Regal splendour

Place: JODHPUR

Stand almost anywhere in Jodhpur, and the most impressive sight is likely to be the Mehrangarh Fort. Perched at a height atop a hill, this historic fort is the stuff of history and legend. As you enter you cannot but be thrilled and struck by the sheer stolidity of the walls, the delicacy of the palace carvings, the complexity in architecture – usual notions of number of storeys do not exist here, and wealth that once awed whoever came. Well, awed we still are.

A former stronghold of the Marwar dynasties, this about 550-year old fort is today one of the most impressive forts in India - as much for its size and architecture as its upkeep. The fort, build by one of Jodhpur’s most influential leaders, Rao Jodha (1438-89) of the Rathore clan, who also founded the city named after him, though today a lot of what stands in the fort was built during the time of Jaswant Singh and Ajit Singh about two centuries later. Over centuries, as invaders and allies broke through the massive walls, at places over 20 feet thick, but the fort structure has endured and today attracts visitors from far and near.

Note the sheer fall of some of
the palaces inside the fort.
Note too the details in carving!

Be prepared to get tired as you explore the extensive fort, which has many mahals and open courtyards and grounds and gardens. the architecture is a mix of styles and periods, and like many forts of the region, the layout is haphazard - intentionally so, for no one looking from outside can guess the what lies next to a wall or building. As Marwar was for along aligned to the Mughals, there are Mughal influences in the fort architecture and aesthetics too. The buildings often rise steeply next to cliffs, and have exquisite carving and detailing on them, leaving to ponder just how challenging it must have been for the workers. There are multiple buildings, though the usual tourist path is well marked and covers the main ones.

Long corridors are fronted by elaborate jharokhas as palaces mesh
into each other in a seamless complex

Today the Mehrangarh Trust takes care of the fort, making it one the best kept forts in the country, an example for heritage conservationists. headed by the current head of the erstwhile royal family, the conservation of this fort has earned it global kudos.

The palaces today serve as museum rooms. There are many artifacts kept preserved from the past, including palanquins or howdahs - which is first gallery you see, and it is stunning to see these. You look at them and wonder how difficult transporting them would have been, especially in the uneven terrain, though they have been a relief in the summer sun. They look small and uncomfortable to be seated in, though the work on them is lovely.

Elaborate palace interiors, complete with gilt coverings and
stained glass windows combine with traditional designs

The interiors are rich and indicate past splendour. There are separate areas for weapons, scrolls, manuscripts, utensils, carpets, brocades, and much more. A unique collection is of children's cradles, kept in a narrow room. There is wall for ceremonial turbans too.  There is a fairly extensive painting gallery, largely dating to later centuries and in the Rajput style of painting. Some rooms have been preserved as they were eg a bedroom etc.

The fort also offers spectacular views of the city, and if look around, you will see why the city is called ‘blue city’. Exploring the fort is great fun, especially understanding how people lived and worked and rested in this sealed complex.

The beautiful Chokelao Bagh 

There is an ambitious garden called Chokelao Bagh, which provides a green oasis within the fort. Towards the back of the fort are water reservoirs. Visit them just to see the stupendous amount of planning required to bring the water and keep it clean. On the way are gates and mazes that you will just have to step into.

The fort is fairly clean, there are enough staff, there are refreshment shops at upper levels too - very thoughtful so you don’t have to huff and puff back and forth. Cameras are at a fee, and gift shop has some lovely stuff, even if they are a tad expensive.

Lights at the zenana courtyard. At night the fort
transforms into a simmering ship in a sea of darkness

Possibly the most sensible time to visit is winter, but the fort also has a temple that is visited by thousands, largely locals, and also has annual fairs, when it comes to life. Another great time to visit is during the Jodhpur Riff, when the festival remains up all night, swinging to the beats of musicians far and near.

hotel: ITC GRAND CHOLA, Chennai

Place: CHENNAI 

For over a millennium, the Chola royal power held sway over much of southern India. The grandeur of  their structures holds visitors spellbound even today. So it is not surprising that as ITC Hotels, one of India’s largest hospitality groups makes a push for greater prominence, they make a statement that reverberates with Chola grandeur and royal lineage in Chennai.  

Whether it will it usher in a new era of hoteliering in India, just as another hotel in another coastal city by a bay did more than a hundred years ago, remains to be seen. However this hotel has the scale and and the ambition to be a game changer.  It is however difficult to comprehend ITC’s newest and biggest hotel, the Grand Chola without going into getting into some numbers. 

The Sangam staircase is as impressive an entrance as any in India

Built at a cost of Rs 1,200 crore, this 600-room hotel, spread over 1.5 million square feet in an eight acre plot, one of the largest to date in India, promises to change Chennai as a destination by significantly adding MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) capacities to the city. It has 100,000 square feet of banqueting and convention space which includes 30,000 square feet of pillar-less ballroom, named after one of the greatest Chola rulers, Rajendra. It is another matter that this seemingly unending ballroom, in which one cannot see from end to end due to the slight curve of the building, can be divided into eight individual ballrooms and can accommodate 2,500 people.

Rajendra is the largest banquet hall in the city

This hotel is slated to alter the tourism and convention landscape in the region, ITC group chairman Yogesh Deveshwar had said at the launch of hotel complex in Guindy, which was inaugurated by the Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa. MICE accounts for about 10-15 per cent of the city’s total hotel demand. Growing that the segment will be a challenge, admitted Deveshwar. 

Nakul Anand, Executive Director and head of the group’s hospitality division said, “The Grand Chola is ITC’s tribute to Tamil Nadu and an iconic asset for Chennai, as an archetype of the culture and ethos of the region. The grandeur and unique attributes of the hotel will provide a fillip to the hospitality sector in Chennai in addition to transforming Chennai into India’s convention capital.” Chennai, more a gateway to south India than a genuine tourism destination itself in the past, in recent years has seen the growth of industrial hubs in its periphery, with significant presence of sectors such as IT, auto, shipping, leather, woodwork, FMCG, etc. 

