The Postcard Hotel, the young boutique luxury hospitality brand by Kapil Chopra, the former President of The Oberoi Group, is venturing into India’s neighbourhood with hotels in Bhutan and Sri Lanka, after its successful debut with three stunning properties in Goa earlier this year.
The Postcard Hotel aims to open 50 hotels in five years in experiential destinations across the world. Its first three hotels in Goa – The Postcard Velha, The Postcard Moira and The Postcard Cuelim opened earlier this year and, according to Chopra, have seen robust growth despite all fears of a slowdown in the Goa market. “We manage smaller, intimate luxury hotels and from our perspective, the market looks phenomenally robust. The season is all sold out for The Postcard Hotel in Goa,” said Kapil Chopra, Founder and CEO, The Postcard Hotel at a press conference hosted to announce the two openings.
The luxury group already has over INR 1,000 crores of assets under management and projects underway across South Asia. The Postcard Hotel is looking at owning or managing over USD 1 Billion (INR 7,000 crores) of assets in five years. The investment will be an intelligent mix of buying off the asset, taking a long term lease on the asset or managing it as a management company. “Globally, no luxury brand has expanded this fast with international openings in its first year of operations,” said Chopra.
The Postcard Galle in Sri Lanka, on the country’s southwestern coast, is located above the beautiful blue waters of the lagoon, at a stone’s throw from the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Galle Fort. It offers incomparable views of the Indian Ocean and Gin River and has 10 intimate suites that draw inspiration from the heritage enclave in which the hotel is located. The Postcard Galle is a perfect base to explore Galle’s architectural and cultural offerings, a vast range of beaches, secluded coves and lively bars. Among the experiences offered at the hotel is a visit to a tea factory and cinnamon fields, as well as biking tours along picturesque paddy fields.
In Bhutan, The Postcard Dewa nestles within a lush forest on the outskirts of the capital city of Thimpu and has 15 luxurious rooms. With a backdrop of the mountains and pristine views of the Khasadrapchu valley and Raidak River, the hotel is a traveller’s paradise. As the only carbon negative country in the world, 72 per cent of Bhutan is forest-covered, and the landscapes provide constant opportunities for photography. The hotel is also a comfortable 40-minute drive from the Paro international airport, the only airport in Bhutan from where flights are available to India.
“We handpick our locations and our hotels so that guests have an authentic experience. Sri Lanka is the perfect location to explore the cultural landscape of the charming town of Galle, steeped in history dating back hundreds of years. While Bhutan, with its rich culture and breath-taking landscapes, has long been on the bucket list of most exclusive and luxury travellers. Guests will now be able to enjoy the best of luxury Indian hospitality that perfectly complements the unique splendour of these destinations,” added Chopra. Transformative experiences and local community are at the heart of The Postcard Hotel’s offering, with each offering unique experiences that are true to its surroundings.
