BY RAYNAH COUTINHO
Hospitality in India has evolved — especially during the last rough patch — to come to the realisation that having rates as a differentiator will only result in under-cutting and a bloodbath, particularly in locations where supply has recently boosted. Brand DNA, design and service styles are the new differentiators.
Hotelier India caught up with the delegates from Leading Hotels of the World properties from around the world and got them to show us what helps them to stand apart in their various locations. They were in Mumbai for a showcase held as part of LHW’s 80th anniversary celebrations.
Target: Time travellers
Grand Hotel et de Milan
The hotel has its own bee’s garden, which, delegate Manuela Busch says, is the best in the city. “The focus of our F&B offering is local, organic food,” she says. The hotel’s calling card is its Micheli restaurant which also has 17 Gault Millau points. “We change the gourmet menu very regularly,” she added.
Target: Gourmands
Brenners Park Baden, Switzerland
The hotel has its own bee’s garden, which, delegate Manuela Busch says, is the best in the city. “The focus of our F&B offering is local, organic food,” she says. The hotel’s calling card is its Micheli restaurant which also has 17 Gault Millau points. “We change the gourmet menu very regularly,” she added.
Target: Wellness enthusiasts
Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Switzerland
“The hotel has a combination of modern and heritage rooms and as such appeals to a wide cross-section of travellers. Indian travellers love the fact that we have an Indian chef at our Asian restaurant. Our key USP is our thermal spa. We have 31 doctors and 15 therapists as part of the hotel’s spa team,” delegate Mirjam Meir revealed to us.Target: Pseudo Swiss
Grand Hotel Park Gstaad, Switzerland
“Gstaad’s staple tourist product is chalets, as no other types of buildings are permitted. We have a 400 sq. m. suite, which will
make the guest feel like he owns one of these Swiss chalets; it will be akin to the experience of actually living the local
life,” said representative Tania Winter.
Target:Lovers of the unabashedly lavish
Gstaad Palace, Gstaad, Switzerland
This 100-year old property is one of Switzerland’s three family-run hotels. “It’s old-school service here. Owner personally
greets the guests, and repeat visitors and staff often recognise each other. The experience consists of guests being flown by
helicopter to the Chopard factory, to interact with the watchmakers. Also, on the menu is an igloo stay at a nearby camp set up
by the hotel,” the palace’s delegate Melanie Ehlert explained.
Target: The starstruck
Kanuhura, Maldives
Some guests, will put down any sum for a peaceful, luxe, outdoors experience. “Ours is a two-island resort. We have a sandbank, where cocktails can be set up. Also, part of our offering is that we can set up a typical large, comfortable luxurious hotel bed for guests to sleep under the stars,” said representative Leonna Wong.
Target: The do-it-all
Sukhothai Bangkok, Thailand
Trip budget notwithstanding, Bangkok tends to attract the traveller in a hurry. So this hotel has made lots available within its space. “Our USP is a chocolate buffet that is extremely famous because it was started 21-years ago. Also, we have six acres of land and we created an oasis for the spa that seems far away from Bangkok. We have a concept called the Art of Dining where we call in a two or three-star Michelin chef for a week-long dining experience,” explained Vanessa Williams, the delegate.
Target: “Window” shoppers
La Mamounia, Marrakech, Morocco
Often, what’s outside the window draws more attention from guests than what is on offer within the hotel. “Our hotel is 90 years old. Besides the hotel’s own heritage potential, we’re marketing the views from our hotel — the iconic La Mamounia Park, the Atlas Mountains, etc. We’ve also dedicated suites to legends : The Churchill suite features one of his unfinished paintings and the Majorelle suite features lots of blue as a tribute to the painter,” said representative Denys Courtier.
Target: Indian weddings
Datai Langkawi, Malaysia
“We have a beautiful location in a rainforest and also have a private beach. We do traditional Indian weddings. Part of the offer is educational nature walks for guests,” said delegate Joanna Lee.
Target: Ethnocentric travellers
Capella Resort, Sentosa Island, Singapore
Hoteliers are savvy with the fact that some guests are all about local immersion, while others will not budge so much as an inch
when it comes to food, drink, language and sometimes, even TV shows. “We have personal assistants speaking Hindi, Chinese and Russian. We celebrate Christmas on January 7 [like they do in Russia] and will celebrate Diwali, starting this year,” delegate
Vic Khor said.