That it might. The hotel, the ninth in ITC’s Luxury Collection and part of global chain Starwood, reportedly even left the Chief Minister spellbound. After rumoured delays in allocating time for the inauguration, J Jayalalitha spent about the double the allocated time as she toured the expansive property, even though the state government reportedly denied permission for a planned helipad last year. The hotel, which has opened partially, is expected to finally employ over a thousand personnel, while about four times the number have worked for a number of years to realize this dream in concrete and imagination. With four separate entrances, and three wings, with the first housing Executive Club rooms, while the second wing has ITC One rooms, Towers rooms and all the suites and the third wing is for long stay residences.

The Lotus Lounge, an undemarcated area where one cannot hear outside noises, is a modern
application of Chola technology

Design antecedents

Those coming in from the main or West entrance for a meeting or convention could straightaway take a choice of extensive escalators from the pre lobby area, but would impressive the grand staircase in the main lobby, called Sangam, and reminiscent of magnificent palaces of yore. It used Traventine Romano Classico marble, interspersed with symmetrically arranged pillars finished in elegant white stucco, reminiscent of the temples of South India.

Rich detailing and numerous nods to the region's
history make this hotel a delight to explore

The architects, Singapore-based Smallwood Reynolds Steward & Steward LLC, have used Chola architecture as the inspiration for the façade and motifs in the hotel. Once inside, take note of Thanjavur’s Brihadishvara Temple inspired pillars and wall textures. In contrast to the rich mélange of the exterior façade, the walls in the interior are serene, almost sparse, and in neutral tones, lending an added feeling of serenity across this vast hotel. Visual leitmotifs include carved elephants raising their trunks in veneration, the Wheel of Life or Chakra, the four petalled clover floral motif and the intricate fretwork on panels and columns—each chosen for its relevance to Chola themes. And impressively, they have been hand carved by artisans from Mahabalipuram! Among the materials used are stone, granite, marble and wood. Note the impressive backlit onyx marble at the bell desks, though in other parts of the hotel the marble has  been sourced from distant parts of the world, including Italy, Spain, Morocco, Turkey India, China and Pakistan. 

Understated may the language of the hotel interiors, but look out for the individual works of art. A spectacular bronze and copper horse in the lobby is a reminder of Chola valour.  Large urns in deep brown and black grace the entrance to the lobby. These water urns were traditionally used to store water during summer months, and today are meant to symbolise the concept of responsible luxury. Pillar designs are sourced from Gangaikondacholapuram Temple. Door handles are exquisite metal peacocks in pairs. Even the exhaust in The Madras Pavilion is in the shape of a lotus! Water design elements are comparatively scarce, though there are three pools over the western entrance atop the banquets. Innovative features include a 'lotus lounge' an undemarcated area within which you can hear echoes but not a foot outside of it, a modem application of Chola technology.

Food destination

Cafe Mercara's warm interiors

When finished, the hotel will have 10 food and beverage outlets, offering a variety of cuisines, which includes the outlets the group is hoping will later expand to other hotel properties, including a fine dining Italian restaurant Ottimo, whose cooking range alone costs a crore, along with Madras Pavilion, a three meal buffet outlet and Café Mercara Express, a 24-hour signature coffee house. 

A much anticipated restaurant is Royal Vega, which will offer signature vegetarian dishes from across the country. Regular ITC hallmarks such as Peshawri and Pan Asian will also feature. Also on offer is the ambitious single malt and cigar lounge, Cheroot and Tranquebar, a bar for understated luxury, not forgetting 'I' Place - The Fun Pub! The gourmet shop, Nutmeg, with its extensive collection, sold out on the very first day itself.

The hotel will have 23,000 square feet of ITC’s signature Kaya Kalp spa and 21,000 square feet of luxury retail space. It became the world’s largest LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) platinum rated hotel.

The digital valet has multiple uses

The hotel abounds in many firsts. It uses cutting edge technology in many aspects, including one-of-its-kind iPad controlled technology that will have all the controls in the room, from lights to AC and even looking at who is at the door without getting up. Of the 600 accommodations, 78 will be serviced apartments, which are yet to open. Just in case it is all too large to comprehend at one go, there is an interactive concierge display system in the lobby that can map out the direction to follow, and transfer the information to your phone!

ITC, which had started its hospitality journey in 1975 from the same city, already has 8,000 rooms in the country, and plans to add another 5,000 odd in the next five years with an investment of about Rs. 25,000 crore in the next five years. The Grand Chola is probably the glittering crown of this extensive empire.

Open to the directions

A view of Madras Pavilion

Vallavan is the north entrance, a drop off point for the Grand Raja Raja Chola Suite

or the Grand Presidential Suite guests and for ITC One. Guests get personalised check-ins here.

Sembiyan, the drop off facing the east, is the dedicated entrance for the high end luxury retail area – the Grand Luxe Street.

Killi, the drop off facing the south, functions as the entrance to the Chola Residences – the high end serviced apartments at ITC Grand Chola.

The grandest entrance, to the west, also serves as the main gate. This entrance is called the Chola drop off and leads to the Grand Stairway in the palatial lobby – Sangam.

The total quantity of marble used in the hotel is 92,000 square metres

The total quantity of external granite cladding is 12,000 square metres

The total external painted area is 15,000 square metres

An inhouse theatre, Kalai Theatre will be on 2,625 square feet with a seating capacity of 45 persons 

Catch a break

Place: KOH SAMUI 

A view of the rocky outcrops that double as uninhabited islands, something Thailand is now globally famous for. 

Thailand's original getaway island, and still the grandest and one that gets the maximum tourists, Koh Samui is still great for a break. Almost totally geared to tourism, this rather large island is full of nooks and crannies, and not just of the natural beauty variety, that are sure to delight the average to fairly demanding tourist. 

A bit of task to get to - only Bangkok Airways flies to the island and Indians have to change flights at Bangkok. More on that later, though the high cost of this flight sort of cancels out the relatively lower cost of hotel rents.

But like most of Thailand, once the short flight is over, and airports in Thailand are far less of a chore than most other places, you land into a place where people are welcoming and SIM cards are free on arrival. 

