1. Can you share details on your hospitality Journey from the beginning?
We started Larisa in 2015 with our first property in Manali. Larisa can be defined as a destination within a destination. We run a group of luxury boutique resorts where people will find luxury with comfort. The name Larisa is inspired by the regional language of the Lahaul belt. La signifies that which is above, the Sky. Ri means the Mountains. Sa represents the Earth.
The integral part of our growth has been our people. Passion started as a small seed, once processes were established and ingrained, the staff became so focused on continuity, feelings of ownership and the desire to improve status quo start growing passion in each team member. After seeing a lot of success with Manali, we went on to open in Goa, Mussoorie and Shimla subsequently.
2. What is your vision and mission for Larisa Hotels & Resorts?
We want to stand out as one of the best in our spaces. We also want to outgrow ourselves and help small hoteliers and hospitality businesses who are not able to meet up to their customer satisfaction and sustain in their businesses.
3. What is the expansion plan of the brand? Also can you elaborate more on your latest property in Goa?
Larisa currently has properties in Manali (opened May 2015), Goa (Morjim, December 2016), Mussoorie (April 2019) and Shimla (July 2019) and the latest one in Goa, Ashwem(October 2022). In the next 10 years, Larisa is looking to increase its portfolio to 10-plus properties, self-owned, managed and leased and to establish an international presence. The brand also aims to expand its services further into hospitality, and F&B and consulting.
After a fantastic response to our Morjim property we decided to open another exclusive resort in Goa. Larisa Resort Ashwem is 2.5 acres of gorgeous Goa greenery and simple elegance, and promises the perfect blend of nature and luxury. The Ashwem property in picturesque North Goa is situated in the heart of a lush-green landscape, and promises a gloriously laid-back experience in indulgently spacious surroundings.
Larisa Ashwem is targeting a mix of the young and the old, between the ages of 18 and 60, all of them discerning and well-traveled. And among the amenities, they can expect a spa, multi-cuisine restaurant, and a generously sized pool with a bar. Besides, there’s plenty of room to roam and get lost in! Still, despite its picture-postcard natural beauty, the idyllic Ashwem beach is just a 10-minute walk away just far enough to guarantee your privacy, yet close enough should you fancy a dip in the sea.
Larisa Ashwem was built utilising locally sourced materials such as laterite stone, thatch for the roofs, and bamboo. Meanwhile, the focus of the property’s interiors is on key design elements like colour schemes, alongside the use of marble, Goan tiles and cement flooringthe latter to give a rustic feel.
Out of the 20 rooms at the resort, 14 are luxury cottages, 4 are cottage suites, and 2 are two-bedroom cottage suites. All in-room and sharing facilities, including mini bar, open deck, outdoor hot tub and 24×7 in-room dining are available for the guests.
4. How do you ensure sustainability in your operations?
Sustainability and Larisa are synonyms although it’s easier said than done considering practical problems. The team’s at Larisa have been engaging in multiple clean-ups with Healing Himalayas and at the same time focusing on minimizing the footprint within our properties.
The first big step was to segregate our waste and handle organic waste in all our properties by converting it into manure to cater our gardens hence reducing burden on municipal corporations and following an effective circular economy.
Second step is to serve water in glass bottles instead of plastic bottles
Third is rain water harvesting – 2.5 lakh liters capacity in Manali, Shimla and in Mussoorie it’s 5 lakh liters capacity.
Solar system for hot water in Manali and soon to be in the rest of our boutique spaces. As they say small scale is beautiful and sustainable that’s all our upcoming properties are not more than 20 cottages/villas/rooms.
We also ensure sustainability by hiring locals for all our properties thus avoiding transfering professionals from metro cities and helping the surrounding communities grow.
5. How do you ensure the best experience for your customers and quality of service in the hospitality industry?
All of our properties are away from the hustle bustle of the main city areas, which is one of our biggest USP’s. We are preferred for our luxurious ambience, nature trail, amenities, and local food. We also hire local staff to make sure to support the local community which is something that our guests love about Larisa.
We create local experiences for our guests, where they feel more immersed in the local culture when visiting the destination. We expose them to local activities, eat where locals eat. Spend time at locations which are lesser explored & frequented more by locals
Travelers love all our properties as we offer an indulgent combination of unparalleled hospitality & access to nature. ‘Natural beauty and its expression in luxury & lifestyle’, local traditions & the modern influences that make up a way of life.
6. What are some challenges faced by the group?
As with others in the hospitality domain, Larisa was challenged by Covid but found a way to sustain itself thanks to the team sticking together. The silver lining was that everyone got the chance to self-introspect, which allowed them to better understand the kind of space they wanted to create, a space that stayed true to their values but one that also promised relaxation and comfort to their guests.
Covid came with its own challenges and setbacks for the hospitality industry. We have sailed in the boat as others but fortunately have sustained due to the strategies and support from our colleagues. There were negative as well as positive learnings. We have learnt to sustain and manage in the difficult times and it has been a huge learning curve. And on the positive note, we got a time to do self-introspection and understood that what space we want to cater further
7. What is the future of Larisa Hotels & Resorts from a founder’s perspective?
10+ properties in the next five years. While we recently launched one property in Ashwem Goa, we are already working on our next property in the mountains.
We definitely want to go global and have an international presence. We aim at Larisa enterprises to be doing hospitality, consulting, F&B services, etc.
