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CONTENTS SPA & WELLNESS Vol 8 No.22 SEPTEMBER 1-15, 2013 Chairman of the Board
Viveck Goenka Editor
Reema Lokesh* Assistant Editor
Steena Joy Associate Editor
16
Sudipta Dev
HAVEN FOR HOLISTIC HEALING
CONTENTTEAM Mumbai
TECH TALK
Kahini Chakraborty, Rituparna Chatterjee, Niharika Shukla Kolkata
Joy Roy Choudhury DESIGN National Art Director
Bivash Barua DeputyArt Director
Surajit Patro Chief Designer
Pravin Temble
THE HEALING TOUCH
27
Graphic Designer
Rushikesh Konka Layout
Ratilal Ladani,Kiran Parker Photo Editor
Sandeep Patil
With the per capita spend on beauty,preventive and health segment growing steeply,wellness therapies will be the drivers of growth in the spa sector of the future (20)
Cover
REDEFINING IN-ROOM EXPERIENCE THE HOTEL SECTOR IS IMPLEMENTING STATE-OF-THE ART ROOM AUTOMATION SYSTEMS WHICH GO A LONG WAY IN AUGMENTING GUEST SERVICES
Advisory Board
INTERIORS & DESIGN
Anil Madhok,Rajeev Chopra, Santosh Shidhaye,Homi Aibara, Param Kannampilly,KVSimon, Jiggs Kalra,Jose Dominic,Raju Shahani,N S Bhuie,Nirmal Khandelwal,Muralidharan Menon, Narendra Verma,Prakash Mankar, M Narayanan
P12: NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
MARKETING Deputy General Manager
Clay Craft
MARKETS
Magic Holidays, Lonavala
08
FILLIP TO TEA TOURISM IN EASTERN HIMALAYAS
09
DELTA CORP LOOKS AT COMMENCING DAMAN OPERATIONS
P14: PRODUCT TRACKER
Sachin Shenoy Marketing Team
Dattaram Kandalkar,Rajan Nair
P30: MOVEMENTS
Marketing Coordination
Hyatt Regency Mumbai
Darshana Chauhan Asst.Manager - Scheduling & Coordination
Arvind Mane CIRCULATION
P29: LIFE Groomed to excel
Mohan Varadakar PRODUCTION
General Manager
B R Tipnis Manager
P41: WEEKEND Scene and heard by Marcellus Baptista
10
HVS RELEASES 18TH EDITION OF INDIA TRENDS & OPPORTUNITIES REPORT
18
'THE REGIONAL CONTEXT AND CULTURE GUIDE OUR DESIGN PROCESS’ AR TONY JOSEPH, PRINCIPAL ARCHITECT, STAPATI TALKS TO EXPRESS HOSPITALITY
Bhadresh Valia Express Hospitality Reg.No.MH/MR/SOUTH-44/2013-15, RNI Regn. No.MAHENG/2005/21391. Published by Vaidehi Thakar on behalf of the Proprietor The Indian Express Limited from Express Towers, 2nd floor, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021 and Printed by her at the Indian Express Press, at Plot No.EL-208, TTC Industrial Area, Mahape, Navi Mumbai 400 710 (Editorial & Administrative : The Indian Express Ltd, 1st floor, Express Towers, Nariman Point, Mumbai-400021). Editor: Reema Lokesh*(* Responsible for selection of matter under PRB Act) Copyright @ 2011 The Indian Express Ltd. All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction in any manner, electronic or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Wellness works
I
f there is one business that has reaped rich dividends due to the fast paced lifestyle, demanding and challenging social and professional lives that somehow the world is leading then it has to be the spa and wellness industry. What was a luxury probably a decade ago is today a comfort and in time will convert into a necessity in the close future. We are living on the edge and interestingly so, a concept that promises to offer tranquility, is also offering services that has words like 'instant', 'express', etc attached to it. Imagine a company that promises 'Express Mediation'. But on a serious note, the world today is looking for the feel good factor and its the spas, medi-spas, wellness sector, rejuvenation zones, etc which are ready to explode to offer services that are only going to increase in demand with every passing year. Social ‘spa-ing’ is also a new trend with small groups of like-minded spa travellers going to health retreats for complete detox or rejuvenation while enjoying the sense of camaraderie. Spas for teens are also gaining recognition and there are offers that are niche within a niche. Experts feel, in the future, result oriented wellness therapies will be the drivers of growth in the spa sector and hotels catering to this segment will be the preferred choice for inbound tourists and high end luxury travellers.
HEAD OFFICE Express Hospitality MUMBAI: Rajan Nair, Dattaram Kandalkar The Indian Express Ltd, 1st Floor, Express Towers, Nariman Point, Mumbai-400021. India Tel: 6744 0000 / 22022627 Fax: 022-22885831 E-mail: rajan.nair@fhwexpo.in; datta.kandalkar@fhwexpo.in Branch Offices : NEW DELHI: Pranshu Puri, The Indian Express Ltd, Express Building (Basement) 9 & 10, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi - 110 002 Tel : 011- 23465670 Fax : 011 - 23702141 E-mail: pranshu.puri@fhwexpo.in Our Associate: Dinesh Sharma Mobile: 09810264368 E-mail: 4pdesigno@gmail.com
6 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
CHENNAI: A K Shukla, The Indian Express Ltd, New No.37/C (Old No.16/C), 2nd Floor,Whites Road, Royapettah, Chennai - 600 014 Tel: Board: 28543031/28543032/ 28543033/28543034 Fax: 28543035 Mobile : 09849297724 E-mail: ashwinkumar.shukla@fhwexpo.in BENGALURU: Sreejith Radhakrishnan, The Indian Express Ltd, 502 Devatha Plaza, 5th Floor, 131 Residency Road Bengaluru - 560025 Ph 080-22231923/24 Fax: 22231925. E-mail: sreejith.radhakrishnan@fhwexpo.in HYDERABAD: A K Shukla, The Indian Express Ltd, 6-3-885/7/B, Ground floor V.V. Mansion, Somaji Guda, Hyderabad - 500 082 Tel: 040-23418673/23418674/
“ The most crucial and pressing issue which this industry needs to address with immediate effect is the accreditation and quality of spas and wellness centres mushrooming in the country”
23418675 (Tele-fax)/66631457 Fax: 040-23418678 E-mail: ashwinkumar.shukla@fhwexpo.in KOLKATA: Ajanta Sengupta, The Indian Express Ltd, National Highway 6 (NH 6), Mouza-Prasastha & Ankurhati, P.H. Domjur, Dist Howrah Kolkata - 711409 Mobile: 09831182580 Email: ajanta.sengupta@expressindia.com KOCHI: Sreejith Radhakrishnan, The Indian Express Ltd, Sankoorikal Building, 36/2248, Kaloor, Kadavanthara Road, Opp. Kaloor Private Bus Stand, Kaloor - 682 017 Tel: (0484) 2343152, 2343328 Fax: 2343153 E-mail: sreejith.radhakrishnan@fhwexpo.in
India will soon welcome, the Global Spa & Wellness Summit (GSWS) which will be held for the first time in India in New Delhi this October and thought leaders, professionals, gurus, spiritual leaders, world leaders in the space will all converge to share their insights on this extremely potent and buoyant industry. The summit promises to offer some serious deliberations and thought provoking discussions and refreshing suggestions to strengthen the industry to meet the future demands. However, the most crucial and pressing issue which this industry needs to address with immediate effect is the accreditation and quality of spas and wellness centres mushrooming in the country. There has to be a very strict regulatory body that will set strong criteria in place to provide licenses and permits after meeting crucial requirements. Staff training and quality educators in the field is the need of the hour. Spa therapies if done rightly can take away the stress but if done wrongly can spell disaster for a lifetime. So though, it is good to feel good, it is the best to look before you leap.
REEMA LOKESH Editor editorial.eh@expressindia.com
JAIPUR: The Indian Express Ltd, C-7, Dwarika Puri,Jamna Lal Bajaj Marg, C-Scheme,Jaipur - 302001 Tel: 0141-370002/371272 Telefax: 91-141-376606 BHOPAL: The Indian Express Ltd, 6,Vidya Vihar, Professors Colony, Bhopal - 462002, Madhya Pradesh Tel: 0755-2661988 AHMEDABAD: Sachin Shenoy, The Indian Express Ltd, 3rd Floor, Sambhav House, Nr.Judges Bunglow Bodakdev,Ahmedabad - 380 015. Tel: (91-79) 26872481 / 82 / 83 Fax: (91-79) 26873950 Mobile : 09930050499 Email :sachin.shenoy@fhwexpo.in
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MARKETS
Fillip to tea tourism in Eastern Himalayas Demand for allowing existing bungalows for tourism, exemption from luxury/ service tax Sudipta Dev Mumbai FOR ALMOST TWO decades Help Tourism, an ecotourism organisation, has been working to promote tea tourism in the Eastern Himalayas. Raj Basu, founder, Help Tourism and his team have managed to convince a significant number of tea gardens and estates to look at tourism as a product. There are three models of tea tourism being promoted - Tea Bungalow based tourism, which comprises three/four luxurious rooms; homestays and lodges adjoining to the tea estates; and a unique ecotourism initiative that has been started at Makaibari Tea Estate. Lack of policy for tea tourism is the biggest handicap for the sector. “We have been lob-
bying to bring in an amendment that the existing bungalows in no or less use in the tea estate should be allowed for tourism, which means that if all the tea estates agree, there will be more than 2000 quality room nights available for North of West Bengal (Darjeeling Hills and Dooars),” said Basu, adding that, they have a demand that all Tea Bungalows with four or less rooms should be exempted from any taxes, service or luxury as such infrastructure are not as profitable to make it a business for tea estate owners. The first tea estate to start tea tourism was Phaskhowa in the Buxa Tiger Reserve area of Dooars. “The most successful tea tourism till date is Glenburn. The first to show the way in Assam is by the Jalans at Mancotta, while
the most responsible model till date is Makaibari,” said Basu, who is also the coordinator of teatourindia.com, a project of Help Tourism to support tea tourism in East and Northeast India. The tea estates that have been surveyed in Darjeeling and Dooars include Damdim, Rangapani, Looksan, Bundapani, Lankapara, Phanskhowa, Marrionbarrie, Makaibari, Selim Hill, Glenburn, etc. In Assam, the tea gardens include names like Balipara, Sangsui, Rehamabad, Mancotta, etc. “This is a fast growing sector and has added activities like golf and horse riding. The Tea Bungalows though isolated are safe places even for visit of all women groups and individuals because of the age old culture,” he mentioned.