Time for business

The Indian hospitality sector has diversified, with the main expansion coming in the business hotels category

Come next year, and many a business traveller may never have to step out of the Delhi airport. For work. In an unmatched project in India, the upcoming Aerocity in the airport premises will have 11 business hotels, across categories. Familiar names such as the Hyatt will share the over 3,500 rooms development with MGM Grand and JW Marriott to Ibis and Lemon Tree to cater the business traveler, whatever the budget. There is a hotel inside the airport already.

Now there is talk of more such hospitality mega projects across the country. As the global economic pivot keeps shifting eastwards and businesses grow to impact deep into the hinterlands, there is a perceptible shift in the demand for business hotels right across the nation. In a hospitality scenario dominated for decades by top end hotels at one end of the spectrum and unbranded, basic lodgings on the other, India for decades almost ignored the star system of hotel grading followed almost universally across nations. There was not reason to. Nobody could confuse a Taj or Oberoi property with backpacker’s rooms at Paharganj, and there was nothing in between.

As the world economy, and with it the Indian, grew at an unprecedented rate in the years leading up to 2008, the demand for hotels at different levels began appearing in India too. Nor was the response slow, Indian hotel chains such as the Taj introduced Vivanta, Gateway and Ginger, ITC expanded to Fortune and even the Oberoi showcased Trident, though the positioning for that is disputed by some. The global majors – Starwood, Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, Accor, Carlson, Intercontinetal and others, with decades of experience in positioning of focused brands, were as fast in launching a number of categories, with a huge focus on urban centric hotels catering to the mid market segment of those traveling on work.

The Indian hospitality sector, after a brief hiccup, is showing signs of confidence in its future. It grew at about 15 per cent last year, and is expected to maintain a 15 to 20 per cent growth rate in the near future. Well established domestic chains are expanding their business hotel portfolio fast, while newer domestic chains as well as international chains are expand by adding capacity to the cities and opening up in new areas. Conference facilities, internet access, business centres and lounges, tie-ups across sectors, even relevant retail to facilitate travel and stay – the business travel is today at the centre of attention, whether traveling individually or in groups. Despite cyclical challenges, the outlook for the sector remains positive. “India’s growth has been tremendous in its key cities and hence the growth of business hotels has followed likewise in the last five years,” says Rahul Pandit, President, The Lemon Tree & Red Fox Hotel Company.

Chender Baljee, Chairman and Managing Director, Royal Orchid Hotels Limited, agrees that there is a greater thrust in the expansion of business hotels in India. “One of the factors is growth in the Indian economy which has led to travel both within the country and from abroad. Over the years there has been a significant rise in the numbers of business hotels in the country in comparison to resort and luxury hotels.”

According to the latest white paper by hospitality consultancy HVS India and World Travel and Tourism Council, the Indian hospitality sector will need an additional supply of 180,000 rooms, a capital investment of $ 25.5 billion for constructing them and manpower of 211,000 to operate these additional hotels in the next decade. In the last 10 years, occupancy levels have doubled to hover around the 67 per cent mark annually and the number of rooms has gone up from 62,000 rooms in 2003 to 1,67,000 in the beginning of 2011. India has, at present, occupancy levels of 65-68 per cent. India’s hotel market has to grow to meet the increasing demand, expect, and hope most in the trade. “Business hotels are always important,” says Kaushik Vardharajan, Managing Director, HVS India. “About 90 per cent demand for a business hotel is from the corporate sector.”

Sudhir Sinha, COO Best 
Western Hotels India
points to the opportunities
in the sector

“The new trend is the demand and growth of the mid-market hotel segment and nicer products being offered in the market,” Sudhir Sinha, President & COO Best Western India. “Every hotel chain is gearing up capture the phenomenal opportunities offered by this segment. Because of its nature of investment and low entry barriers several first time hoteliers are also foraying to the hospitality industry, which is further accelerating the growth of this segment.”

While in the past India’s top hotels have perforce been positioned as leisure hotels though patronized significantly by domestic and global business executives, the obfuscation of the lines will take time to die out. Today almost all top city hotels get most of their revenue from business related travel from the corporate sector, even when built often with touches of aesthetics and service that would be more in place in an upscale or even luxury leisure hotel elsewhere in the world. Average Room Rates or ARRs have dropped from their peak levels in 2007-08, but most concede that business hotels have been able to withstand the shock better than other categories of hotels.

Nigel Grocock, COO-IHHR Hospitality, which runs the Ista Hotels as well as Ananda in the Himalayas, says that the Indian hospitality sector is primarily a combination of both, business and tourism, “though you could say that the odds are in favour of business hotels. Most hotels now, based on the location, have a percentage of both, business and leisure travelers. Only the percentage share changes.” Ista hotels are primarily business hotels. “We cater to the section of people who look for 5-five star comfort without essentially wanting to pay a high price for it.” Deepak Ohri, CEO, Lebua Hotels, which has just opened its first property in India, says that the nature of the traveller has changed, and today most want to combine business with leisure. “For any hotel with more than 200 rooms, its success depends on the business traveller and over 300 on MICE business,” he says. “About 80 per cent of our guests are business travelers, though we are not positioned as a business hotel.” The hotel in Delhi caters specially to business guests needs by having banqueting on different floors, adding more business centres and lounges, 24 hour check in and check out

There are both positive and negative factors working for the rush of business hotels mushrooming all over. “Business hotels are one of the fastest growing segment in India,” says Shwetank Singh, Brand and Operations Director, Premier Inn South Asia. “If we were to analyze the supply the economy/budget segment (read business hotels) is expected to grow from 8,000 rooms to 24,000 rooms by 2014-15 a growth of 191%. This is topped only by 200% growth in the upscale segment.”

Business over leisure

Arjun Baljee's Peppermint is
an emerging player

Most hoteliers sensed opportunity for quick returns from investing in hotels in the boom years. For many, especially first time owners of properties, the fastest way was to invest in a business hotel managed preferably by an international brand. “The apparent thrust in the expansion of business hotels is predominantly due to the ready availability of infrastructure to connect business destinations in this country,” points out Arjun Baljee, Founder & Managing Director, Peppermint Hotels. “So while there is no shortage of beautiful leisure destinations, connectivity being a problem has led to slower growth in these locations.” A recent entrant to the hospitality space, Peppermint has five operating hotels and 12 more in the pipeline. Peppermint chooses to describe itself as ‘boutique budget hotels designed for the business traveller’.

