that consumers are looking for more than an effortless transaction with their chosen brands. They want a rewarding relationship built on trust and respond best to efforts focused on building real brand loyalty over a sustained period of time.
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By BW Hotelier The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) is exploring possibility of obtaining statutory status for the National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology and the Indian Institute of Travel and Tourism for awarding degrees in the field of Hospitality and Tourism education, respectively. This information was given by Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (I/C) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma (see photo) in a written reply in Lok Sabha. The skill development programmes of MoT are implemented through the Institutes of Hotel Management and other identified institutions under the Scheme ’Capacity Building for Service Providers’. Development of tourism is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. MoT provides Central Financial Assistance (CFA) for tourism infrastructure projects as per the relevant scheme guidelines subject to availability of funds and receipt of due utilization certificates.
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By BW Hotelier STARWOOD HOTELS & Resorts Worldwide and Uber has entered into a strategic partnership to offer travelers a unique way to earn rewards. Starwood Preferred Guest members who ride with Uber, can earn Starpoints with every Uber ride, as part of the global partnership which was launched earlier this year in markets where Uber operates, including the United States, China, Brazil, Europe and now in India. Two new initiatives - SPG Uber Free Rides which offers free Uber rides to Starwood Hotels & Resorts guests and SPG Uber Ride & Dine, an exclusive campaign for Indian members, offers food and beverage discounts as well as cash credit. ’India is an excellent market to continue to promote this partnership with Uber. This innovative offer is just another way that Starwood is combining high tech and high touch to enhance our guests’ travel experience,’ said Irene Lin, Vice President, Distribution, Loyalty & Partnerships, Asia Pacific, Starwood Hotels & Resorts (see photo). ’The partnership has been well received among SPG members worldwide and I am sure it would be the same in India.’ With this new partnership, SPG members have two new offers to look forward to this holiday season. SPG Uber Free Rides gives new Uber users staying at select Starwood Hotels & Resorts in India a free ride per stay. The credit certificate will be given as a ’keycard insert’ to all the guests. An exclusive offer for India includes SPG Uber Ride & Dine which allows all members who register for the promotion to get both ’ 25 per cent discount on F&B outlets at select Starwood Hotels & Resorts in India, as well as free Uber rides. The offer period is valid until Dec 31, 2015 ’We are always looking at ways to make the Uber experience even better for our millions of riders. This partnership is a natural fit - combining convenience with luxury and we’re happy to extend this partnership to travelers in India. With this unique partnership, SPG members can now get an extra reward for taking an Uber anytime anywhere,’ said Amit Jain, President, Uber India.
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By BW Hotelier PARK INN by Radisson-Amritsar Airport, has opened its doors to welcome international and domestic travelers. The new generation-Park Inn by Radisson-hotels feature a design concept that focuses on business and leisure travelers alike. Park Inn by Radisson-Amritsar features 89 rooms, The Sky Lounge, RBG Restaurant, a swimming pool, fitness centre and 53 square meters of meeting space. The hotel has rooms under different categories such as Superior, Premium, Deluxe, Executive suite and Premier suite. Raj Rana, Chief Executive Officer, South Asia, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, said, ’We are excited to announce the opening of Park Inn by Radisson Amritsar Airport. This is our ninth hotel in the state of Punjab. The hotel brings to Amritsar a bright, bold, fresh and energetic mid-market brand that provides great value. With this addition, Carlson Rezidor in India has 74 hotels in operation and 39 in the pipeline.’ Rajan Gill, owner of-Park Inn by Radisson-Amritsar Airport-said, ’We already have the Radisson Blu Amritsar in partnership with the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. We are very happy with our relationship with Carlson and are confident their management expertise will enable the hotel to outperform its competitors. I look forward to a mutually rewarding long-term relationship with the group.’ The location is a delight for business travelers as the hotel is conveniently located on Airport Road and less than 15 minutes’ drive from the city centre. The Golden Temple, Durgiana Mandir and Jallianwala Bagh are all within a 12 km radius. Another tourist attraction is the Wagah border, which is 33 km away.-It is also the-only hotel in the city offering complimentary shuttle transfers to the city centre, railway station, airport and Golden Temple.
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By BW Hotelier THE MINISTRY of Tourism (MoT) has launched a Comprehensive Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India (STCI) for three major segments of tourism industry, namely accommodation, tour operators and Beaches, Backwaters, Lakes and Rivers sectors during the sensitization Workshop for Stakeholders on Sustainable Tourism organized in August, 2014. The criterion has been adopted by the stakeholders. This information was given by Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (I/C) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation in a written reply in Rajya Sabha. Further, the Ministry has guidelines for approval of hotel projects at the implementation stage and also guidelines for classification/re-classification of operational hotels under various categories. As per these guidelines, hotels at the project stage itself are required to incorporate various eco-friendly measures like Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), Rain Water Harvesting System, waste management system, pollution control, introduction of non- Chloro Fluoro Carbon (CFC) equipment for refrigeration and air conditioning, measures for energy and water conservation etc. Under the guidelines for project level and classification/re-classification of operational hotels it has been prescribed that the architecture of the hotel buildings in hilly and ecologically fragile areas should be sustainable and energy efficient and as far as possible be in conformity with the local ethos and make use of local designs and material. The tour operators approved by MoT have to sign a pledge for commitment towards Safe & Honorable Tourism and Sustainable Tourism to fully implement Sustainable Tourism practices, consistent with the best environment and heritage protection standards, such that the present tourism resource requirements optimize both local community benefit and future sustainable uses. MoT holds a constant dialogue with State Governments/U.T. Administrations, various tourism related institutions and stakeholders for drawing up strategies for development and promotion of tourism in the country including Sustainable Tourism. MoT supports from time to time various seminars and events that deliberate or focus on tourism in the country including Sustainable Tourism in rural areas. Photo: Mahesh Sharma, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Govt of India.