Investors showing keen interest in developing world class accommodation in J&K: Ghulam Ahmad Mir STEENA JOY – Mumbai JAMMU & KASHMIR IS NOW attracting investors who are keen on developing international standard hotels in the state. Speaking exclusively to Express Hospitality, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, J&K tourism minister, said, “Investors are now showing keen interest in developing tourist infrastructure in Kashmir due to which a few five-star hotels have come up in the last couple of years and many more are in the pipeline in the private sector.” Commenting on the infrastructural development needed to place Kashmir as a top destination
8 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
Ghulan Ahmad Mir
on the global map, Mir agreed that there is a lot that needs to
be done. “We have improved a lot but there is scope for doing more. We have limited accommodation when it comes to high end tourists. We need to look into this issue. Similarly we have less number of hotels of international standard,” he informed. The tourism department is planning to push Kashmir as an adventure tourism destination. Mir stated, “Domestic tourists do come to the Valley to see the scenic beauty of Kashmir. But international tourists and young domestic tourists now want to also indulge in adventure activities. This year the Kashmir Festival was organised for this very
purpose with the main focus on adventure activities. We organised rafting expeditions, paragliding events, cycling, skating, kayaking, trekking and other events during the festival. Our aim is to make Kashmir an adventure tourism destination. We would like to participate in travel marts, travel festivals at national and international levels so as to promote Kashmir as destination for adventure activities among the tourism trade.” Recently, the J&K Bank Mughal Rally, an annual motorsport race, ran its fourth edition, with about 120 rallyists from various parts of the
country. The third season of the J&K Racing Series, rechristened Formula BMW, may hold its third round on the wide road skirting the Dal Lake in Srinagar in the first week of September. The ministry is also promoting new tourist spots in the Valley. “We are already beyond the Dal Lake. We are now seeing tourists at other destinations as well. The ministry will be emphasising on virgin areas like Dodpathri, Lolab Bhangus and Yousmarg besides other destinations to be explored as potential tourist destinations with huge infrastructure,” revealed the state tourism minister.
MARKETS
Delta Corp looks at commencing Daman operations Sudipta Dev – Mumbai CASINO ROYALE GOA is the country's largest offshore casino owned by Delta Corp. The company focuses on two business segments - gaming and hospitality. “The business of hospitality is complementary to our gaming business. Globally, most casinos are attached to or part of a hotel as it is an important component of the customer service element and marketing strategy. As part of our marketing strategy, the hotels that we have fall into different categories so that we can attract customers from different segments and offer them options,” said the spokesperson of Delta Corp. The company currently has two properties -Deltin Suites (owned), a 106key hotel in North Goa; and Villa De Penha (leased), a 26key boutique waterfront property. Delta Corp has also invested in a five-star deluxe hotel in Daman that is proposed to house a large-format casino as well. Pointing out that Delta’s core focus area remains that of gaming and hospitality, the spokesperson said that the company will not invest in standalone hotel properties which do not offer a gaming option. “Consequently, we will only consider regions that permit gaming in India. These are Goa, Daman & Diu, and Sikkim,” he added. The company is presently operating in Goa and is looking to commence its Daman operations as well. “We have not yet explored Sikkim but that remains a jurisdiction which fits our criteria and can be looked at from a future strategy point of view. Currently, however, we have no plans to be in Sikkim,” he mentioned. Casino Royale Goa, anchored in Mandovi River, Goa, has more than 10,000 square feet of live gaming area. Deltin Suites is an all suite luxury property.
9 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
MARKETS
HVS releases 18th edition of India Trends & Opportunities Report EH STAFF Mumbai THE TRENDS & Opportunities Report, published annually by HVS India for the past 18 years, depicts and analyses the key trends in the hotel performance of the country and presents the outlook of HVS with special emphasis on 13 major Indian markets. The report also outlines existing and future opportunities in the hospitality industry of specific interest to investors, developers and hotel operators. The key extracts of this year’s report include: India’s supply of rooms in the organised sector almost quadrupled to over 93,000 at the end of 2012/13 from about 25,000 in 2000/01. Despite supply growing at 17.8 per cent CAGR, demand kept pace and grew at a
17.3 per cent CAGR between 2008/09 and 2012/13. A majority of the branded hotels in the country are less than five years old, which basically means that a majority of our hotel room inventory came online during the five years of the worst financial crisis the world has seen since the Great Depression. Budget and mid market hotels are increasingly forming a larger percentage of the total inventory and now accounting for nearly half of all existing hotel rooms and close to 60 per cent of the future supply in the country. A little over 50,000 branded rooms will be developed over the next five years, taking the total supply to about 144,000 rooms by 2017/18. As much as 90 per cent of our demand, if not more, comes from compa-
nies resulting in hotels struggling with low occupancy levels during weekends. In 2012/13, only five per cent of our hotels attained an average rate of over US$ 200 and no city hotels in the country attained an average rate in excess of US$ 300. The nationwide RevPAR recorded a 5.2 per cent drop in 2012/13 over the previous year
India’s supply of rooms in the organised sector almost quadrupled to over 93,000
with the five-star segment registering the maximum decline. Conversely, budget and economy hotels registered the highest RevPAR growth (10.4 per cent) on the back of a 14.7 per cent increase in average rate. Mumbai has the highest existing supply of branded rooms in the country (12,807), followed closely by Delhi (11,338) and Bengaluru (8,536). Noida (including Greater Noida) continued to rank last amongst the 13 major markets with an existing base of only 836 branded rooms. Kolkata emerged as the best performing hotel market in terms of occupancy (69.5 per cent) in 2012/13, while Mumbai registered the highest average rate (`7,646) and RevPAR (` 4,881). Agra, Pune, Goa and Jaipur were the only major ho-
tel markets in the country to record notable RevPAR growths in 2012/13. Kaushik Vardharajan, managing director, HVS Global Hospitality Services, South Asia said, “Clearly, India does not have a demand problem. In the 18 years of data we have amassed at HVS, we have seen demand drop only once, in late 2008, due to the collapse of the global economy following the Lehman debacle and then due to the terrorist attacks on Mumbai. Since then, demand has surged again.” Manav Thadani, chairman, HVS South Asia added, “The last fiscal saw a distinct rise in transaction activity, in addition to a number of hotels being re-branded. This is a clear sign of a maturing industry with investors and operators standing to gain.”
Della Resorts to attract MICE,wedding segment New luxury resort in Lonavala's unique mixed used project Sudipta Dev Mumbai LONAVALA GOT a new fivestar luxury resort with the opening of Della Resorts. Following the success of his first extreme sports adventure park, Jimmy Mistry, chairman and managing director, Della Tecnica has added another feather in his cap with this new launch. Considering the fact that Della Adventure had hosted 650 corporates in the last one year, the MICE segment continues to remain the focus of Mistry's strategy. “We have been hosting seven to eight corporate groups every week from across India. Our presence in digital media is very strong,” stated Mistry. The
10 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
Jimmy Mistry
company also has its own online booking engine. The sales team however approaches the
corporate client directly. Along with MICE, Mistry is also targeting the wedding segment. “We are already doing 70 per cent occupancy in the new resort,” pointed out Mistry. Della Resorts has 19 banqueting locations (both indoor and outdoor) that can accommodate 750 people. Mistry acknowledged that having done business with large companies in the last two decades he has a good understanding of what corporates want. “When they come here we try and provide the best facility in terms of hospitality and service,” he stated. The resort has 44 executive rooms overlooking the adventure park. There are 48 superior rooms, which are across two levels and also have per-
sonal sit-out. Yet to be inaugurated is the 2000 sq ft Presidential Suite and the luxurious Della Suite. There are five restaurants, three lounge bars and nightclub. These include Café 24 (24 hour coffee shop and multi-cuisine restaurant), PNF Restaurant & Bar (for Indian, Mal-
wani and Oriental cuisine); Crème Della (a pure vegetarian restaurat); Carbon Café (a QSR); Gaming Street (indoor gaming food joint); and P18 Nightclub & Lounge that will be launched soon. For recreation, the adventure park now has more than hundred activities, informed Mistry.
MARKETS
Marriott International launches free mobile travel game EH Staff Mumbai MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL has launched Xplor, a groundbreaking mobile travel game celebrating adventure. A first in the hotel industry, Xplor engages people of all ages to virtually see the world by visiting five gateway cities and accomplishing varied sightseeing challenges along the way. Xplor was developed by Marriott International in partnership with Evviva Games, a division of Evviva Brands. It is the second social game offered by Marriott. In 2011, Marriott was the first global hospitality company to launch a social game with My Marriott Hotel. The game was designed to attract potential employees to careers in hospitality by engaging them in the virtual experience of operating a hotel kitchen and attracted players from 138 countries in the first year alone. “Social gaming is part of our innovation strategy to engage customers and attract the next generation of social, mobile travelers and employees to Marriott. With more than half a billion people playing social games globally—this is an exciting new channel for our company to promote travel and engage with people,” said David Rodriguez, executive vice president and chief human resources officer, Marriott International. “We see guests effortlessly blending work and play in a global, mobile world. They embrace technology as a central part of their lifestyle,” said Stephanie Linnartz, executive vice president and chief marketing and commercial officer, Marriott International. “I applaud the entrepreneurial spirit behind this game, conceived by a group of employees who observed guests playing games to decompress between meetings, and convinced us to test a new way of engaging with guests,” said David Grissen, group president, Marriott International.