Rajeev Menon, Area Vice President - India, Malaysia, Maldives and Pakistan at Marriott International points to the necessity of having adequate infrastructure for people to be able to access leisure destinations fast. “For people opting for a short getaway like a weekend need fast access, and leisure destinations in India have yet to by and large provide that.” He cites the example of Macau as destination where the hotels followed the development of infrastructure.  Marriott has 15 operating hotels in the country, and another 50 in various stages of completion. While brand Marriott is perceived to be associated with business travellers, the group also has Courtyard by Marriott, which is targeted specifically at the business traveller as well as Fairfield, which Menon says are relatively easier to develop and can be put in secondary and tertiary markets. However Menon cautions that localization is very important. “There are about 600 Fairfields in the US, and none of them have restaurants as they are in areas where there are many F&B outlets. However in India, we will have to put in restaurants as that is the customer expectation, they also want some degree of service.” Besides these, the JW Marriotts and Renaissance brands also cater to different segments of business.

Interiors of Peppermint in Gurgaon

Most hoteliers agree about the factors that lead to the rise of the sector in recent years. Peppermint’s Baljee points to the growing economic prosperity for businesses that leads to businesses expanding to multiple cities, economic prosperity and the rise of the middle class, leading to travel beyond religious places and cheaper modes of travel, and increased number of modes of travel to a destination.

“India is growing faster as a business destination vis-à-vis leisure,” says Sinha of Best Western. “As a result more and more multinationals are setting their offices in India. With more than 70 per cent of our hotels located in key business districts, Best Western in India is also focused to tap this segment to its full potential. Our concentration today is also on developing long term relationships with key national accounts in the corporate segment, who can patronize us for our current 26 properties in 23 cities. Since most MNCs, Fortune 500 and Canada Post 200 companies and also the 4,200 hotels in 102 countries already have long standing association with our parent company ie Best Western International, Inc. US, we will be leveraging on that strength to forge partnerships with their Indian operations as well. Best Western too has plans to reach a number of 100 hotels by 2017 and add Best Western Plus, which will be upscale four star and Premier, or luxury categories.

Hilton too is following an aggressive plan to ramp up its presence in major urban centres. “We presently manage six hotels in Delhi NCR, Hilton Worldwide will be the operator of the largest number of hotels in the city,” points out Rajesh Punjabi, Vice President – India Development, Hilton Worldwide. “The other hotels that we currently operate, in Mumbai, Chennai and Vadodara, are also business hotels.” Hilton expects to increase its presence in the country to 14 hotels by the end of this year and 50 hotels in five years. Its mid-market, focused-service brands are Hilton Garden Inn and Hampton by Hilton.

Rajesh Punjabi, VP–India Development,
Hilton Worldwide points to the group's
focus on mid market segment

The Taj Group of Hotels too has forayed into the mid market segment with Gateway Hotels & Resorts, a full service upscale hospitality brand in the South Asia region. Designed for the modern nomad, Gateway provides consistent, courteous and crisp service for business and leisure travellers seeking contemporary and refreshing experiences. Keeping in mind those looking for comfort, familiarity and flexibility, the hotels and resorts are divided into eight zones – Enter, Stay, Hangout, Meet, Work, Workout, Unwind and Explore. Round the clock services such as 24/7 breakfast, 24/7 ‘active studio’ and 24/7 laundry are all designed to cater to guests round-the-clock. Gateway provides welcome perfection through an unrivalled network and innovative cuisine offerings like ‘active food’ – superfoods and low glycemic index foods for the health conscious; regional home-style cuisine; ‘eat-in’ – refreshed in-room dining menus and ‘wake up’ - buffet breakfasts with a range of healthy and indulgent options. Flexible, dynamic and warm service, ‘in-room yoga’ amenities and ‘explore’ packages all make The Gateway Hotels & Resorts sanctuaries that refresh, refuel and renew.

Another major global hospitality major, Starwood too has a wide range of hotels that that is bringing to India, most of which have the business traveller as a focus. Currently Starwood has 33 hotels under six brands in operation with 4 openings planned for 2012 – Aloft Chandigarh Zirakpur, Aloft Ahmedabad, ITC Grand Chola under Luxury Collection and Westin Chennai Vellacherry. “We have over 22 hotels under development and our goal is to have 100 hotels operating, under development or management contracts signed by 2015,” says a spokesperson for the brand. India is Starwood’s fourth largest market and will soon become its third largest market after China. “While most of the hotels we currently operate our business hotels located in cities, we do have a fairly good mix of leisure business coming into these hotels. Among Starwood’s popular brands catering to business travelers in the upper upscale segment include Westin, Le Meridien and Sheraton. Upscale hotels that are expected to play a major role for the group in the coming years include Four Points by Sheraton and Aloft, which have just four and three hotels in the country respectively.

Another group known for its mid range hotels is Carlson Rezidor, which through its Radisson Blu, Radisson, park Inn by Radisson and Country Inn and Suites by Carlson, is firmly targeting the mid market segment. It recently announced a joint venture with Bestech developers to launch 49 new hotels. Bestech will have exclusive development rights for Park Inn by Radisson in central and north India. “Business will continue to play a major focus as decision making is shifting to state capitals, SEZs and corporate clients,: says K B Kachru, Executive Vice President, Carlson Hotels. Carlson has 52 operating hotels in the country and 48 in the pipeline besides the hotels that will come up in association with Bestech. “There is demand for mid market hotels in India,” says Simon Barlow, President, Asia Pacific, Carlson Rezidor.

