Akanksha Lamba is a Senior Vice President and one of the co-founding members
of The Postcard Hotel, heading overall operations for the brand.
The Postcard Hotel was founded by a team of luxury hoteliers on a mission to create extraordinary experiences and spaces for luxury travellers. Since our launch in December 2018, we have been committed to creating new rules and setting new standards in experiential luxury. Each Postcard hotel is conceptualised to give our guests a true sense of the neighbourhood and the destination they have travelled to. Immersive, unconventional and fluid nature of hospitality at our hotels along with impeccable service is what truly sets the brand apart. No set breakfast hours, personalised exclusive dining, cocktails on arrival and the flexibility of a 24-hour check-in and check-out are some of the unique offerings that have contributed to the recognition and appreciation of The Postcard.
Prior to The Postcard, Akanksha has worked across various leadership roles with
Oberoi Hotels and Resorts in her tenure spanning over fifteen years with the brand.
A career hotelier with varied and diverse expertise, she’s always up for a challenge,
and her strong sense of commitment has taken her through several career highs
including managing The Oberoi, Gurgaon – responsible for all functions – as her last
assignment before joining The Postcard. The Oberoi Gurgaon was voted as “The
Best Luxury hotel in the world” by World Travel Awards, UK, during her tenure.
1) Can you give us a brief on the current portfolio and the latest achievements that distinguish The Postcard Hotel.
We have four operational hotels in Goa – The Postcard Moira in North Goa,
The Postcard Velha in the old Portuguese capital of Old Goa, The Postcard Cuelim
in South Goa, and The Postcard Hideaway in the forests of Netravali in South Goa.
Our international presence is currently in the Kingdom of Bhutan and Sri Lanka –
The Postcard Dewa, Thimphu and The Postcard Galle, respectively. In 2021, with
our wildlife resort, The Postcard Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, we opened doors to the
experience of witnessing the majestic Asiatic Lion and indulging in riches of the
culture and cuisine of Saurashtra. Our first ‘art’ hotel, The Postcard Mandalay Hall,
is set in the historic neighbourhood of Mattancherry in Kochi, a truly unique hotel
with rooms as art galleries, each curated by a renowned artist.
We are grateful to our guests for a score of 9.6 on booking.com at the Traveller
Review Awards 2022, which is the Highest Brand Score for a Luxury Hotel Brand
Globally. Amongst other accolades, at The World Travel Awards 2021, The
Postcard Gir Wildlife Sanctuary was voted ‘Asia’s Leading Wildlife Resort’, The
Postcard Dewa, Thimphu was voted ‘Asia’s Leading Luxury Boutique Hotel, 2021’,
The Postcard Cuelim, South Goa was voted ‘India’s Leading Boutique Hotel, 2021’,
and The Postcard Velha, Old Goa was voted ‘India’s Best Wellness Retreat, 2021’.
2) What is the future pipeline vision and upcoming properties in 2022 and beyond?
AL: The Postcard Hotel has always handpicked its destinations to uncover unique
locations and experiences and 2022 will see the opening of three new hotels. The
Postcard on the Arabian Sea, just under a 2-hour drive from the Mangalore airport,
is a spectacular location right on the beach. All rooms at the hotel will face the
ocean, giving our guests an experience of waking up to not only the sound of
waves but also the beautiful sight of the ocean right from their bed or over a
morning cup of coffee from the private sit-out of their rooms.
The brand’s first hotel in the North East, The Postcard in The Durrung Tea Estate, is
set in 1,400 acres of beautiful tea gardens in Assam. The location of the hotel also
benefits from its close proximity to the Kaziranga National Park, the Nameri
National Park and is also a short drive from the mighty Brahmaputra.
This year will also see the opening of another hotel in Goa allowing our guests to
discover yet another facet of this multifarious state.
3) What are the group’s views on sustainability in hospitality and food and beverage trends for the travel industry in India?
It’s an established fact that the hotel sector puts increased pressure on our
environment and is demanding on natural resources. The Postcard is conscious of
this and constantly works towards harmonising tourism and the environment by
mindfully building and operating our hotels.
The aesthetic language at The Postcard places significant importance on uniting
with a destination, its culture, customs and history. We also work closely with
leading architects and interior designers to build and restore hotels- with the
purpose of integrating luxury and functionality without disregarding the soul and the
heritage of the location. In our hotel designs, there is an evident and extensive use
of regional materials and contribution by local artisans.
Travellers nowadays are aware and evolved. Everyone wants to leave a better
planet for the next generation. The Postcard is in a constant endeavour to learn
more, to do more, and to do better. The food staples across our hotels are
completely organic and fresh. Not only does this come with a purpose toward a
healthier future, but it also helps regional farmers and contributes to a cleaner,
chemical-free planet. Most hotels also have an organic vegetable garden and
seasonal fruit trees. The culinary expression at The Postcard is local, authentic and
fresh. The chefs are constantly engaged in exploring the regional staples and
incorporating them into menus by working alongside local cooks and housewives to
access age-old family recipes.
Our initiative remains to collectively lower our carbon footprint while simultaneously
looking for ways to elevate the holiday experience for our guests. For instance,
guest amenities in the rooms include bamboo toothbrushes and bamboo combs,
glass water bottles, organic cotton tote bags and metal or bamboo products as a
replacement for single-use plastic. We also extensively use local building materials
and traditions as opposed to importing materials when constructing our hotels.
There is a constant endeavour to strike the right balance between incorporating
sustainable practices while offering indulgent luxury