11 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Magic Holidays, Lonavala PANORAMIC GROUP has announced the opening of its 36th resort at Lonavala. The new resort in Lonavala is spread across a picturesque landscape of 2.5 acres. There is a restaurant attached to the resort along with 20 fullyfurnished rooms. Apart from this, the resort can also be used to host events as there are two meeting rooms (which can accommodate 30 pax each) and one banquet hall (for 250-plus pax) on the premises.
Ahoy! Asia BRAINCHILD OF ARUN Chanda and Satyajit Mukherjee, Ahoy!Asia was opened in New Delhi. The restaurant offers authentic flavours of food and beverage from various regions of China, Mongolia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand and Japan. The ambience offers bright and colourful interiors with lively music and innovative meal combos.
The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore THE RITZ-CARLTON, Bangalore will open its doors in September this year. The brand is owned and developed by Nitesh Estates. The hotel with several highend luxury amenities, first of its kind will have 277 rooms, a 15,000 sq ft spa by ESPA, and six upscale F&B outlets. The property will have a ballroom capacity for 1,000 people.
Hilton Okinawa Kin,Japan HILTON has signed a management agreement with Dijaya Land Development to manage Hilton Okinawa Kin in Kin, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, Japan. Scheduled to open in 2016, the 190-room Hilton Okinawa Kin offers access to a variety of sightseeing spots including Churaumi Aquarium, Okinawa National Ocean Park, Kokusai Street, Shuri Castle, Statue of Himeyuri and the northern resort areas. The hotel will offer an all-day-dining restaurant, one specialty restaurant and a bar. It will also have a business lounge, meeting rooms, boardrooms and a ballroom, plus recreational facilities such as a fitness club, a spa, a car park and swimming pool.
12
EXPRESS HOSPITALITY
September 1-15, 2013
The RitzCarlton, Herzliya RITZ-CARLTON will open its first hotel in Israel in late 2013. The RitzCarlton, Herzliya is located in the exclusive residential seafront town north of Tel Aviv, and will be the first global luxury branded hotel in the country. Located on the Marina overlooking the Mediterranean, Rani Ziss Architects designed the 12-storey property and New Yorkbased interior design firm Studio Gaia created the interiors, with Israeli studio Gad Halperin producing the lobby and restaurant concepts. Facilities for business travellers at the property include 4,500 square feet of meeting space with views of the Marina for both business and social events and a Business Centre.
NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Wyndham Cusco Saqsayhuaman in Cusco, Peru WYNDHAM HOTEL GROUP has opened the Wyndham Cusco Saqsayhuaman in Cusco, Peru. The property is located at a short ride from downtown Cusco, the Inca ruins of Macchu Picchu and the Andes Mountains. The 79-room hotel features a premier lounge and oxygen bar, a skywalk balcony offering local and international cuisine and the Samay Wasi Inka Spa, which combines ancient Inca healing techniques with modern luxury spa treatments.
Grand Hyatt Shenyang THE FIRST HYATTBRANDED hotel in Northeast China, the Grand Hyatt Shenyang, has opened. Occupying a newly built 29-floor tower, Grand Hyatt Shenyang offers 353 guestrooms, which are among the largest in the city, starting at 452 square feet (42 square meters). The hotel also features 34 suites, ranging from 904 to 2,713 square feet (84 to 252 square meters).
Dusit Thani urban resort, Singapore THE NEW DELUXE Dusit Thani golf resort hotel will include some 200 guestrooms, four dining and entertainment outlets, meetings and events spaces and a spa. Located within the grounds of the 36hole Laguna National Golf and Country Club, it will be one of the first resorts with direct access to a golf club.
13 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
PRODUCT TRACKER
Clay Craft CLAY CRAFT has launched 250 new ranges of products in the Fine Bone China, Premium Plastic and Thermoware segment. The steel thermoware is specially designed for the health conscious food lovers. Traditional and Mughal theme based products are launched to cater the demand of up-coming Indian festive seasons, corporate and social gifting culture. The main production line is tuned to handle large volumes of bone china crockery in a variety of shapes and combinations. Starting from a range of 100 ml to 500 ml mugs, set of cup and saucers, various combinations of tea/coffee sets, dinnerware for six persons serving and serving for eight persons in combination of 18 pieces to 124 pieces are available.
Royce ROYCE, one of the world’s finest chocolates, makes its way from Japan to the Indian shores this month, with the opening of its flagship store at Palladium, Lower Parel, Mumbai. Burgundy Hospitality, a first-of-its-kind fine foods and luxury gourmet venture by Avani Raheja and Samir Gadhok, is the partner for this unique brand of artisanal chocolates in India. The brand has also introduced its famous 'Criollo Chocolate' in India. ROYCE’ is also renowned for its quirky novelties like crisp potato chips covered with chocolate, chocolate almonds dusted with bitter cocoa powder and a 'Prafeuille Chocolat' inspired by the French pastry Mille-feuille- 3 millimetres thin chocolate squares with gooey fillings of berries.
PREMIUM MONDIAL PREMIER MONDIAL has introduced components by E.G.O, one of the world’s largest companieshigh quality, durable, performance guaranteed : selector switches, energy regulators, thermostats, hot plates etc.
Imagine from Kurlon KURLON has introduced another innovative Next Gen product ‘Imagine’- a luxury foam mattress to elevate the experience of one’s sleep to the highest level. This latest offering is a result of detailed research and development that was put in to understand the customer’s need and their comfort quotient inside out. This
14 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
mattress caters to the ergonomic needs of the customers by supporting the shape of the body as it rests on it, thus enhancing the comfort and the health benefits of it. The product is available at a height of 6.5 feet x 5 feet and is priced at `35,710.
MARKETS
Taj Krishna receives CII 14th National Award for Excellence in Energy Management EH Staff Mumbai
T
aj Krishna has been named as 14th National Award winner for Excellence in Energy Efficiency 2013 by CII, under building category. The Taj Krishna hotel in Hyderabad was recognised for exceptional achievement in energy conservation and stood one among five top excellence energy efficient units in India. Taj Krishna Hyderabad had to undergo very
stringent processes for selection within the building category to achieve the excellence in energy efficiency award given by CII. Mahesh Agnihotri, chief engineer and Arnab Mondal, deputy chief engineer received the National Award for Excellence in Energy Management for Taj Krishna. Speaking on the occasion, Sarabjeet Singh, director operations TAJGVK Hotels & Resorts, and GM, Taj Krishna said, “Taj Krishna has always been
proactive in adopting green initiatives and the prestigious award is just an affirmation that we care for our environment and the world we inhabit. In the past one year we have implemented various energy conservation initiatives like adopting energy efficient greener technologies, LED induction lights, wave generator and ioniser for cooling towers, boiler scrubber, environment friendly chemicals for various usages, solar hot water generation, complete usage of ETP
water and cooling towers, total preventive maintenance of machineries to run at optimum load & utilisation of renewable energy. Moreover initiatives adopted across all areas, i.e. water conservation, fossil fuel conservation and others have been shared and adopted by peer hotels.� The objective of the awards is to recognise and award Excellence in Energy Management in industries and to facilitate sharing of information by excellent energy efficient com-
panies. The entire focus of the evaluation was to assess the trend of reduction in specific energy consumption, its proximity towards global best in energy consumption, innovation in identifying and implementing energy saving projects, savings achieved, methodology adopted during the implementation, proven efforts taken by the company to sustain the savings and utilisation of renewable energy and waste materials.
15 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
SPA & WELLNESS
For a group that has an 80-year-old history and continues to reinvent itself through several pioneering ventures, Kairali Ayurvedic Group's greatest pride is its flagship property in Palakkad - The Ayurvedic Healing Village that draws believers in the curative powers of Ayurveda from across the world BY SUDIPTA DEV
Haven for
holistic healing A
bout a two hours drive from Coimbatore International Airport, in the languid backyard of Palakkad is a tranquil retreat that attracts people from across the globe who have faith in the healing power of ancient Ayurveda. The Ayurvedic Healing Village has been one of India's foremost residential treatment centres for more than two decades. The Ayurvedic Healing Village continues to be a signature property for the group that is now following a strategic expansion plan across
16 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
all its verticals. The property covers an area of 50 acres which includes villas, treatment centre, herbal garden, paddy fields, etc. “It is not a resort, it is a retreat centre, a perfect place for undergoing healing. The experience here is much more immersive. The guests do not come here for enjoyment but treatment,” says Emily Yates, retreat consultant, Kairali Ayurvedic Group. A lot of introductory courses are also organised, both in Ayurvedic treatments, yoga and meditation. Yates is deeply involved in a new
project – Kairali Yoga, which is part of the education division. “Education is the area that we are really innovating now. Kairali Yoga is part of the education division. It is an international venture that involves bringing international teachers of very high renown to India to run retreats. The facilities and the healing environment is ideal for such retreats,” says Yates. This includes the ten-day Tai Chi and Qi Gong retreat by Shaolin Monk Shi XingLik to Ayurveda and Restorative Yoga Retreat with special guest
teacher Taryn Herselman and Yates herself.