“Business Hotels are largely dependent on economic conditions that prevail not only within the country but also around the world, points out a spokesperson for the Starwood group. “With fast changing and ever evolving economic changes, the dynamics of business travel is highly volatile. We have seen how some markets like the US and Europe have been more severely affected by the recession, If we are not able to substitute those markets, it would be a huge challenge. For us, the whole question boils down to this: If the British, the Germans and the Americans aren’t travelling, then who is travelling? Clearly you can see a lot more Asians are travelling. So are we able to make inroads into the Chinese markets, the Japanese market, and the South East Asian market — what we call the intra-regional travel? To me, that is a huge challenge. We don’t see the reduction in demand from the traditional markets to be a big concern because they are clearly being substituted by the emerging markets within India and within Asia Pacific. Here lies the opportunity. In most of our hotels in the big gateway cities as well as in the smaller tier 2 markets, we have already begun to substitute a lot of the international business with domestic business.”

ITC’s Fortune Hotels, which is India’s fastest growing hotel chain, caters largely to the business traveller through a clutch of sub brands, which includes MyFortune for the upscale business traveller, Fortune Select at major city centres, Fortune Parks as a mid scale business hotel and Fortune Inn, usually smaller hotels also catering to the business traveller. Fortune has already opened 40 doors and another 26 are in the pipeline. Fortune is concentrating on the mid market to upscale segment, according to Suresh Kumar, CEO, Fortune Park Hotels.

Hongkong-based Shangri-La Hotels has created an elite retreat to familiarize today’s frequent business travellers with a higher standard of accommodation, customized service and a host of special privileges. The group has set up ‘Horizon Clubs’ in their various properties worldwide. These groups are designed exclusively for business travellers, and are intended to make their stay a trouble-free and comfortable one. Since 2009, all of the group’s 67 hotels globally offer free WI-FI and wired internet to every guest.

Factors leading to the increased demand
Global hospitality major Accor, while expanding across categories, has its mid segment brand Ibis clearly in focus. “In 2012 we wish to accelerate the emergence of the ibis brand and foster a preference for it openings in Bengaluru Hosur Road, Delhi Airport, Nasik, Navi Mumbai and Jaipur,” says Jean-Michel Casse, Senior-Vice President Operations, Accor India. “Accor’s strength is the fact that we offer a broad portfolio of products from luxury to budget. Most of our hotels in India are located in key gateway cities, so they tend to cater to business travelers across the different brands.”  Ibis hotels have incorporated meeting rooms from small meetings to longer conferences and even optimized Ibis webcorner and offers an early riser breakfast from 04:00am to 06:30am for business travellers on the move.

Accor’s brands for the business traveler include Novotel, designed to cater to business and leisure traveller, with spacious rooms equipped for work and relaxation. Novotel hotels offer guests the best of both worlds - a technologically astute hotel with varied options in dining and recreation. Another brand Pullman, is positioned in the upscale hotel category is the new attitude hotels for business travellers.  It has been designed to meet the requirements of business women and men, and is characterized by the smart use of technologies and distinguishable service differentiators, such as high speed broadband internet connectivity in every zone in the hotel. Casse elaborates, “We accord special attention to ensure success for meetings, seminars and events at our hotels. In an entirely novel approach, the Pullman ‘Co-Meeting’ concept assures the services of an IT Solutions Manager in addition to a dedicated Event Manager role.  We look forward to surprising our guest with enticing cuisine that draws on the best of international classics and national or regional culinary specialties.” Accor has plans to open 90 hotels by 2015, and its focus on business hotels has already made a serious player in the category.

“In today’s digital environment all services around the internet accessibility are simply second to none,” says Alexander Schneider, General Manager, Park Plaza Bengaluru. “You offer the most sophisticated soft-touches but if your internet line is not working your guest will not return. A simply self-explanatory wifi access at reasonable cost/ charges with a great and consistent bandwidth is what all business travelers are looking for. Secondly, MP3 players have given us the opportunity of travelling with our favorite music, which is usually a very emotional part of us, therefore cutting edge hotels should provide MP3 docking stations with great sound as we do.”

Royal Orchid’s Baljee stresses that facilities such as wi-fi enabled with high speed access, excellent quality in terms of room amenities, quality mattresses and bathrooms are a must for every business hotels. “Our USP is to mix the business requirements with excellent entertainment and dining options to help the traveller relax after a days work,” he says. Royal Orchid Hotels Limited has 23 existing hotels out of which 19 are business hotels.

A spokesperson for Four Seasons, which currently has one operational hotel in India in Mumbai, besides hotels in the pipelines in Bangalore and Delhi, says “These are all business hotels and we have a mix of leisure and business hotels currently under discussion. India is a very important market to Four Seasons since it has a lot of unexplored potential both in the business and leisure spectrum.”

“We need to offer all the facilities including latest technology to our patrons with separate board rooms, a large banquet area for conducting conferences and summits and a completely Wi-fi enabled atmosphere in every corner of the hotel,” says Shrikant Wakharkar, General Manager, The Grand, Delhi. “We facilitate round the clock dining keeping in mind the international travelers who frequently travel to the country from various time zones. It should be remembered that for a corporate traveller, the maxim ‘time is money’ applies and they expect quick and efficient blemish-free room service, which we provide without fail. To succeed the mantra to be kept in mind while servicing corporate traveler is that the five basic essentials they seeks from a destination hotel are bed, food, shower, gym and wi-fi.”

Marco Saxer, GM, Swissotel Kolkata, says his hotel draws extensive business due its proximity to the city airport, dedicated business centre, and location near IT hub.

Demand as much in Tier II, III towns 
Expansion in Tier II and III cities, with some mentioning right up to Tier VI, is something many of the groups with a focus on mid market and budget hotels have in mind. Best Western for example has a special focus on key manufacturing and trading cities. “For this we have already identified 150 cities in India which have great potential for Best Western brand, says Sinha.

Significantly, it is domestic travel which is spurring the demand. “Primarily the demand is being fuelled by the domestic traveler as the numbers of international travellers into India has grown but not by a sizeable volume to support the additional supply, says a spokesperson for Fern Hotels, which has expanded into the business category by three star Fern Residencies, of which there are six now.

