By Bikramjit Ray THE ICONIC Planet Hollywood Resort a la Las Vegas, recently formally opened up in Goa. Located on Uttrodra, the state’s only white sand beach, Planet Hollywood Beach Resort South Goa has been built on 12 acres of land and is a first of its brand in India. Anand Chatterjee, General Manager of the recently opened (launched end of April, 2015) 150 room beachfront property spoke to BW Hotelier exclusively about his ward and its future. Being not too big, not too small, Chatterjee calls the resort a ’smart-sized hotel’ that is thematically loyal to its name with all the rooms and suites divided between eight blocks which individually represent different genre of Hollywood movies. Talking about the hotel’s USP, Chatterjee says, ’It’s very dramatic. It’s a very young, modern-looking hotel unlike other resorts and that’s possibly where our USP lies. Rather than being a typical serene resort it is a very high energy and high octane hotel.’ Apart from the rooms and suites, the property plans to seasonally offer its guests the option of staying in tents on the bench. ’We will have around 15 of them. That is something that will be one of a kind because no other South Goa hotel has a tent on the beach. They will be completely air conditioned, free standing high-end luxury tents which, as per regulations, can only operate between October and May,’ elaborates Chatterjee, adding that the electric and plumbing infrastructural layout (Mechanical Engineer electric and plumbing points) have been already been laid out. In terms of F&B, the establishment has Planet Hollywood’s signature all day dining, Planet Dailies, a western and oriental grill and sushi restaurant, Fame, and a bar in the lobby called Heart Bar. They hope to soon add a shack-like beachfront seafood restaurant. All this seems to be quite attractive and exciting for customers and Chatterjee informs us, though not quoting the exact figure, that the hotel’s occupancy rate was 55 per cent plus, a rare feat for a newly opened property which, in his words, came from a ’brand which is not well established in India’. Chatterjee attributes the successful opening run of the hotel to sustained efforts in offline and online marketing. He tells us, ’Offline marketing is basically a trial and hit effort that entails making yourself present in every corporate, every wedding planner, every travel agent, etc whereas, for online marketing we are tying up with several online travel agencies. We are also exploring other options with various other channels. Channels in terms of where we can sell the hotel, as in, from a distribution point.’ The target for marketing has most definitely been a younger demographic, which according to the general manager includes very young families. One of the most ambitious and exciting plans that the Planet Hollywood management has up its sleeve is to make the resort the country’s first offsite movie premier destination. ’Usually movie launches still happen in the theatres in metros, particularly Mumbai. There still isn’t a concept of a movie being released to a niche market, offsite, where the production house gets people from all across the country, puts them up in a hotel, and then launches the movie in the theatre,’ Chatterjee excitedly explained. The author is Executive Editor of BW Hotelier.-
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By Sourish Bhattacharyya WE BROKE this story on January 27, 2015, on www.bwhotelier.com and it is official news today. St Regis Hotels & Resorts, the iconic luxury brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., has announced it is making its debut in Mumbai in the third quarter of this year. The Palladium Hotel in Lower Parel, Mumbai, owned by the Pallazzio Hotels & Leisure Ltd., is undergoing an extensive rebranding to qualify to fly the St. Regis flag, bringing bespoke luxury and refined elegance to the country’s commercial capital. ’We are very excited to bring the St. Regis brand to India,’ Dilip Puri, Managing Director (India) and Regional Vice-President (South Asia), Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, (see photo) said in the official announcement. ’Starwood is maintaining a strong growth momentum in the region and the arrival of St. Regis in Mumbai reinforces our commitment to growing our luxury portfolio in this important market. With the hotel’s strategic location, sophisticated service and refined elegance, we look forward to offering guests an unparalleled experience, both befitting of the destination and true to the St. Regis legacy.’ Commenting on the development, Mumbai real estate developer Amit Bhosale, Executive Director (ABIL) and Director, Pallazzio Hotels & Leisure Ltd., said: ’Starwood’s global reach and its powerful loyalty programme will further strengthen our outreach to affluent travellers and elevate India’s luxury hospitality landscape.’ Atul Ruia Managing Director, Phoenix Mills Ltd., and Director, Pallazzio Hotels & Leisure Ltd., added: ’With the St. Regis legacy and its renowned bespoke service, the St. Regis Mumbai is poised to become a destination for discerning luxury travellers and the city’s social glitterati.’ Less than half an hour from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, the new hotel will offer easy access to upscale restaurants and pubs, premium office space, chic boutiques and luxury real estate. Adjoining it is the famous Palladium Mall, the only luxury retail shopping centre in the city that houses some of the world’s most celebrated luxury brands. The 38-storey St. Regis Mumbai will have 386 well-appointed guest rooms, including 60 suites. The hotel’s sophisticated culinary offerings will include an all-day dining restaurant featuring a wide range of gourmet selections from around the world, four specialty restaurants, a club lounge, and three bars. Guests will be able to savour world-renowned Bloody Mary cocktail as it used to be made when it was born at the flagship St. Regis New York in the early 1900s. The St. Regis Mumbai will also have the brand’s signature Iridium Spa, which builds on a legacy that dates back to 1938, when The Iridium Room opened at the St. Regis New York. Since then, the spa brand has been known both for the enthralling design of its treatment suites and for traditions such as its signature tea ritual. Other leisure facilities at the St. Regis Mumbai include a swimming pool and a fitness centre. For meetings and events, the hotel will offer over 5,200 sq. m., which will include a 4,200 sq. m. grand ballroom. The St. Regis Mumbai will join a growing portfolio of Starwood hotels in India where the company now operates 43 hotels; an additional 37 are in the pipeline. In addition to the St. Regis Mumbai, the company is set to debut more new hotels in the next two years, including W Retreat & Spa Goa, The Westin Kolkata, Sheraton Hyderabad, Le Meridien Nagpur and Aloft New Delhi Aerocity. Sourish Bhattacharyya is Consulting Editor of BW Hotelier.-
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By Bikramjit Ray TWO GENERAL Managers from the NCR are on the move. We found out from various sources since the actual parties involved still won’t speak with us. Coincidentally, both movements involve IHG’s Crowne Plaza Brand. Barun Jolly, (see photo right) who had joined Radisson Blu, back in November 2014, after a five year stint as general manager of the Crowne Plaza in Okhla, New Delhi, returns to the brand, but will be posted outside India this time. Jolly, according to a source within the industry is going to be the new general manager of the Crowne Plaza in Semarang, Indonesia. Jolly began his career with the Oberoi in 1998, in the front office, before moving to The Grand Hyatt, Delhi (1999 to 2003) followed by a three year stint at the Imperial as its Front Office Manager, before returning to the Hyatt Regency, New Delhi as its Director of Rooms. In 2007 he joined IHG and oversaw the launch of the Crowne Plaza Today in Gurgaon as its Hotel Manager, before moving over to the Crowne Plaza New Delhi in Okhla as its General Manager. He left IHG in 2014 for Radisson Blu in Paschim Vihar, New Delhi. Jolly did his hotel management from IHM Jaipur. Another veteran of the industry, Arindam Kunar (see photo left) shifts out as General Manager of Crowne Plaza Today Gurgaon to take charge of the Crowne Plaza Adiyar Park, which was the earstwhile Park Sheraton, as General Manager. Kunar joined IHG in 2011 when he took over as General Manager of the Crowne Plaza Gurgaon. Before that he served a two-year stint as Vice President of Mall Management for DLF in the New Delhi area. Kunar graduated from IHM Pusa in 1991 and then began his career with Choice Hotels. He joined the Hyatt Regency in New Delhi as Front Office Manager in 1995. Kunar did a long stint with Taj Hotels from 2000 till 2009, serving as EAM Accommodation at the Taj West End in Bangalore, General Manager at Taj Malabar, Kochi, then Taj Malabar, Chennai and finally Taj West End in Bangalore.
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By BW Hotelier INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS Group (IHG) has added two new star chefs to its growing IHG Culinary Panel, an initiative that sees renowned chefs develop an array of signature dishes for guests dining in IHG’s hotels across Asia, Middle East and Africa (AMEA). The latest Culinary Ambassadors will introduce a range of signature dishes that IHG guests can enjoy. Chef Vikas Khanna’s restraurant, Junoon in New York City, has been awarded with a coveted Michelin star for four years in a row and serves a range of authentic and inventive fine dining Indian recipes. Chef Takagi Kazuo is famed for his two Michelin star restaurant in Osaka and will supply seasonal Kyo-style Japanese cuisine to the programme. The seven IHG Culinary Ambassadors on the panel are all award-winning chefs and represent a diverse range of cuisines:-Indian by Vikas Khanna;-Japanese by Takagi Kazuo;-Italian by Theo Randall;-Thai by Ian Kittichai;-Chinese by Sam Leong;-Modern Australian by Ross Lusted and-Bakery and Pastry by Dean Brettschneider. Each Culinary Ambassador has created 20 recipes ranging from appetisers to main courses and desserts. Guests can enjoy a selection of these dishes in select restaurants at InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels and resorts in the region. Chef Vikas (see photo) has made culinary waves the world over for his award winning cuisine and critically acclaimed and widely awarded cook books on Indian cuisine. He will soon be launching his 21st book Utsav ’ A Culinary Epic at Cannes Film Festival- the first Chef to launch a cookbook at Cannes. He will be adding heat and spice to the IHG Culinary Panel recipes with dishes including his signature 7-Spice Lamb Shank, made with a medley of spices, in a burgundy-hued curry that coats the slow-braised meat and his Tellicherry Duck Breast, a classic Indian duck dish spiced with long pippali peppercorns from southern India and balanced with a creamy coconut-milk sauce. Speaking about his new role as an IHG Culinary Ambassador, Chef Vikas commented, ’Food and dining is constantly evolving and it’s important to keep pushing the bar at being more innovative and creative yet building the essence of fine dining and luxury. The dishes that I want people to enjoy are often contemporary reinventions of classic Indian dishes, and being able to share these more widely through the IHG Culinary Panel is a fantastic way to get people even more excited by the exotic Indian cuisine beyond the clich-d and standard.’ Kazuo Takagi Chef Takagi’s Kyo style cooking, which has its roots in the Kyoto prefecture of Japan, is recognised for its seasonal dishes that appeal to all the senses such as his signature Japanese Pepper Beef with Foie Gras Dengaku, a beef sirloin with pan-fried foie gras, topped with Japanese pepper and miso paste and his Potato Salad, made with steamed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, shrimps and edible flowers. Alan Watts, Chief Operating Officer, Asia, Middle East and Africa, IHG said, ’With the addition of Chef Vikas and Chef Takagi our IHG Culinary Panel represents seven celebrated chefs, a myriad of exceptional cuisines and an opportunity to discover even more authentic flavours and tastes. We are constantly evolving our culinary proposition for guests, continuing to raise the bar and bolster our hotels’ reputation as world class dining destinations".
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By BW Hotelier HILTON WORLDWIDE and-Room to Read,-a global non-profit organisation focused on improving literacy and gender equality in education, announced the next step in their shared commitment to create greater access to educational opportunities for youth by extending their partnership for another three years. This renewed partnership enables Hilton Worldwide and Room to Read-to support the education of another 600 girls, and directly benefit 26,700 students in Room to Read’s Literacy Programme in schools across India and Sri Lanka. In addition, both organisations will spearhead a first-of-its-kind formalised Job Shadowing Programme for students of Room to Read’s-Girls’ Education Programme (GEP), which ensures that girls have the skills and support needed to complete their secondary school education. Over the next three years, the programme will provide up to 300 GEP participants exposure to various career opportunities within the hospitality industry, and guide them toward various career options, post-graduation. ’Education is a powerful catalyst, which drives positive change that transforms lives. We have made a global commitment to-impact one million youth by 2019, and organisations like Room to Read help us meet this goal by delivering literacy and skills training programmes to impact the communities where we live, work and travel. Our joint efforts in India and Sri Lanka will also serve to close gender gaps so that girls have the opportunity to live up to their full potential,’ said Martin Rinck, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton Worldwide. ’Room to Read is firmly committed to our partnerships with inspired corporations that support global education,’ said John Wood, founder, Room to Read. ’Hilton Worldwide’s continued investment in the next generation of leaders ensures that tens of thousands additional young people are given the opportunities to succeed both inside and outside the classroom.’ Hilton Worldwide’s contributions to Room to Read also include employee engagement, financial support, and in-kind room nights across Asia Pacific.-The partnership is part of-Travel with Purpose, the company’s corporate responsibility strategy which leverages Hilton’s global footprint and scale to enrich people’s lives and deliver economic and social benefits to local communities.
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By BW Hotelier INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS Group (IHG) announces the opening of-InterContinental Dubai Marina,-a 132-room luxury hotel with 196 fully-serviced InterContinental Residential Suites in the centre of one of Dubai’s most popular and vibrant neighbourhoods. Part of the Bay Central development, situated in Dubai’s newest hub for contemporary lifestyle in the heart of Dubai Marina, the hotel is located within walking distance of the Dubai tram and metro, and local tourist attractions including Jumeirah Beach Road and The Walk on JBR, which offers a variety of restaurants and shops is only five minutes away. The hotel is home to a collection of nine stylish restaurants, lounges and bars, setting it up to be one of the new hot spots of Dubai, including, YNot, a wine and tapas bar; Accents, a restaurant and deli serving up dishes from around the globe; as well as Ginter a gin bar with one of Dubai’s largest gin collections, Gallery Lounge and Urban Shisha Lounge. Pascal Gauvin, Chief Operating Officer, India, Middle East & Africa, IHG, said: ’InterContinental Dubai Marina is bringing the InterContinental brand to the next level; contemporary, glamour with great modern art touch and travel stories--the first of a new generation of InterContinental Hotels to open in the coming years. IHG’s luxury hotel offering, along with this worldwide reputation we have a high set of standards reflected throughout the new InterContinental Dubai Marina. The cosmopolitan marina setting gives us the opportunity to attract visitors residing locally as well as international guests’.