Ancient remedies, modern ailments “The important thing is that we have not strayed from the traditional Ayurvedic principles and systems. But we have also modernised according to modern diseases,” states Yates. The treatment packages cover an extensive range - Kairali's Preventive & Regenerative Package; treatment for sinusitis and migraine; treatment for bronchial diseases; beauty and eye care;
holistic treatment for rejuvenation and detoxification; stress removal and strain; nervous disability; weightloss programme; arthiritis and spondilitis; skin diseases; slip disc; chronic back pain; rheumatism; Panchakarma therapy; post pregnancy programme; facial paralysis; de-addition and rehabilitation from alcohol/drugs/tobacco, and more. The aim is to ensure holistic healing - the environment, daily schedule, treatments and food is focused on attaining this
objective. The name of the property was also changed from Kairali Ayurvedic Health Resort to The Ayurvedic Healing Village so that there is no doubt in the minds of the guests as to what the property offers to them. A large segment of the guests are Europeans, in particular Germans who seem to have a keen interest in the Ayurveda. “Prior to coming here, they discuss with our doctors which treatment is suitable for them and for how long they have to stay here - whether 14 days, or one month,” says Alavoor Umesh, general manager, The Ayurvedic Healing Village. Many of the guests are NRIs. From India the source markets are primarily Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. “People from Chennai also come, but mostly during off season. The off season starts from February and ends in August,” mentions Umesh. Mostly it is individuals who come from treatment, however sometimes there are couples/families who come together to undergo personalised treatment for their individual problems. There are a significant percentage of repeat guests also come to take treatment for
the same or different ailments.
Extensive facilities The property has 30 guest villas that have been built according to Vaastu Shastra. The villa categories range from deluxe to classic, royal and Maharaja suite. No two villa is alike – from external structure to the interior decor. A Valambari Conch is strategically placed in every room for giving positive vibrations. The floor in every villa has red oxide according to Ayurvedic principles. Extensive landscaping marks the property with water bodies flowing between the villas. “We are planning to renovate some rooms and also increase the number of cottages,” says Umesh, pointing out that the role of the chef is very important in their overall perspective. The speciality Ayurvedic restaurant serves 100 per cent vegetarian food. The food is cooked specifically for what is suitable to the guests according to the instructions of the in-house doctors. There are also complementary diet cooking classes for guests. The facilities include an indoor recreation centre, swimming pool, amphitheatre, business centre, conference rooms
including one with a capacity of 80 seaters. A natural environment is necessary for holistic healing - the property has 600 coconut trees, 150 teak wood, tamarind, mango and fig trees. The treatment centres at the Ayurvedic hospital has separate facilities for men and women. The treatment staff, most of whom are locals, have undergone extensive training in traditional Ayurvedic massage and other techniques. Complementary yoga classes are organised in the morning and meditation sessions are held every evening. Kairali Ayurvedic Group has a strong CSR focus - in terms of engaging the locals, providing them with employment opportunities, providing funding for skills training and healthcare of local community and education. The group has funded schools for the blind. “Our business practice is very much committed to sustainability,” mentions Yates. The history of Kairali Ayurvedic Group goes back to 80 years, today it is the third generation which is spearheading the expansion. There are plans to expand across its different verticals - Ayurvedic Destinations, Wellness Destinations
and Ayurveda Centres. The group has also started a consultancy division and is also taking up management contracts with other resorts. The different verticals in the group include Ayurvedic Destinations (Ayurvedic Healing Village in Palakkad and Om Beach Ayurvedic Resort in Gokarna) and Wellness Destinations (Estuary View Resort in Karwar). Two upcoming properties are in Khajuraho and Goa. “The Om Beach Ayurvedic Resort is a mixture of retreat and adventure - along with treat-
ment practices there are many water sports facilities. There are also trekking options. Estuary View Resort is at a stunning location, at the confluence of the Arabian Sea and Kali River, the resort is surrounded by water. Our spa is on an island,” says Yates. The group currently has 35 Ayurveda centres, in India and overseas, with plans to add 15 more. Over the next five to 10 years there are plans for another 20 more centres. The patented medicines and body products are provided to the franchisees.
17 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
INTERIORS & DESIGN
'THE REGIONAL
CONTEXT AND CULTURE GUIDE OUR DESIGN PROCESS’ Ar Tony Joseph, principal architect, Stapati believes that architecture evolves out of a balanced understanding of functional aspects, client philosophy and local material availability. By Kahini Chakraborty What has been your design and work philosophy? Our designs interpret traditional architecture in a modern vocabulary, with the local context as a major generator. We also believe that if we are true to ourselves and to the land, the projects become sustainable by themselves. Our designs are thus rooted in the place, taking cues from the culture and vernacular influences to evolve a unique spatial narrative. How have you grown as an architect over the years? After over 20 odd years as a practising architect, one thing
that I’ve learned is the need to constantly evolve, to keep updating and to keep experiencing life to the fullest as architecture is never a standalone art but one that encompasses a very vast canvas. So it’s imperative for one to keep learning and exploring. What are your views on the role of an architect in shaping a project? An architect has an immense role in shaping our built environment and on guiding the kind of dialogue that people have with their immediate surroundings. In that sense, the responsibilities of an architect are very high,
which is always a motivation for us. Each project is unique in itself as to the kind of questions raised. For all our projects, the site and context are extremely important which we try to address through our designs. Hence the experiences and stories vary according to the context of each project. The regional context and culture guide our design process and serve as the basic template on which our designs are based. This ensures that our designs, though contemporary, are rooted in the vernacular and help us in offering a unique hospitality experience for the end user. Could you provide us an insight into the structure and design incorporated in your projects? If one were to analyse all the projects - Alila Diwa, Goa, Radisson Temple Bay, Kumarakom Lake Resort and Vythiri Resort, Madhubhan Resort and Spa you will realise that there is an underlying continuity in all the spaces in terms of ideas, yet, each of the projects respond to their unique contexts in a different manner, which helps them to be relevant. All these projects have essentially evolved out of the regional context and responds to the vernacular of that particular region. It is this emphasis that has ensured that all
18 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
these projects are continuously evolving and are highly appreciated even long after they have become operational. What are the different aspects and challenges while developing any hospitality project ? All the aspects such as the site, context, client philosophy, functional requirements, branding etc, all have to be considered while designing a hospitality project. One of the main challenges is to create a unique vocabulary for each project and thereby develop a strong identity for each. Our practice is more concerned with the creation of spaces that are timeless,
spaces which endure, rather than reacting to trends that are momentary. What are the parameters that the architect should consider while designing ecofriendly hotels? For us, each project has to respect the site and the land which is the starting point for anything sustainable. We also believe that architecture which is evolved out of a balanced understanding of the functional aspects, client philosophy, climatic considerations, local material availability etc, while being true to oneself and to the project, is inherently sustainable. This approach has become part of our DNA.
INTERIORS & DESIGN YOTEL cabins may be smaller than traditional hotel rooms but through great design they offer a beautifully designed, flexible smart space to suit individual needs in which to relax, refresh, connect and sleep
TRANSIT SPACE Y
OTEL IS THE only hotel company to sell rooms by the hour (at its airport hotels only). This allows London Heathrow to achieve an annual occupancy in excess of 200 per cent. In its first full year the 669-bedroom YOTEL New York Times Square achieved a room occupancy of 85 per cent at an ADR of US$ 200. YOTEL was created by YO! founder Simon Woodroffe OBE and YOTEL CEO Gerard Greene. The idea was conceived by Woodroffe after he was upgraded into first class on a British Airways flight. He decided to translate the language and the luxury of airline travel and bring a touch of Japanese influence into a small but luxurious cabin. Greene had spent years staying in boring and expensive hotels and decided to do something about it. In 2002 he met with Woodroffe, secured funding for a prototype cabin from partners IFA Hotels & Resorts and then pulled together a team to evolve the idea into reality. Together they embarked on an incredible journey to open the first airport hotel in 2007.
Smart space With design-led rooms of as little as 100 sq ft, YOTEL airport
hotels are situated inside terminal buildings to give customers the ultimate experience of being minutes away from departure and arrivals gates. This means that these hotels are developing space that would otherwise not been utilised, thus conserving resources by renovating existing buildings and making use of the structures that are already in place at the airports. The fact that YOTELS are situated inside the terminal building, also limits the carbon footprint of customers to an absolute minimum. No transport, buses and taxis needed to get to the hotel. Cabins are bookable by the hour with check in and check out times totally flexible.There are three cabin types at airports: a 'Standard' bunk style single cabin (can be shared by two, a little cosy but perfect for a few hours), 'Premium' double cabins and 'Premium' twin cabins. Airport locations are Gatwick Airport, South Terminal; Heathrow Airport, Terminal 4 and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. In June 2011 YOTEL opened its flagship city centre hotel just two blocks west of Times Square in New York. Cabins are 30 per cent bigger than the airport product and come with floor to ceiling windows. There are four main cabin types: 'Premium' cabins with Queen size double beds, Corner
cabins with dual aspect windows, FIRST cabins with King beds (some that come with private terraces and outdoor tubs) and VIP 2 cabin suites! The hotel was designed by Rockwell Group of New York in collaboration with Softroom of London and features 20,000 sq ft of flexible and dynamic entertainment space including the largest hotel terrace in the city.
Environment friendly In September 2012, YOTEL was awarded the LEED Gold certification by the US Green Building Council for demonstrating remarkable green building leadership when constructing and operating the environmentally friendly hotel in New York. - the only green hotel
in NYC in the group to obtain the Gold status. YOTEL has occupancy sensors in each cabin that automatically turn on the lights to greet guests when they walk in the door and turn them off when guests leave. The occupancy sensors also scale back the heating and air conditioning when the room is vacant. YOTEL holds renewable energy certificates, which equal to 35 per cent of the building’s total predicted energy use for two years, supported by the generation of wind and solar power. YOTEL invested in a high efficiency internal and external lighting system, which includes LED lamps that shine as bright as halogen lamps using a fraction of the energy. YOTEL has a heat recovery
system that captures the heat and humidity from the exhaust air and transfers it to the supply in winter and vice versa in the summer. This ensures that all the energy invested in tempering the ventilation air is not lost from the building. YOTEL has implemented an outdoor collection system that captures water, which is then used to irrigate the landscaped terrace. This method not only conserves drinking water for potable needs, but also reduces storm water runoff from the site. In New York there are Galleys on each floor, the YOTEL version of a small communal kitchen, where guests have access to complimentary purified water to fill their own water bottles rather than buy bottled water.
