Taj Hotel and Convention Centre appointed Rahul Joshi as their General Manager back in February 2020. His responsibilities include, but are not limited to, sales and marketing, human resources, empowering associates, managing food and beverage, budgeting and forecasting, customer care and problem solving for the hotel.
Today with us he shares his insights on the growth in tourism sector of Agra, facilities and USP’s of the hotel and more..
- Agra is an important tourist destination both domestically and internationally, what are some of the current trends that hotels in Agra are witnessing?
Agra is a popular destination as it is a part of the ‘golden triangle’ that has been traditionally a must do for both domestic and inbound tourists. This City is quite classified on the Global radar though. Pre-pandemic while the city was thronged by foreign tourists, currently its mostly domestic travellers. We are seeing a lot of traction from MICE and wedding segments, which are the premium segments for us. Currently hotels in Agra are witnessing busy or rather sold-out weekends, as Agra is well connected with Delhi NCR. Post pandemic, there has been a surge in the number of people taking weekend holidays, which has helped hotels like ours.
- What is the USP that sets you apart from your competitors in Agra?
We are located within walking distance of the iconic Taj Mahal, and our location is our USP. We boast of large rooms across categories as compared to competitors, making us an ideal family hotel. The Taj Club Floor rooms are unique in their offerings and the Taj View Rooms and Suites are a traveler’s delight.
Our hotel is an ideal destination for any epicurean. The all-day dining restaurant-Palato offers a variety of cuisines. The Indian specialty restaurant Daawat-E-Nawab dishes out Mughlai delicacies in a regal setting complete with live music. This restaurant has always been the talk of the town. Infini – The Sky Lounge & Restaurant is our show stopper, with the backdrop of the Taj Mahal. Taj Hotel & Convention Centre Agra also stands out with its spacious and multiple banquets ideal for wedding functions and MICE.
- You have the largest convention centre in Agra, please share about your facilities? Also, what are your expectations from the wedding market?
We have multiple halls that are well designed to cater to pre-wedding functions, weddings and for conferences. The hotel houses a vast pillar-less hall- Mansion that has a capacity of about 2000 pax. This pillarless, high-ceilinged banquet hall, one of the largest in North India, encompasses 2322 sq mt space. Though this hall is truly expansive, every little detail has been thought of. The pre-function area and the kitchen are seamlessly connected with one another ensuring that work can happen behind the scenes without intruding into the event space. A separate access and exit enable guests attending an event to enter and leave without having to move through the rest of the hotel. This banquet hall can also be divided into 2 smaller venues, each of which can accommodate 300 to 900 guests. We have smaller banquets and meeting rooms as well.
With Agra’s good air and road connectivity we are quite bullish on the wedding market. Agra is home to the symbol of love, the Taj Mahal, making it an ideal city for destination weddings. We are seeing great buzz around this segment.
- Domestic market is picking up well. What are the trends that you have noticed in recent months?
Domestic market looks quite lucrative. Our drive cation packages are doing quite well, indicating the trend of shorter weekend holidays. The reservation window has been shrinking and now we see a sizable number of bookings happening last minute. Another interesting trend has been that millennials are traveling even on weekdays, since many people are still working from home or are part of the hybrid work system.