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By BW Hotelier THREE HOTELS from the sub-continent made it to the Top 100 list of Hotels of 2015 published by Robb Report USA, one of the world’s definitely authority for luxury brands. The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, The Leela Palace New Delhi and the Taj Nadesar Palace in Varanasi featured in the Asia Pacific section of Top 100 list brought out annually. Adjudged by a team of more than 50 editors, veterans in luxury-hospitality industry and travel experts on the basis of service, location, room quality, amenities and facilities, Robb Report’s biennial culmination endorses the world’s most exclusive and luxurious retreats to connoisseurs and elite travellers alike. Taljinder Singh, Area Director Mumbai Hotels and General Manager, The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai told BW Hotelier, ’This recognition of being amongst the elite top 100 hotels is humbly acknowledged as a testament to the iconic institution called The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai. We constantly remind ourselves and draw inspiration from the fact that this is a museum hotel figuratively and literally for what must be the greatest collection of art that any hotel in the world has, of tradition and over 110 year old history of service to its patrons’. Louis Sailer, General Manager of The Leela Palace New Delhi is only hotel from the capital to be named in the list had this to say, ’We humbly thank the Robb Report team and our patrons for this honour. These awards are a true testament to the hard work and passion of the entire Palace team as each member endeavors to live every moment by our Founder Chairman, Capt. C.P. Krishnan Nair’s philosophy of ’Atithi Devo Bhava’ meaning ’Guest is God’. We look forward to continuing the legacy of providing indelible guests’ experiences in times to come’. Finally, Ahmar Siddiqui, General Manager of Nadesar Palace in Varanasi--which used to the Kashi King’s royal guest house’told us, ’We are delighted to be a part of the elite Robb Report list that certifies the best in the hospitality industry. This serves as a testimony to the impeccable hospitality that rivals the best hotels in the world.’
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By Bikramjit Ray THE FRANCHISE business is a very different business and it is currently evolving in India, unlike countries like the US where it is an accepted norm, starts Vilas Pawar, CEO of Choice Hotels India in an exclusive interview with BW Hotelier. ’We are here and are waiting for the tide to change,’ asserted Pawar. This year has been a good for Choice in India, which had undertaken the task of ’cleaning out the system, in terms of parting ways with properties which were not meeting the brand’s standards, and consolidating the brand name by adding a few new properties. ’We’ve got 20 hotels online, within the system and 14 under various stages in the pipeline, either under construction or in various stages of signing up. We are looking at adding at least another 2 to 3 hotels this calendar year. Then we should be looking at adding an average of 2 to 3 hotels a year’, said Pawar, elaborating on the group’s expansionist agenda. Choice is looking at opening their franchises in Mt. Abu, Jaipur, Vadodara, Silvassa and Chandigarh, and hopes to have three of these operational by the conclusion of this year. Discussing the environment of the hotel industry in India and the challenges, Pawar told BW Hotelier, ’In India it’s very aspirational for people to make assets and hotels. Everybody wants to make a five star hotel.’ However he added that he believed, that in the past few years, people had started to gauge that it did not make financial sense because there were no visible returns on investment. ’-Given the land prices and, we see in various hotel industry meets that owners are complaining, saying that it doesn’t make sense for them to spend so much. The tide is changing now slowly, but it will take time.’ He claimed that the problem in the Indian market was that expectations were very high and that some organizations, under the pretence of putting up their brand, overpromised and under-delivered and that was why people were changing brands. ’Business is coming into India. The supply has been much more and the realistic costs as well as the cost of construction, all put together, does not make the hotel industry a very easy industry to be in. I think the fault lies on the part of the brands to not to spell out expectations correctly,’ said Pawar. Currently, hotels affiliated with choice have 65 per cent occupancy across the county, Pawar tells BW Hotelier, a number which he considers ’respectable’. On scouting for new ventures, Pawar says, ’We do go out and actively speak to people at the same time people approach us. It’s about a 50 per cent division.’ In his point of view, franchising is a mature concept and will take time to get traction in a country like India. ’When you are managing a property and have got the owners to spend money on it to make it to suit your brand specifications, they would naturally demand a good return. You can’t tell them then that the market dynamics are not there. He will say that he is not interested in the market, but in what was promised. Therein lies the problem of the mismatch of expectations,’ he comments on the challenges faced by groups that solely franchise, like his own. ’We don’t overpromise. Our business is franchising and we offer a platform for distribution and we expect the hotel to take advantage of it,’ says the Choice India CEO. ’We are looking at the next two years to really consolidate and start to grow. We have integrated our central reservation system for India a couple of months ago and are going to introduce our loyalty program next. We are investing into India with the perspective that we will grow slowly and steadily,’ Pawar tells BW Hotelier, optimistic about the hotel giant’s future in the country.
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