19 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
cover ) With the per capita spend on beauty, preventive and health segment growing steeply, wellness therapies will be the drivers of growth in the spa sector of the future BY KAHINI CHAKRABORTY
THE HEALING touch T he spending of urban consumers as well as inbound tourists on health and wellness tourism has witnessed a steady growth of 10-12 per cent over a period of five years and it stands at around 15-20 per cent currently, is forecasted to be in the range of 35-40 per cent by 2025. Current market trends indicate a trend of 70 per cent outbound and 30 per cent inbound tourists contributing to the Indian wellness industry. In the future there will be a paradigm shift of the inbound market growing up to 40-50 per cent in embracing the spa and wellness culture. The major wellness and tourism products offered in India are Ayurveda, traditional Indian therapies, Yoga, Swedish massages, Aromatherapy and traditional Thai massages. There is a younger generation who is well travelled, have already experienced wellness at a personal and peer level who will drive the spa and wellness business over the next decade. While
20 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
this was considered exclusively the domain of women, men are increasingly becoming more conscious about their fitness, health and looks and this combination is creating a new audience segment for spa goers. Social ‘spa-ing’ is also a new trend with small groups of like minded spa travellers going to health retreats for complete detox or rejuvenation while enjoying the sense of camaraderie. “Everyone will prefer the wellness culture in the years to come. But the age group of 25-45 years is the main segment. This is the age group that is working very hard to set up their career or business. These are the people who are coming or will be coming for spa treatments for complete relaxation and rejuvenation. This includes both men and women,” says Pradeep Kumar, spa head, Amatrra.
So spa, so good Looking at the growth of this segment, today there are many foreign brands and companies which have entered into the market and comprise of about 20-30 per cent of the entire pie. Growth in medi-spas and therapeutic spas on the back of increasing disposable incomes and
( SPENDING OF INBOUND TOURISTS ON HEALTH AND WELLNESS TOURISM
THE MAIN FOCUS
2015 (PROJECTED)
2013
`4500
`10800 CRORE
CRORE
TREATMENTCOSTS (US $) BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT
USA
MORE THAN
UK
UP TO
2,00,000
THAILAND
UP TO
62,500
I NDIA
2,00,000
AROUND
20,500
accessibility of people has also formed a strong trend in India. “Per capita spend on beauty, preventive and health segment has grown steeply. Common man has begun to explore options available under the wellness and alternative ambit. Fitness, slimming services, health and wellness food and beverages continue to grow upwards. Rejuvenation is in infancy but is a rapidly growing segment. Alternate therapy is a larger and more established market in India,”adds Kumar. In the future, result oriented wellness therapies will be the drivers of growth in the spa sector and hotels catering to this segment will be the preferred choice for inbound tourists and high end luxury travellers. Elaborating on the most favoured wellness treatments opted by travellers and patients, Dr Manjula Shettigar, spa manager, Goa Marriott Resort & Spa says, “Body massages like Swedish, deep tissue, Shiatsu, Balinese, Thai massage and Kalari, Abhyanga have their own importance. But apart from these, medi spas are coming up with new technologies. Ready to use products with herbal ingredients with natural preservatives are in demand. Natural mud and marine
BYPASS SURGERY
LIVER TRANSPLANT
KNEE SURGERY
1.50,000 TO 2,00,000
3,00,000
16,000 TO 17,000
2,00,000
2,50,000
15,000
AROUND
AROUND
14,250
4,000 TO 6,000
products are the upcoming spa products, which are in demand because of their valuable benefits. Treatments ranging from plasma therapy (in which a patient's platelet-rich plasma is extracted from their blood and injected into wrinkles), botox, whitening and brightening facials using pearls, caviar, diamonds, etc, and facilities from infrared saunas to oxygen therapy and salt rooms, are also giving a boost to the spa and beauty industry.” Kumar adds, “The medical/spa services offered in India are currently as good as any other Asian countries or even at par with many European countries, but still we need a government authority to have regulation in the evergrowing spa and wellness sector to ensure the product quality, hygiene and services are met as per international standards at all levels.”
The challenges Dr B Rajesh Srinivas, president, Sohum Spa believes that one of the current problems plaguing the industry is lack of support from banking industry and governmental finance bodies who do not provide loans towards initial capital and working capital expenses. Finding
75,000 4,000
7,000 4,000
trained staff is also a problem leading to slower growth. “While these are being addressed, it is important that the government further strengthens the positioning of India as a wellness destination. In order to promote health and wellness tourism, the government should provide funding for wellness projects on easy terms, provide tax breaks for wellness facilities, provide legal provisioning for insurance companies to cover wellness therapies and work with spa operators to provide training and thereafter jobs for youth to work as therapists and managers,” adds Srinivas. “It is important to have a govern-
21 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
cover )
ment licensing authority to implement standards and accreditation of spas and monitor their functioning, to open government accredited spa training institute, to create uniformity in traditional treatments and standardise the import of spa and wellness products and finally the government sustenance to make our country a global spa destination,” states Kumar. Multiple central and state taxes, total applicable taxes for all inclusive wellness programmes in several states now stand at 20 per cent, which is a serious deterrent to the global traveller. “If we need to compete on this stage, we have to be able to offer value pricing for the superior services India has to offer and this can only be achieved through lower tax rates,” feels Mahesh Natarajan, VP - Marketing, IHHR
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Hospitality. Adding to the same, Dr Apoorva Shah, Richfeel opines, “The main challenge we face today is that the spa industry is not regulated by a common governing authority to maintain standardisation. Many common therapies are done differently and in different spas with change in techniques and products, through the origin of the technology is one and common for all.” Besides this, the main problem is the lack of educated staff. With spas mushrooming everywhere, untrained people are being hired which is a very dangerous trend. “These novices with no knowledge of the human body or hygiene or any information on the various treatments are taught the basic moves and left to work on guests. It is scary to say the least. However, we cannot al-
ways keep pace with demand hence many hotels and companies tend to poach from more well established brands. A lot of times, staff get lured by higher salaries, but their training and development needs are not met and they tend to stagnate whilst their peers who choose cutting edge companies develop at a much faster rate,” adds Natarajan. Another issue that needs immediate check is unauthentic wellness therapies introduced in the market and fast mushrooming wellness and spa outlets in the Indian market. Even though the accreditation process is stringent enough, the flaw is in implementing the law. Closing the loop on the same, Kumar adds, “The spa and wellness industry should be placed under one umbrella and create standardised operating procedures for training
as well as therapies, strict monitoring of the functioning of existing wellness centres, ensure to make the government authorised licenses mandatory for the existing and upcoming spas and finally continuous professional development programmes run for the spa professionals helping the industry to be constantly updated to the latest developments in the global spa industry.”
Filling the gaps in medical tourism Growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40 per cent, the inflow of medical tourists in India is said to cross 32 lakh by 2015 from the current level of 8.5 lakh, as per latest study of Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). The Indian medical tourism industry is cur-
rently poised at around `4,500 crore and is likely to be worth `10,800 crore by 2015. And if this report isn't enough to state the segment's potential in the country, FICCI in its latest report also states that the wellness industry will be a US$ 685 billion industry which is a part of the medical segment gamut. With numbers and statistics showing the growth of this segment, industries such as retail, healthcare, hospitality have also been busy assimilating wellness as part of their value proposition, opening up huge opportunities towards growth. The other reasons as to why India could in the future emerge as a leading hub for excellent medical treatment is because of its strength of highly qualified medical professionals and equally higher qualities of availability of nurses. India is estimated to have over 7.5 lakh
( qualified doctors and numbers of qualified nursing graduates and diploma holders are equally good. But even though India has it all to make it a successful medical and wellness destination what we severely lack is presentation of overall treatment of packages which are available through proper communication mediums which could facilitate potential patients to visit India. As per industry veterans there has yet not been any concrete effort from the Indian government to promote the health sector as a potential medical destination. Patients coming to India still face bottlenecks to obtain M-Visa which takes 15 days to a month. But if we take Singapore as an example, the government has gone out of its way to promote medical tourism as it thinks of the sector being as one of the major revenue generators for the country, along with publicising about their products in Indian magazines. Only if the government wakes up and takes corrective measures to get its strategies right and promote medical tourism in a big way then hospital revenues can increase by up to 30-40 per cent which could amount to approximately US$ 10-12 billion. But even though there are bottlenecks where product awareness and effective promotional activities need to be sorted out by the government, according to ASSOCHAM, India holds major advantage as a result of which movement of patients from various developing and developed countries would shift towards India as its hospital infrastructure is not only confined to large metros but is equally getting better in tertiary towns in which the cost of living is still lower with quality of supreme nature. While top notch healthcare facilities in sectors like car-
HOLISTIC HEALTH AND NATURE GO HAND IN HAND IN TODAY’S WORLD, with the rising stress levels among all, there is a growing need for wellness centres of all kinds. These will grow in leaps and bounds in the years to come. The higher strata of society have higher stress levels, very little time and plenty of disposable income. People have realised that the less time they are able to take out of their busy careers should be meaningfully spent on recharging their batteries. Holistic wellness is the underdog that some may have forgotten, it is the root from which modern medicine has evolved. Holistic wellness puts you on a path to sustained good health, it is a way of life, a prevention rather than a quick fix cure. At Ananda in the Himalayas, this is at the core of what we do. Besides the spa programme for which we are best known, we teach people to look within and determine the changes that need to be made in order to live a healthy life. This may be their diet, aspects of their lifestyle and other things. Holistic health and nature go hand in hand. Nature plays a very important part in human beings and as
diology, joint replacement, orthopedic surgery, ophthalmology, transplants and urology offered at a low price are certain key factors making India a favoured destination in terms of medical tourism, states like Andhra Pradesh,
Ashok Khanna
cities expand and grow, it is nature that is sacrificed first. The first step to effective rejuvenation is to be able to breathe fresh air and be amidst natural surroundings as this immediately brings mental peace and clarity. Therefore it is essential for truly holistic wellness centres to be located in such surroundings in order to aid effective holistic health. This was primary in my mind when I identified the palace estate of the Maharaja of Tehri Garhwal near Rishikesh in the Himalayan foothills as the perfect location to create Ananda. I foresee that there will be a movement towards holistic health and the demand for this will increase significantly from where we are at now.
Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, West Bengal and New Delhi have been fast emerging as India’s best medical centres with several hospitals and specialty clinics coming up in and around the prominent cities in the
THE MAIN FOCUS
past few years. Keeping this positive development in mind, India is definitely at par with its Asian peers in all aspects of medical and wellness tourism. Patients from across the world also visit India for facelifts, dental treatment, botox treatment, tummy tucks, eye care and other such medical services at hospitals, treatment centres offering modern medical facilities. Also by the next decade hair, cosmetic procedures and cosmetic dentistry will also be widely adopted. The number of people coming in for surgeries related to cardiac and orthopedic ailments might also increase. Currently India attracts large number of travellers seeking medical treatments from the Middle East followed by Americans, Europeans and people from neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan and others. But it is still facing tough competition from Australia, Belgium, Cuba, Costa Rica, Hungary, Greece, Malaysia, Poland, Singapore, South Africa and Thailand that are actively promoting healthcare tourism worldwide, as per ASSOCHAM. While India barely attracts patients from Middle East, Bangladesh, apart from cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Vellore, Chennai which are known for best medical treatments, it is the tier two cities which have started offering competitive rates. The increase in health GDP ratio would amount to proliferation of new health facilities as well as their centres for patients and such centres of excellence will finally be able to accommodate overseas patients as with increasing health facilities, its health infrastructure would still move for better and find acceptance in great deal of patients.
“Everyone will prefer the wellness culture in the years to come. But the age group of 25-45 years is the main segment” Pradeep Kumar, Spa head, Amatrra
“The main challenge we face today is that the spa industry is not regulated by a common governing authority to maintain standardisation” Dr Apoorva Shah Richfeel
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GM SPEAK
LUXURY T with a legacy The homestead in which Charles Darwin stayed when he visited New South Wales in Australia in 1836 still sits on the 4,000 acre Wolgan Valley Nature Reserve that forms part of the Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa – just one of the amazing legacies that the world's only carbon neutral luxury resort has preserved. BY STEENA JOY
24 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
he 4,000 acre Wolgan Valley Nature Reserve nestles between the Gardens of Stone and Wollemi National Parks which is part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, just three hours from Sydney. The Valley's settlement history can be traced through two families, both of whom were intrinsically linked to the area: the Walkers and the Webbs. James Walker established a cattle outstation in the Valley to serve his main estate called 'Wallerawang', although the original 1,000 acres containing the present homestead were initially granted to Walker's older brother, William.
The Darwin connection The sizeable Wallerawang Homestead, which is now part of Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, was built in 1832 from materials found almost entirely on site using the traditional slab hut method of construction. Four years later Charles Darwin arrived in New South Wales, and on the night
Joost Heymeijer
of January 18 he stayed as a guest at the homestead. The following day he wrote in his notebook a detailed description of Wolgan Valley. The scale of the terrain appears to have made a huge impression on him, and he was prompted to theorise broadly on its formation. The homestead is part of a legacy that has been fully restored by the luxury hotel wholly owned by Emirates airline. Set amidst the stunning scenery of the rugged Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, is the only Australian resort to receive permission to build in a World Heritage Area. Joost Heymeijer, GM, Emirates Wolgan
The homestead is part of a legacy that has been fully restored by the luxury hotel wholly owned by Emirates airline. It is the only Australian resort to receive permission to build in a World Heritage Area Valley Resort & Spa says, “Wolgan was conceived over 10 years ago. It mirrors the Al Maha Desert Resort in Dubai, but in a very Australian setting. A decade ago, there was not a lot of experienced based luxury in Australia – that has now improved.” The resort offers 40 freestanding suites, each with its own private pool and terrace. The Timeless Spa has six double treatment rooms each with its own changing area and private bathroom featuring a shower and a Japanese-style soaking tub to complete the indulgent experience. During winter months, a massive stone fireplace in the relaxation room lends a cosy atmosphere, while in summer, huge doors open to invite the outdoors in.
Eco sensitive luxury Through an integrated management approach, Wolgan Valley is committed to reducing and neutralising all sources of emissions and is currently the only luxury resort in the world to achieve the carbon-neutral certification. “We
own 4,000 acres, but only use two per cent for the resort – the rest is there to be discovered by our guests. We are reverse engineering 200 years of European farming back to the natural state. We are 100 per cent carbon neutral already, but improving year on year,” informs Heymeijer. His take on responsible tourism? “We call it luxury with a conscience – for people who would like to give back, but not give up on luxury,” he affirms. The unique architectural design of the resort is ecologically sustainable. “Our architects were Turner and Associates from Sydney and the id was done by Chada, also from Sydney. The idea was always to build an eco sensitive property, but it is not until you are audited that you know what your carbon status is – we have been neutral now for nearly four years.” The resort which gets 95 per cent leisure guests offers world-class dining with an emphasis on local and organic produce. Its all day dining, The Country Kitchen sources all raw materials from within a
100 mile radius – seasonal and organic. “The kitchen uses a lot of ingredients that we grow in our own heritage gardens,” reveals the GM. Commenting on today's trend of hotels relying on F&B sales and spa revenues to supplement room sales, he says, “We feel the same. That retail sales and spa revenue, as well as premium wine sales are very important to bottomlines.” Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa also has facilities for MICE. “We have wonderful facilities, with a custom built conference room and a variety of break out rooms, as well a boardroom/private dining room + 4,000 acres of bushland. The Asia market is high on the resort's future agenda. The Asia market is massive though sometimes a little over rated. In our case we expect a major impact in about five years from now, but we are gearing up for it now - even our guest service directory has been translated in Mandarin,” says Heymeijer. As for India, “Slowly but surely – not huge as yet, but our prestige is spreading,” he adds.
25 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
SPOTLIGHT
Why Shakespeare's birthplace is iconic for Indian travellers BY Sudipta Dev
S
tratford-upon-Avon in south Warwickshire, England draws visitors from around the world who are keen to know about the place where William Shakespeare was born. It is also among the favourite spots for Indian travellers, most of whom have studied the works of Shakespeare in school. “I do believe that Shakespeare's birthplace is quite iconic for a lot of Indian visitors. Most Indians have studied Shakespeare's works and it is very interesting for them to see
26 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
where he grew up. We also have the Holy Trinity Church which is just down the road where Shakespeare is buried so you can also visit his grave,” said Debbie Beardall, trade & education development manager, The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon. She pointed out that in the birthplace garden there is a bust of Rabindranath Tagore. Many Indians are pleasantly surprised when they come across the statue of Tagore. The bronze bust is in the garden of the house where Shakespeare was born in Henley Street. A number of big events are
lined up for the year 2014 - the 450th anniversary of William Shakespeare's birth. "There will be many events to mark the special occasion on April 23. Normally it is a weekend of celebration, but next year we hope to have a year-long programme of different events,” said Beardall. The celebrations will be bigger and better, in collaboration with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Globe Theatre in London. 2016 is the 400th death anniversary of William Shakespeare and many events are lined up for the year as well. Beardall informed that
there are many happenings in Stratford-upon-Avon all through the year - food festival, music festival, poetry festival, even a river festival. “Indian visitors will always find something happening in the area. And because we are so close to Birmingham there is always the attraction of shopping. Warwick Castle is nearby, also the Cotswolds are just outside Stratford. We also have inter-
esting National Trust properties. Instead of coming for a few hours to Stratford they could stay overnights - we have some great hotels from bed and breakfast to five-star properties,” she said. Beardall remarked that Stratford is close to Birmingham, which has a diverse Indian community. It is also just half an hour from Leicester, which also has a large Indian community.
TECH TALK
REDEFINING IN-ROOM EXPERIENCE The hotel sector is implementing state-of-the art room automation systems which go a long way in augmenting guest services and leads to significant cost saving BY AVINASH K GAUTAM
T
HE HOSPITALITY industry is ever striving to evolve itself to better serve guests and enhance customer experience. In this era of technology, one can’t miss adopting it in some form or the other to improve one’s level of performance and the hospitality sector is no exception. With service being the foundation of the hospitality sector, hotels are now embracing automation to ensure their guests can experience the best possible service. Hotel room automation has already been adopted in India, and in this age of technology, it has finally begun to gain momentum. The system allows hotels to improve their services by making it more prompt and easily available for their guests. By improving their level of service, they can ensure maximum satisfaction on behalf of their guests and maximise customer satisfaction. The two biggest advantages that hotels can achieve is cost savings and improved operational efficiency. As far as operational efficiency is concerned,
the hotel management is virtually connected with the guests at all times. This helps them to deliver services promptly like never before. For example, besides controlling activities in the room, guests can also access hotel information without having to call the reception and thereby avail services such as room service, house-keeping, etc, which makes their stay easier and more comfortable. Automation thus makes the most regular services like room service and housekeeping more efficient. Hotels can now send instant updates to the rooms for any special offerings or events within the hotel. Through automation, hotels can ensure personalised services such as welcome notes and setting the
room to the guest’s preferences, which go a long way in making the guests wanted and pampered. Another big advantage that the hospitality sector can experience through adopting automation is cost saving. The hospitality industry spends an enormous amount of resources on unnecessary energy consumption. Hotel automation allows savings by better usage of resources and energy, thereby reducing huge unnecessary expenditure. Sensors installed in the room ensure that electrical appliances stay on only when they are used. For example, if a guest falls asleep while watching TV, the room gently switches off the TV and lights on its own, so that energy is not wasted by
guests who tend to be more careless while on vacation. The hotel industry spends an enormous sum of money on printing material for their guests. Also, they need to be constantly updated with newer information and offerings, thereby adding to the expenditure. Automation makes sharing of information tremendously easier and more convenient. Also, by making information available to guests through tablets, hotels can cut huge costs by doing away with the need to print expensive compendiums regularly. Sharing updated information does not involve further costs. Latest offers, menu of the day or special occasions can be easily shared with the guests through a
Automation makes sharing of information tremendously easier and more convenient. Also, by making information available to guests through tablets, hotels can cut huge costs by doing away with the need to print expensive compendiums
few clicks on the system. This creates a perfect sync between the hotel and the guests, resulting in an enhanced and more memorable experience. Thus, automation gives hotels the opportunity to explore better marketing schemes and offers an enjoyable experience for their guests. Hotels which have deployed such systems show that room services increased by 11-15 per cent. Enhanced guest experience also results in better occupancy. Technology allows hotels to tie up with neighbouring businesses, thereby providing additional services to the guests and at the same time increasing their revenues. The presence of the touchscreen also allows hotels to stream advertisements to them.