“We believe in the opportunities that lie in tier 2 and tier 3 markets,” says a spokesperson for Starwood Hotels. “Today’s tier 2 and tier 3 markets will be tomorrow’s tier 2and tier 1. We would like to leverage the first mover advantage in these cities and we believe these Hotels will generate demand for themselves. We see great opportunity in mid-market which we believe is under-hoteled in this tier. Indians want the predictability and quality of international hotels which they don’t typically get today, especially outside of the major markets. Starwood has a clear belief that many of the tier 2 markets are ripe to put up an upper upscale hotel.”

“There is scope in the lower category hotels,” says IHHR Hospitality’s Grocock. “The newer segments viz. budget hotels, that have come into the market will be the ones to expand more as they have just about addressed a fraction of the market. The rate of growth in smaller metros is higher than that of the metros thus making the demand there higher.”

“We strongly believe that there is a market for upper upscale hotels also in many tier 2 and tier 3 locations in India and we will look to gain a first mover advantage in many such cities,” says a spokesperson for Starwood Hotels. “We believe that the creation of a good 5 star hotel in a smaller market will create its own demand. A good example of this is a beautiful new Le Meridien we are about to open in Coimbatore. As larger cities grow and we see the emergence of micro cities within these tier 1 markets, we believe there is an opportunity to expand our footprint with our Select Services brands like Four Points and Aloft e.g. Delhi NCR.”

Opportunities and challenges in operating a business hotel

The lobby at Radisson Blu Indore

Many groups actually see better opportunity in business hotels. Opportunity for a business hotel is much better as compared to other segments because of consistency and growth in demand due to the increased economic activity in the country,” says Best Western’s Sinha. “Although the basic requirements of comfortable rooms, contemporary bathrooms with amenities and good food remain the same, each traveler also comes with their own unique requirements. Our international experience helps us understand and provide services to suit requirements such as easy and faster check in, fast meals, advanced technology, multiple connecting ports free Wi-fi, business desk and business programmes, which are some of the few requirements that business travellers seek.

As compared to a leisure property, the recovery period for a business hotel is usually lesser, agree most. “We achieve the operational break even within 8-12 months of the starting of operations while the payback periods is around five years for Best Western Hotels in India, says Sinha. Lemon Tree’s Pandit has a much faster estimate of “one year going up to 2 years”. Business hotels yield a far quicker return on investment than leisure destinations, though there are examples to prove otherwise, says Baljee. “Building leisure destinations involve building the entire ecosystem of airlines, rail, restaurants, tourism related activities etc, for hotels and resorts to come up in untapped locations, and India is only just seeing the tip of the iceberg on these developments.” Singh points out that “this is dependent on a variety of factors such as cost of land, cost of build, business levels, operational costs etc. Typically a hotel should start to hit operating profits within 1-2 years of commencing operation. Break evens at the Income After Fixed Costs (IAFC) however, cannot be expected before 6-8 years.” Almost all hoteliers agree that the RoIs from a leisure property would take far longer to recover, given the lack of infrastructure and seasonality of demand.

Lemon Tree is a domestic brand that has come to be known for its business hotels catering to the upscale and midscale segments. The group owns and operates three brands – Lemon Tree Premier, Lemon Tree and Red Fox Hotels in the upper-upscale, upscale and midscale segments respectively. “Our business model is unique and both corporate travelers and MICE play key roles,” says Pandit. “The opportunity is vast as corporate today are rationalizing all travel related expenses and this would mean a shift of volumes from 5-star and 5-star deluxe users to upscale hotels.” He says that some of the challenges faced include identifying and acquiring relevant locations for our hotels, executing hotel projects of high quality, on time and within cost and driving awareness for the brand by delivering a differentiated and consistent brand experience. “At Lemon Tree Hotels, we are able to attract and retain high quality talent through our Employee Stock Option Programme which creates a sense of ownership and motivates the employee partner to drive the company’s growth,” he says. By December 2013, the group plans to have 26 hotels and over 3600 rooms in 16 cities.

Premier Inn, UK’s largest hotel brand known for its mid market offerings, entered India recently with fairly aggressive expansion plans. “The big opportunity that exists with the business hotel is its ability to eat into both the budget segment as well as the luxury segment,” says Singh. “As we at Premier Inn are able to consistently deliver world class product and service at a value for money price point we have this fantastic opportunity available to us. The key challenge lies in fact that the segment is not very well defined in India and the guest expectation is not settled. The Indian guest however, is becoming increasingly savvy and brand/quality conscious as they step out and travel the world.” Premier Inn plans to have 80-90 hotels in the next decade.

MICE is nice
The importance of MICE industry is growing in India, and many hotels are being planned with the express purpose of hosting large conventions. India compares unfavourably to its eastern neighbours with respect to its large conference hosting facilities, and some hotels are looking to tap into this segment. Marriott for example is building a circuit of MICE hotels, informs Menon. A spectacular success has been the Marriott at Jaipur, which with over 300 rooms and a glass façade, was as far away from the palace hotels that otherwise dominate the city’s hospitality landscape.

“At Jaypee Hotels, we believe in providing an impressive combination of accommodation with wide range of conference facilities,” says Manju Sharma, Director, Jaypee Hotels. “Our one of the largest properties, Jaypee Palace Hotel & Convention Centre, Agra, had been awarded the ‘Best Convention Centre’, by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India for 2010.” Jaypee, is launching a 650-room business hotel in Noida in 2014.

“Accor is rapidly growing the MICE segment with more properties catering this industry,” says Casse. “Accor is evolving and expanding its business in India with a bold growth strategy but the importance really depends on the brand and the location. In Hyderabad, we have 2 MICE properties – Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) and Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre. 30 per cent of the business comes from the MICE segment, which is quite high.”

“MICE is a growing segment in India and in metros it has grown even more quickly,” says Pandit. “This segment helps business hotels maintain strong occupancies through the year and that too at a healthy ARR. It is quite a profitable segment if the hotel company prices it right and offers them the facilities that they need.”

The days of walk-ins also seem to be a thing of the past. “Walk-ins form a very small component of our business. However they are larger portions of business for people at transportation hubs such as airports and railway stations,” says Baljee.

For Starwood hotels too, MICE is significant. Currently our share of revenue is more or less evenly balanced between MICE, Corporate and leisure travel,” says a group spokesperson. “This will continue to be the case however in certain locations or based on the kind of facilities that the Hotel provides the contribution from MICE maybe more.”