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By Sourish Bhattacharyya ASSET LIGHT are the two words that have become the overnight favourites of the country's leading luxury hotel chains, which used to revel in the number of owned properties they had around the world. The Indian Hotel Company's Managing Director and CEO Rakesh Sarna first proposed this model soon after taking charge of the beleaguered Taj hotels. Even the Grand Old Man of The Oberoi, PRS Oberoi, clarified recently that the overseas hotels carrying the chain's flag will all be managed properties. And now, sources inside The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts inform us that the financially strapped chain is moving on to the management consultancy-driven model of business on the lines of global corporations such as Marriott International, Starwood, IHG, Hilton International, Hyatt Corp and Wyndham, which do not own, barring certain showpiece addresses because of historical reasons, any of the properties carrying their name. The hotels are owned mostly by real estate developers or real estate investment funds, or by business tycoons such as the Saudi Sheikh Al-Waleed bin Talal, whose Kingdom Holding Company owns The Four Seasons, Fairmont, Raffles, Swissotel and Movenpick hotels. The Leela, one learns, is on an expansion spree, but only as management partner of owners of prime addresses. Dubai is back on its radar, with work having begun on a luxury hotel bang opposite the dancing fountains of the Burj al-Khalifa. In Maldives, The Leela will be managing what is now the Viceroy Resort at the stunning Vagaru Island in the Shaivyani Atoll. A similar foray into Seychelles is also on the cards. Closer home, Jaipur will see a luxury hotel managed by The Leela coming up soon, as will Agra, where each room of the hotel will command the same view of the Taj Mahal. And to make its signature restaurants aren't denied the view (a loss the one at Amar Vilas has to live with), a drone has been employed to pinpoint the elevations that command the best views of the world's most famous monument to love. Agra is also likely to see a hotel of the 50:50 joint venture of the Doha, Qatar-based Aiana Hotels and Resorts with The Leela group spearheaded by its founder, the late Capt. Krishnan Nair's granddaughter Amrudha. The JV has plans to roll out hotels, resorts and serviced apartments in Qatar, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, India and Thailand. Amrudha Nair had earlier been quoted by the Gulf Times as saying: "In India we are looking at greenfield sites -- in Bangalore, Coorg, Sankleshpur (Karnataka) and Thekkady in Kerala. The reason why I am very keen on south India at the moment is that there are not many branded products available there." Certainly, The Leela story is not over yet. It's taking a healthy new direction that is worth watching. The author is Consulting Editor of BW Hotelier.
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By BW Hotelier THE INDIAN Millennial likes to travel overseas, at least once every year and nine out of ten use their own savings to fund overseas trips, according to the ICICI Millennial Travel Study 2015 concluded recently. This is in sharp contrast to the older generation, 88 per cent of whom hardly ever traveled abroad for leisure. The survey, conducted amongst 1,049 respondents across the age group of 25-35 years spread over Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad and Kolkata, reveals interesting trends from the travel habits of the Indian millennial. Singapore emerged as the top destination, followed by the United States and United Kingdom. A whopping 80 per cent named culture and heritage as the main driver behind the choice of destination. Interestingly, 71 per cent considered health and hygiene conditions of a country before planning a trip. Compare this to the previous survey conducted in 2013, when health and hygiene was considered by only 41 per cent respondents. 57 per cent of those surveyed preferred a multi-location trip--the main reason being packaged tours and better discounts offered by travel companies. Commenting on the Survey, Sanjay Datta, Chief- Underwriting, Claims & Reinsurance, ICICI Lombard General Insurance Company Ltd., said, ’The survey across six cities reflects the growing aspirations of a young, emergent India. Travel and experiencing multiple cultures is a priority for them. However, despite being aware and wanting to undertake multi country trips, very few insure their travel, primarily because of lack of understanding of insurance benefits.’ Although 90 per cent millennials are aware of travel insurance, only 2 out of 5 respondents purchased travel insurance for overseas travel, the primary drivers being medical emergency and luggage safety. The biggest problem most millennials felt they would face while traveling abroad, involved safety issues. Problem related to terror attacks or political unrest, travel restrictions imposed by country, unusual experience like harassment, suspected surveillance, detention, custom inspection etc. bothers the new-age traveler. Incidentally, millennials attach more importance to convenience, in terms of standalone hotels and resorts while planning their overseas trip. Family ties continue to hold sway as 52 per cent preferred to travel with their spouses, with Ahmedabad taking the lead among the other five cities. In fact, only 12 per cent of Indian millennials travelled alone. 79 per cent of millennials faced budget constraints and 39 per cent financed their trip abroad. Almost 47 per cent of millennials will see an increase in their overseas travel. Millennials Travel Study 2015 report V1.1
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