Augmented services Guests have a number of augmented services to avail. The door can be locked and opened directly from the tablet. Guests can also experience door-camera viewing. So when someone knocks the door, the visitor can be viewed on the TV before they enter. TV, AC, curtain control, air conditioning can easily be turned down or
27 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
TECH TALK switched off when a guest room is unoccupied. With a single control panel, guests can easily select TV stations using graphical icons for stations. Curtains too can be controlled directly by a single touch of a tab. All lights and electrical appliances can be controlled within the room from the touch pad. Guests can set light scenarios and moods to make their stay more comfortable and exciting. Room status can easily be controlled without having to physically change the signs on their doors. All one needs to do is press a button on the touch pad to activate status such as Do Not Disturb, Guest-in, Guestout outside the room. One does not need to call, check and place orders for their rooms. Guests can easily view and choose from descriptive and visually attractive menu on the touch pad. To place an order, all that is needed is a simple touch on the pad and the favourite dish appears at the
doorstep. They can also call for house-keeping directly through their tablet. The Check Out button on the tablet informs the front desk that guests are ready for check out so that everything needed for check-out can be made ready before they walk out of the room. City guide is available on the tablet to plan trips without trying hard to gather information from different sources. Information such as city maps, restaurants, places to visit can be seen on the touch screen. Besides that, all billing details are available for the guests so they are always updated about their bills and need not request for them specifically. Travel options are made available in the room on the touch pad through which they can directly book a cab. Hotel room automation is bound to revolutionise the hospitality service industry with the kind of services it allows hotels to offer to their guests. They can now take their services and
marketing schemes to a different level altogether and offer experiences which can make one’s stay memorable. Guests can experience a more comfortable and relaxed stay at the hotel which may lure them to return the next time they travel. The
hospitality industry only has to gain by deploying automation for their guests. With a nominal one-time investment they can achieve higher efficiency in executing their operations and a significant cost savings. With communication being simpli-
fied, the management-guests relationship may be enhanced like never before thus creating a more lasting bond between the two. The writer is Vice President, Silvan Innovation Labs
You've got ZMail
W
HEN THE AUSTRALIAN division of Watermark Hotel Group needed to replace its outdated and labour-intensive eMarketing software, they turned to hotel marketing automation specialist ZDirect. Today, the ZMail electronic communication platform is installed at the Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast, and soon it will roll out to the Watermark Hotel Brisbane, making 'the most refreshing hotel experience' even more fulfilling for guests and far more valuable for marketing staff. ZMail delivers dynamic, realtime profiles of hotel guests and streamlines and centralises each property’s eMarketing initiative by tracking guest behaviours and preferences. This not only helps to fill unsold rooms by
28 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
A successful eCRM programme at the Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast has the luxury hotel company extending ZDirect’s ZMail electronic communication platform to its Brisbane property keeping customers engaged and wanting to receive emails and SMS/text messages, but it enables marketers to identify the best possible candidates for increasing occupancy, revenues, and loyalty. “In order to remain competitive today, hotels need much more than a monthly eNewsletter,” says Che Bianca Black, QLD marketing communications manager for Watermark Hotel Group. “Our Australia properties were using a system, which did not provide functionality updates, to send eNewsletters only.
It also did not interface with our MICROS Opera property-management system. Instead, the data was pulled from a basic excel spreadsheet, making tracking very difficult. Pre- and poststay emails were not being sent. The only way we were receiving guest feedback was through printed feedback forms in the rooms and verbal comments at reception,” says Black. This was labour intensive as it required a staff member to manually input the data into a spreadsheet and create charts to make it meaningful. It became painfully obvi-
ous that sourcing and implementing a new eCRM system was critical. “ZDirect came highly recommended,” informs Black. “After conducting extensive research, we found Zmail to be the best system for Watermark Hotels. It not only had an established interface to our PMS, but it enabled us to send eNewsletters to different market codes and to send automated pre- and post-stay surveys. Everything we were lacking previously was available immediately and affordably from ZDirect, and the migration process, from initial consultation to post-implementation, was very smooth,” she says. Black reveals that the PMS interface delivers access to much-needed information, including who our guests are, how long they have stayed with the hotel, where they come from, why they chose the property,
and what services or amenities they like or don’t like. The poststay survey program also is proving to be invaluable. On the flip side, pre-stay emails are allowing the Watermark Hotel & Spa Gold Coast to provide guests with more information about the hotel before they arrive, encouraging them to consider and spend more on hotel facilities. “Above and beyond our eMail programme, ZDirect’s SMS/text message service is driving our mobile strategy. Through ZDirect, we send a daily SMS to guests in the afternoon after they check-in. The text message welcomes the guest to the hotel and provides a ‘daily special’ for our restaurants or day spa. This not only increases on-property spending, but it shows our guests that we are just a touch away from responding to their every request,” says Black.
CAMPUS CALLING
Groomed to excel Ecole Hoteliere Lavasa was set up as an extension of the global vision of Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne, the oldest hotel school in the world. The institution is focused on being a school of excellence for future hospitality leaders and entrepreneurs. By Sudipta Dev
Yateendra Sinh
E
COLE HOTELIERE Lavasa recently achieved two significant milestones – moving into its new state-of-the-art campus and the passing out of its first batch of students. The institution aims to be the premier hospitality education centre in Asia for future hospitality leaders and entrepreneurs. “Our mission is to develop hospitality management talent and ensure long-term sustainability of the hospitality industry. We programme the hearts and minds of students and young executives,” says Yateendra Sinh, CEO, Lausanne Hospitality Consulting. Founded in 1893, Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne is the oldest hotel school in the world. And as an extension of its vision Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne supports the development of schools in other parts of the world. “We are able to graduate only 500 students every year in Lausanne,” states Sinh, pointing out that, there is a war for talent now. Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne is involved in building of
academic institutions and have similar schools in different parts of the world like Brazil, Mexico, Lebanon, Dubai, Thailand, South Korea and China. “We add on an average one school every year, though we get requests from one school every week. Wherever we are we only work with the best – that is our local strategy,” adds Sinh. He acknowledges that it is not an easy task to instil a global structure into a local culture. Forums are organised in Lausanne and different parts of the world. A Young Hospitality Summit is also held in Lausanne. There are several opportunities for students to interact with the global community. “We encourage them to explore themselves. They can also apply for a semester abroad,” mentions Sinh. He avers that hospitality as a career is rising in terms of respect and desire. Rony Kurien, chief operating officer, Ecole Hoteliere Lavasa states that the institute is positioned as a hospitality management college of excellence. “We
nurture hospitality leaders and entrepreneurs,” he asserts. The four-year Undergraduate Programme in Hospitality Management has a unique curriculum, there are eight semesters of six months each including two business internships with leading hotel brands. “It is a hands-on interactive and technology
enabled learning experience,” says Kurien. The new 67,000 sq ft campus has four large restaurants, an amphitheatre, cyber hotel, wine tasting lab, training and display kitchen, mock guest room, and an IT lab. In addition to traditional courses in F&B, they are also teaching management, HR, grooming, cross culture training, etc. One of the recent developments, according to Kurien, is that the institution has been approached by two large hotel groups for recruiting students and grooming them for leadership positions. Students are being placed with ITC Hotels, The Oberoi Group, Marriott, Starwood, Hyatt, and others. A large percentage of students at the in-
stitute come from families who own hotels. Kurien is proud of the fact that a few of the students are keen to set up diverse ventures – for instance a chocolate factory in India and a cheese factory. All the faculty are trained and certified in Switzerland. Audits are conducted every six months. The course content is vetted in Switzerland. “Ecole system of learning is such that it places the onus of learning on the students,” states Kurien. The faculty is known as the facilitator as they clarify the concepts. Most of the faculty members are former industry people. There are also external faculty – for subjects like finance, marketing, branding, etc.
29 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
MOVEMENTS Hyatt Regency Mumbai
and with The Oberoi Hotels and Resorts in cities of Mumbai and Udaipur.
The Orchid, Mumbai
PANKAJ WADHWA has been promoted to director of sales and marketing at Hyatt Regency Mumbai. He will be responsible for the planning and induction of sales and marketing strategies, while tapping into relevant national and international market segments, among others. His first appointment with Hyatt Hotels Corporation was in 2000 at the then Grand Hyatt Delhi, he then moved to the Park Hotels before joining Hyatt Regency Mumbai in 2005. He rose consistently within the chain, from catering sales manager to his current role.