Hyderabad is the only city that has got a semblance of convention facilities that can look to be in the same direction if not match global standard setters for this arena. Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) is India’s first purpose-built and state-of -the-art convention facility managed by Accor. Hotels that are just coming up, such as ITC’s Grand Chola in Chennai, which is also part of the Luxury Collection, have budgeted enormous space for conventions. Though India is well behind its regional neighbours, MICE could easily be crucial determinant in healthier RevPAR, or revenue per available room.

Food calls 
Like the rest of Asia, and markedly unlike the European and North American markets, F&B and banqueting can often be as large a revenue generator as room rents. “Banqueting facilities can be a true business driver,” says Schneider of Park Plaza Bengaluru. “If you can offer a space that has great banquet halls, cutting-edge technical standards and a fantastic banquet food and beverage quality, you can be ensured to enjoy a good amount of business to come through your doorstep. In a metropolis, a hotel should feature a grand ballroom that can accommodate larger conferences and it should offer a generous amount of break-out facilities at the same time.”

With so many options vying for the guest’s attention, it will be interesting to see how hotels market themselves points out Grocock. “The challenge is to capture guest attention and attract him to your hotel.” Premier Inn’s Singh agrees that “banqueting is very important facility to have as the same space doubles for meetings as well as social occasions. The optimum capacity of banqueting is a function of the location and expected guest profile. However, not having a banquet/conferencing space is something any hotel can ill afford to do.”

“Banqueting can be a revenue generator both on the social (wedding, family, parties) front and on the business front (conference, trainings, seminars, etc.),” points out Pandit. “Any business hotel should cater to this segment to the extent possible (space available on the premises) as there is often a need for rooms too.” Wakharkar adds that the increasing demand for banqueting that has experienced a steady rise and “helps us gain an advantage over our contemporaries who lack residential banqueting facilities.”

Varadharajan points out that in a Tier II or III city, a business hotel may have just about 100 rooms, but the banqueting facility will cater to maybe 1,500 people, so half the revenue is from F&B, making it a very significant contributor.

A perusal of upcoming hotels statistics indicates a huge majority of the upcoming development to be in the mid scale segment, which will largely cater to the business traveller. How individual hotels are able to manage growth and competition might well determine the health of its RevPAR.

Suman Tarafdar


BOX
Best sleep and shower is what customers look for, say hoteliers. Here is a checklist of what a business hotel must have:
Business centre open 24 hours, and including net access, phone, copier, printer, fax
Wifi access in all public areas
Car rentals
24 hour coffee shop
Laundry services
Doctor on call

In the room:
Tea and coffee maker
Temperature AC and heat control
Television
Global device sockets

If possible, these features will be crucial add ons:
Valet services
Fitness Centre
Spa
Swimming pool
Store for basic utilities
Personal bar
Pillow menu
Electronic safe
News stands
Boutique

(This article was published in Business India dated 7 June 2012)

Style statement

An umbrella shop on Market Road behind Broadway in Kochi

Place: KOCHI

If it is Kochi, can umbrellas be far behind. As the sudden change from sweltering heat of summer gives way to lashing rains, the city suddenly changes attire as the umbrella becomes the most visible part of most scurrying denizens as the rush along roads trying to take shelter if the downpour is too heavy, or just continuing their work if it is a gentler drizzle.

On my first visit to Kochi during the monsoon, I was struck by the sheer range of umbrellas on offer. The variety in shape, while folded of course, size, colour and design is dazzling.

Did you buy umbrellas from John's while at the airport? 

Many shops, who at other times of the year have other wares fronting their stores, now have umbrellas. Of course, there are exclusive umbrella shops as well. They are at every major market and neighbourhood store. There was even an umbrella shop at the airport! Surprisingly it is at Departure, whereas I would have thought Arrival would have made more sense! Or is it a magnet substitute? If you are not picky, they cost about the same too!

Umbrella makers are quite important in Kerala, and have sizable revenues apparently. If they can double film financiers, which some leading ones are supposed to be, then surely it is a lucrative business. Well sales are huge, and almost everyone on the street carries an umbrella during the monsoon, which begins in June and can last till August here.

Of course there were traditional umbrellas and palm leaves, but these are rare sightings now. Nor are the dominant-for-decades black umbrellas as visible. Today, synthetic umbrellas, locally made or from China, come in fuchsia, magenta, crimson, rose-pink, pearl, mauve... and all other colours in between! Given that most are also patterned, the mix of hues just gets richer, even if they do not agree with your aesthetic.

But do get one while in Kochi during the monsoon, its part of the uniform! 

First drops

Place: KOCHI

By the Marine Drive in Kochi

Kochi is one of the first places in India to welcome the south west monsoon. As the rest of the country eagerly awaits an end to the cruel heat of white hot summer, Kerala is where most eyes turn to for an indication of when they can hope too.

This year, the monsoon was late by a few days, and that is already too long a wait for many. Here as the dense monsoon clouds hang over the sea, it is sobering to realise just how important the rains are to the country, and just how the entire incomes of entire villages rest on the monsoon being normal. Even though climate change over time is inevitable, I just hope human action does not unduly hasten it.

The beauty of the dark clouds is something else to behold. Even when the rains are unrelenting and countinuous, Indians dependent on them rarely complain. For they know a healthy monsoon ensures their well being through the year. 

Bargains, in historic settings

Looking into Senado Square, the heart of central Macau

Place: MACAU

For those looking for a Macau experience away from casinos, the destination of choice for most is Senado Square. Located in the peninsula in the older part of Macau, it is today part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site as the 'Historic Centre of Macau'. It is hardly ever free of

Lovely cobbled stone art is all over the area,
adding to it charm

This central area is distinctly European in its look. Located close to the former Senate building,are pastel coloured neo-classical buildings, creating a consistent and harmonious Mediterranean atmosphere.

Like many city centres around the world, it has an old world charm that makes for a great relaxing stroll around the area. Budget a few hours if you have the time, especially if you plan to shop.

