Acclaimed hospitality company, Atmosphere Core, known for its successful journey in the Maldives with the launch of three distinct brands and nine resorts in just 11 years, has now set its sights on an ambitious new goal: ‘25 in 2025’ for India. With their first Indian property slated to launch by the end of the year and 14 hotel signings already in place, the company has laid out a grand roadmap for its expansion in the country.
On his recent visit to India, we caught up with Stéphane Laguette, Chief Commercial Officer of Atmosphere Core. Easy-going and jovial, yet driven and ambitious, Laguette brings with him 30 years of expertise in the hospitality industry. He’s not only excited about Atmosphere Core’s entry into the Indian market but also enthusiastic about its rapid expansion.
In an insightful conversation, Laguette shared his thoughts on a range of topics, from the joy of seeing Indian travellers return to the Maldives, to the unique experiences his resorts offer, and his company’s exciting plans for India.
Read on to discover more about his vision and what the future holds for Atmosphere Core in the Indian subcontinent.
Strengthening Outbound Business and Partnerships in India
One of the key focuses for us is nurturing our business relationships with our partners in India, particularly in the outbound business. This market is quite distinct from the domestic business or inbound traffic, and we have partners spread across major cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, and even in Bengal.
Earlier this year, there were challenges that hindered the flow of Indian travellers to our Maldivian resorts. Misunderstandings occurred, but over time, discussions have led to the re-establishment of strong connections. A domestic event in the Maldives two weeks ago helped reinvigorate these relationships, and the Indian market is once again showing interest in travel to our resorts.
We are now seeing more demand from Indian travellers, including group bookings for incentives and meetings. Our larger properties, such as Atmosphere Kanifushi, RAAYA by Atmosphere, and the OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi, are ideal for Indian corporate groups, thanks to their size and proximity. With the destination being so close to India, it’s perfect for meetings and incentives.
Unique Guest Experience: The Holiday Plan
What makes our offering truly stand out is the Holiday Plan, which goes beyond the standard all-inclusive model. Our guests experience a hassle-free vacation, where everything—from transportation to the villa, mini-bar, restaurants, and bars—is included in one package. This unique plan provides a luxurious and seamless experience, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the resort’s offerings without additional costs or concerns.
Wine and Champagne: A Growing Appeal in India
We’ve also developed a strong relationship with various wine and champagne makers around the world. Our portfolio includes vineyards from South Africa, Spain, France, and Italy, from whom we buy in large quantities for our resorts. Interestingly, we believe that wine and champagne can serve as a sophisticated alternative to the stronger liquors typically preferred by Indian men. For Indian women, especially, we see an opportunity to explore these lighter, more refined alcoholic beverages.
Our sommeliers receive personal training from the owners of these vineyards, ensuring that they can convey the full experience of the wines to our guests. Additionally, we host dinners at our resorts where guests interact with the winery owners and enjoy expertly paired dishes. This is an immersive experience that elevates the guest’s stay, turning it into a memorable culinary journey.
Bringing the Wine Experience to India
Although we have yet to fully introduce this wine and champagne experience in India, we plan to bring it to our Indian properties soon, starting with OZEN MANSION KOLKATA, set to open in December. We will tailor the experience to the Indian market, offering a selection of wines and champagnes, though it will be à la carte rather than part of the all-inclusive plan. The goal is to give Indian guests an introduction to these finer drinks in an accessible way.
Our strategy in India will start by introducing this experience in key properties like Kolkata and Bhopal, where our heritage hotel, SADAR MANZIL HERITAGE BY ATMOSPHERE, will offer an exclusive selection of wines and champagnes.
Pairing Indian Cuisine with Wine and Champagne
One of the most surprising successes we’ve had has been pairing wine and champagne with Indian cuisine. This started in the Maldives when we hosted an event at one of our Indian restaurants. Initially, I was skeptical—Indian food, with its diverse and bold flavors, doesn’t seem like an obvious match for wine or champagne. But the results were astonishing. The pairing brought out unique flavours in both the food and drinks, leaving our Indian guests and even myself, pleasantly surprised.
We aim to replicate this experience in our Indian properties. The combination of Indian food with wine or champagne is relatively new to the market, but we believe it will become one of our signature offerings. This culinary fusion will set us apart from other hotels in India and provide guests with a unique, refined dining experience.
A Tailored Approach to Different Indian Markets
India is a large and diverse country, and we understand that what works in Mumbai may not work in Kolkata or Bangalore. We need to be flexible and adaptive to each region’s cultural and religious contexts. Our goal is to start with an offering that appeals broadly but be ready to make adjustments based on local preferences. For example, in some areas, lighter alcohol options might appeal more to women, while in others, there might be a stronger demand for traditional hard liquors.
We’re also conscious of the health benefits associated with certain wines. In Europe, there have been many studies showing the positive effects of red wine on heart health, especially when paired with a Mediterranean diet. We’re eager to demonstrate how well a good glass of wine can complement Indian cuisine.
Our Unique Vegetarian Restaurant and Just Veg Festival
We opened our first vegetarian restaurant 10 years ago, and it’s been a great success ever since. It’s not just an Indian trend; globally, more and more people are opting for vegetarian meals. This doesn’t mean that all our restaurants exclude meat or fish, but we do have one that is exclusively vegetarian. At this particular restaurant in Atmosphere Kanifushi, guests are treated to a wide selection of vegetarian dishes, served in a beautiful oceanfront setting.
One event that showcases our commitment to vegetarian cuisine is the Just Veg Festival, which takes place in late October. This festival first started in 2019, but we had to pause it due to the pandemic. Last year, we brought it back, and this year marks our third edition. The festival will feature renowned chefs, and we are also inviting food journalists to cover the event. It’s an exciting celebration of vegetarian cuisine that I think everyone should try at least once.
Our Growth in India: From 8 to 14 Properties
We officially entered the Indian market in 2022, although we started signing properties in 2022. Initially, we aimed to come in with at least eight properties, which we felt would make a more significant impact than just a few. Today, we have grown to 14 properties, and we expect to reach close to 20 by the end of this year.
Our original target was to have 25 properties by 2025, but we’re hopeful that we might even exceed that number. However, we’re cautious about expanding too quickly. We believe it’s crucial to stay true to our branding strategy and maintain a clear differentiation between our various hotel brands.
Our Branding Strategy
Speaking of branding, we know that differentiating between hotel brands can be confusing, especially in a large market like India. We’ve structured our brands under the Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts umbrella, with seven sub-brands to ensure clarity.
Our THE OZEN COLLECTION, for instance, is the most luxurious. However, in some cases, like our Heritage properties, which are housed in 200-year-old buildings, the luxury experience will be similar to OZEN but will fall under a different brand name. We’ve been able to successfully create a clear differentiation between brands in the Maldives, where we operate nine hotels, and we intend to replicate that in India.
Future Promotional Strategies: What’s Next?
In addition to our wine and champagne experience, we are planning other promotional strategies, though I can’t reveal too much just yet. One particularly exciting initiative is in the works for Kolkata, and I’m eager to share more once we’re closer to the launch.
What I can say is that branding consistency will continue to be our primary focus. We want to ensure that every guest understands the difference between our brands and what they can expect from each. This is important not just for our guests but also for our property owners, who often have their own visions of what they want to achieve. By aligning their expectations with our branding, we ensure a successful partnership.
In short, we’re committed to a deliberate and thoughtful expansion in India, one that maintains the integrity of our brand while adapting to the unique needs of this diverse market.