Renaissance Mumbai Hotel and Convention Centre
RAJESH KR GUPTA has joined as the general manager, The Orchid, Mumbai. Earlier he was working as a CEO of Oye Hospitality Solutions – Jaipur (International advisory, consultancy and management group). He has been associated with the hospitality industry for the last 16 years and has
Marco Polo Hotels
worked in various capacities in some of the best hospitality brands. He started his career with Sofitel Dubai and thereafter worked with brands like Hyatt / Grand Hyatt / IHG / Taj in different capacity at different point of time. He was associated with The LaLiT Suri Hospitality Group for almost seven years and in his last assignment launched The LaLiT Jaipur as general manager.
Marriott International AKHIL ARORA has appointed director of rooms of Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel. In his current role he oversees all areas of the rooms division which includes front office, reservations, airport services, housekeeping, laundry and spa. Additionally, he is primarily responsible for the overall guest satisfaction levels of the hotel. Prior to joining Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel, he was the pre-opening front office manager at The Leela Palace Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. He has also worked at The Imperial, New Delhi
30 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
tions, Marriott International in Asia Pacific. In this new capacity he will also oversee hotel operational design and development for all Marriott International’s new hotels in Asia. He graduated from Hotel Management School Maastricht in the Netherlands, and obtained a certificate in Marketing Management from Cornell University in the United States. He began his career with Hilton International, before gaining further experience at The Dorchester in London, and Hyatt International, where he worked in Indonesia and Australia.
Marriott International has announced the promotion of BART BUIRING to the position of senior vice president – lodging services and opera-
Marco Polo Hotels has promoted ANDRE SCHOLL to CEO, effective immediately. He was previously vice president, group operations. In his new position, Scholl will spearhead the operational design and service delivery of The Wharf Holdings Limited’s six new hotels (opening between 2014 – 2017) as well as new managed hotels in the pipeline which kicks off with Manila in the first quarter of 2014.
Raffles Singapore SIMON HIRST has been appointed general manager of Raffles Singapore. Hirst moves from sister property Raffles Praslin, Seychelles to take up the position in Singapore on 1 August 2013. His role in the Seychelles will be filled by Christoph Ganster who succeeded him as General Manager, Raffles Praslin, Seychelles, on 15 July 2013.
PARKROYAL on Beach Road Singapore DAVID DONALD has been appointed GM, PARKROYAL on Beach Road in Singapore. He will lead the 343-room hotel into a new phase of growth as it unveils its brand new state-of-the-art meetings and
Courtyard by Marriott, Bhopal AMIT VASHIST recently joined Courtyard by Marriott, Bhopal as the executive chef. He comes with over a decade of experience in the food and beverage industry and his core expertise lies is in European and Indian cuisine. Prior to joining Courtyard by Marriott, Bhopal, he was associated with Oberoi Group of Hotels, where he headed kitchens at Trident Jaipur, Trident Udaipur and prestigious Clarkes Hotel Shimla. In his most recent assignment, he was the executive chef at Dream Hotel, Cochin (Vikram Chatwal Hotels).
events facility this month. With over 20 years of hospitality experience spanning Australia and New Zealand, Donald brings a fresh perspective as GM, his first role in Asia.
Centara JAMIE CRISP has been appointed as Centara’sdDirector of sales for the Maldives. Crisp, who will be based at Centara’s head office in Bangkok, will be responsible for the company’s three resort properties in the Republic of Maldives. Previous to joining Centara Hotels & Resorts, he was director of sales for Evason & Six Senses Resorts in Hua Hin.
Sofitel Luxury Hotels Sofitel So Singapore has made six senior appointments to oversee its internal and external operations which marks Sofitel Luxury Hotels group's first strategic foray into the local market. The appointments include GABRIELLE CHOY, director of casting and coaching; PRERNA PANT, director of marketing and communications; JESSICA KHOO, director of sales and business de-
velopment; LLOYCE LAU, director of finance; JEROME LE GALL, wine and dine guru, and AUNG KHAING, mac mini guru. Choy, Pant, Khoo, Lua, Gall and Khaing share more than 80 years of regional industry experience and are bringing their knowledge of the local and international hospitality sectors to helm the team.
Dusit Hotels Dusit Thani Dubai has appointed JULIA ALVARO as its new director of sales and marketing. With 20 years of experience in the industry, Alvaro has spent numerous years in Dubai, having played an instrumental role in the opening of The Palace Old Town and Le Méridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort. Most recently, she was the director of sales and marketing at Radisson Blu Media City. Dusit Thani Maldives has also appointed THANOS LIONSATOS as director of sales and marketing. He previously directed efforts for the opening of Oakwood Residence Hangzhou, China, and was the cluster director of sales and marketing for Oakwood properties in Japan.
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weekend
Scene and heard
With Marcellus Baptista
Ride the rainbow
Jonty Rhodes, Sajid Khan and Hanneli Slabber at the South African party at Four Seasons, Mumbai
Farrokh and Dilshad Khambata at the second anniversary of Amadeus
Twice as nice THE CHEER was on as famed chef and restaurateur Farrokh Khambata and wife Dilshad celebrated the second anniversary of their flagship restaurant Amadeus at the NCPA. It was a lavish brunch with the unveiling of a brand new menu that moved further down the Mediterranean with a taste of Lebanon, Iran and Greece. On offer at the brunch was an array of hot
tapas, wood oven baked Indian salmon with tahina and lemon, turkey bacon wrapped prawns with quince and Cointreau reduction, coca spicy chorizo with apple cider caramelised onion, Cajun hot pot new potatoes, roasted peppers and blistered corn in olive oil and much more. The flow of cocktails and music by the band The Other People added to the action.
BRINGING ALIVE THE richness of the rainbow nation was cricket legend Jonty Rhodes, South African Tourism brand ambassador, who launched ‘My Travel Escapades in South Africa’ in association with Lonely Planet magazine. This was a follow-up to last year’s ‘My South African Diary.’
At Four Seasons you heard of the NDTV ‘Take Me to South Africa’ contest with four lucky winners embarking on a mindblowing trip with Jonty Rhodes. Sajid Khan, country head, South African Airways and Hanneli Slabber, country manager, South African Tourism were present.
Showcased was the country’s wondrous wildlife, beautiful beaches, adventure activities, world-class cities, shopping, nightlife, food and wine. And inspired by this happy holiday in his home country, Jonty Rhodes then penned the new travel guide ‘My Travel Escapades in South Africa.’
Wellness wave STANDALONE HEALTH and wellness centres have been making waves. The latest was the opening of Yogacara Healing Arts in Bandra. Host Radhika Vachani was there to warmly welcome the many guests into the serene space housing treatment rooms, a classroom, dispensary and an airy terrace that served as a café. Guests took a round at this centre as the talk veered
towards connecting with your internal self while rejuvenating your mind, body and essential energies. The experience, you heard, begins with a doctor or wellness consultant taking time to understand your health challenges, lifestyle and needs. Yogacara then develops a wellness plan to suit the individual needs and provides support on a mental, physical
Suneeta Rao and Radhika Vachani at the opening of Yogacara Healing Arts
and emotional level to help clients heal.
Beautiful blend
Tarun Tahiliani and Abanti Sankaranarayanan at the Tarun Tahiliani couture exposition at Four Seasons, Mumbai
COUTURE, CRYSTAL, craft and carat of the creations blended beautifully with smooth scotch at the Tarun Tahiliani Couture Exposition 2013 at Four Seasons Hotel. Reflecting the rare metal after which it is named, Johnnie Walker Platinum Label 18, you
learnt, is inspired by the Walker family’s tradition, a preciously crafted liquid, delivering to the evolving tastes and expectations of today’s sophisticated and progressive consumers with a modern twist. Abanti Sankaranarayanan, MD,
Diageo India was there along with celebrated couturier Tarun Tahiliani. Guests feasted their eyes on the Indian trousseau with delicate details, ornate embroidery and intricate threadwork. Other partners included Azva, Forevermark and Swarovski.
41 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
weekend
E VE EV NE TN ST S
MOTIVATIONAL MESSAGE L-R: Dominic Costabir, director, Hospitality Training Institute (HTI); Arun Vishwanath, founder, trainers forum; Chinmay Divekar, MD, Nature Trails; Viveck Shettyy, MD, Indus Communications; Indu Ramani, director, Dynamind Creations and Aneel Murarka, MD, Mirachem Industries, Vinod Shetty, head, Star Club and Vikas Vijayan, head, training department at a seminar 'Star50' organised by HTI and Indus Communications at VITS Hotels, Mumbai
CULINARY JOURNEY L-R: Chef Ajay Chopra, executive chef, The Westin Mumbai Garden City and Master Chef Sanjeev Kapoor at the launch of FOODFOOD Channel's new shows - Hi Tea and Out of the World Series - held at The Westin Mumbai Garden City
SPREADING HAPPINESS The Zuri Whitefield Bengaluru celebrated 67th Independence Day eve with the children from The Refugee orphanage as part of its CSR activity
A WELLNESS PARTNERSHIP L – R: G Ramachandran, director, Gold's Gym
THE BEGINNING Genesis Luxury entered into a joint venture partnership with the tableware division of Villeroy & Boch, which opened its first store in India at Palladium Mall, High Street Phoenix Lower Parel, Mumbai
HELPING HAND Sahara Star Mumbai organised a blood donation drive at Oyster in association with Mahatma Gandhi Seva Mandir, a registered charitable organisation in Bandra, Mumbai
42 EXPRESS HOSPITALITY September 1-15, 2013
India; Sunil Nayak, CEO, Sodexo India; Jagdish Valecha, chairman, Gold's Gym India at the launch of Sodexo’s wellness services in partnership with Gold’s Gym
REGD.WITH RNI NO.MAHENG/2005/21391, REGD.NO.MH/MR/SOUTH-44/2013-15,PUBLISHED ON 2ND & 17TH EVERY FORTNIGHT, POSTED ON 3,4,5 & 18,19,20 OF EVERY FORTNIGHT POSTED AT MUMBAI PATRIKA CHANNEL SORTING OFFICE.