It's an area that intermingles heritage and history. The ruins of St Paul's, easily the most popular historic site in Macau, is just around the corner, about five to six minutes walking. Just theoretically, for all along the way are little shops - shoes, clothes, antiques, wooden chess boards done up in Chinese styles, jewellery, cosmetics, t-shirts, curios, tea sets egg tarts and cookies, there is a lot that will continually distract you. Few, tourists or locals, can resist stopping, usually to buy, but sometimes to just look. The first time I went, my return luggage was massively overweight! A suggestions, the cookie boxes look really attractive and sell like, well hot cookies, but they are rather dry for Indian sensibilites.

Magnets come in
tempting shapes

My pick - the magnets, especially the cocks that are a symbol of Macau and the distinctive city. A lot of the stuff is made in China, so you will momentos that relate to outside Macau too. There are a number of beautiful antiques or antique looking pieces for those interested, from replicas of Chinese soldiers, to tea sets and much more. Some are exquisite, and you can bargain!

Macau in general is less expensive than say Hongkong or Singapore, but of late, shopping here is getting pricier. Though there are enough bargains for those interested. Seriously, it wont compare to Orchard Road or Chatuchak Market, but who knows you might just find your bit of travel nirvana here. 

Not so black and white

Place: PONDICHERRY

One of the most popular destinations of the Coromandel coast, and indeed south India, Pondicherry is a charmed, quaint town, steeped in French culture topped by Sri Aurobindo's aura. A visit indicated all of this to be true, but not reflecting a true picture. It is as much a Tamil Nadu small town, congested and colourful in a way only towns in that area can be. The city actually almost looks away from the Bay of Bengal.

NH 32 is an excellent way to reach Pondicherry from Chennai

I drove in from Madras, now Chennai, starting around 7 in the morning. The approximately 150 kilometre journey takes a little over two hours, unless you are stuck in a jam, as I was. I made full use of it by sleeping through, and reached in about four hours! The road, NH 32, is excellent though, and very noticeable to north Indian eyes. Small towns with their colourful temple mandapams and crowded markets dot the journey, with green- brown hills and pretty vibrant fields replacing them once you are out of the urban areas. To me, it is surprising that at coastal route is not more popular, but the driver said that road was not as good.

The entry gate to Pondicherry 

Eagerly looking out as I entered the city, as I had heard so much about it, the first moments inside were disappointing. Instead of beautiful French era mansions, on view narrow streets flanked by small street side shops, interspersed by modern glass fronted facades of new hospitals and coaching institutes. :( There is no effort to cash into the reputation of the town, and the disappointment continued till suddenly the very look of the place altered. I was later told Pondicherry, officially Puducherry, is divided into what is now the heritage zone, or White Town and the rest, referred to as Black Town.

White Town 
So today, when people gush about Pondicherry, they refer usually only to the White Town and Auroville, an outpost. The White Town, built by the French who were in charge for about 280 years, fronts one of the four beaches of the territory, is an approximately oval area laid out in a grid pattern within, with buildings and parks.

Explore White Town on foot, and let the camera capture little details

This French quarter has cousins across the world, and does not compare favourably either in the architecture or in its upkeep, even though the tourism office is right by the sea and quite disappointing. Though it is best explored on foot, be ready to be tired as the weather is muggy for the better part of the year. Also many streets are cobbled, great to look at, but not made for long walks. The architectural style is largely French colonial, part Gothic, with some local influences.

The beachfront area, known as Promenade beach, is well used. Early morning sees joggers out in force, even in light rain, while students take up the later morning time by running around and playing. Gandhi's statue is a favourite hangout. Quiet during the afternoons, the day evening belongs to the tourists and towners who may come for the sea breeze or just a walk. There is an old lighthouse, which was visible from the room of the hotel I was staying in, and badly in need of repair.

White Town has a number of beautiful mansions, though many now house Indian officialdom and bureaucracy. A significant part is still private however, and keep a lookout for the Alliance Française, Lycée Française, French Institute, Mairie (Town hall). The area has a number of hotels, many of whom have tried to recreate the past including Hotel D’orient and Duplex. There are a number of museums, including the Pondicherry Museum, the former houses of writers Bharathidasan and Subramania Bharathi, which are today museums and the Jawahar Toy Museum. If you are on a short trip, enjoy the outdoors instead.

The Park Monument, set in the middle of the park, and left, scenes of devastation from the cyclone are still visible

Pondicherry was devastated by a cyclone in December 2011, and signs of the extensive devastation can still be seen around the town. A prominent park, today called Bharati Park, still has uprooted trees, as do a peripheral parts of the town.

A special feature of the town is its rich craft heritage. There are a number of excellent craft labels, and at least one label, Hidesign is now an internationally acclaimed leather accessories brand. But there are many more, and for a craft lover, a visit to the main market in White Town or in Auroville is going to throw time budgeting astray. Look out for Maroma. For the budget conscious, try Auroshikha. Must buys include perfumed candles, kurtas, 'green' bags, soaps, oils and incense sticks. Besides great baked products, especially from Auroville. Quirky shapes, sizes and aromas ensure they make for great gifts. Plan accordingly.

The Matri Mandir is situated in the middle of the Peace area

Especially when visiting Auroville. Arguably the most famous extension of Pondicherry, this is where an alternate future is taking shape. For more on it, look up the net, but for the average visitor, this is paradise for those yearning to get away from the tempo of busy urban lives.

Founded by The Mother, Sri Aurobindo's disciple in 1968, it is an UNESCO endorsed township that is worth a visit, if only to see white skinned people zipping around in bikes, usually attired in calico lungis or kurtas, complete with checks. Its beautiful, un-manicured environs (you get the drift), tucked away houses, lawns and gardens merging into woods, dirt tracks and the occasional road, small markets, the monumental Matri Mandir and the charming food and craft outlets, all make it a a 'different' trip. You have to buy peanut butter from the bakery. Just a word of caution, if you wish to visit Matri Mandir, you will have to get prior permission from the Visitor's Centre, which is quite far away. If you can, spend a day there, and a sense of peace, however ephemeral, is sure to envelop you. It was my last stop at the former French outpost, and a great way to conclude the trip.