Category Archives: Hotels & Resorts

‘Soaltee Brand Sets Sights on Indian Market, Implements Proactive Measures to Attract Indian Travellers’ : Sudarshan Chapagain, VP, Soaltee Hotel Limited

With a legacy spanning 56 years, Soaltee Hotel Limited is renowned as a pioneer of exceptional hospitality services and experiences in Nepal. With a firm commitment to upholding its position as a leader in the industry, Soaltee Hotels boasts a portfolio that reflects its dedication to excellence. Now, as it looks ahead to the future, Sudarshan Chapagain, Vice President, Soaltee Hotel Limited shares insights on the brand’s current portfolio, expansion plans, strategies for attracting Indian tourists with Asmita Mukherjee.

Can you provide an overview of the current portfolio of Soaltee Hotels?

For over five decades, Soaltee Hotels has been the beacon of exceptional hospitality in Nepal, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of travelers from across the globe. As pioneers of the country’s hospitality industry, Soaltee Hotels has expanded its portfolio to include three distinctive properties, each offering a unique and immersive experience to guests, reflecting the brand’s unwavering commitment to excellence.

  • Soaltee Westend Premier in Nepalgunj: The only five-star hotel of Nepalgunj, Soaltee Westend Premier is also the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental (LEED) certified hotel in Nepal from The US Green Building Council, indicating its commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices.
  • Soaltee Westend Itahari: The only five-star hotel situated in Sunsari District of Nepal and is strategically located on the East-West Highway, making it easily accessible for travelers. The Hotel caters to luxury accommodation needs, offering well-appointed rooms and suites that are designed with comfort and elegance in mind.
  • Soaltee Westend Resort Chitwan: An upscale luxury resort located in Chitwan, Nepal. Set amidst the picturesque landscapes and natural beauty of the region, the resort offers a serene and indulgent retreat for travelers seeking a luxurious getaway.

Each property within the Soaltee brand offers a unique and immersive experience to guests, reflecting the brand’s commitment to excellence. With a perfect blend of modern amenities and traditional Nepali hospitality, our hotels provide a comfortable and luxurious environment for both business and leisure travelers.

What are the expansion plans for Soaltee Hotels in the near future? Are there any new properties or destinations that the group is eyeing for potential acquisitions or developments?

Soaltee Brand is not only maintaining its strong presence but also planning to expand further in the future, the brand has sustainable expansion plans in the pipeline, aiming to grow its portfolio through both owned properties and managed properties. As part of these plans, the brand is currently in the finalisation phase of two owned properties, one located in Pokhara and another in Til-Ganga, Kathmandu.

The property in Pokhara is set to be a high-end resort, offering a luxurious retreat amidst the breathtaking natural beauty of the region. On the other hand, the hotel in Tilganga, Kathmandu, will cater specifically to the pilgrims visiting the renowned Pashupatinath Temple. Positioned as an mid-scale 3-star hotel, it will provide comfortable accommodations and essential amenities for pilgrims seeking a convenient and accessible stay near the temple premises. In addition to its own expansion plans, Soaltee brand has garnered attention from various parties seeking its management expertise for 4 and 5-star hotels across different parts of Nepal. This indicates the brand’s strong reputation and trust within the industry.

The approach from other hotel owners to engage Soaltee for management opportunities serves as a testament to the brand’s track record and its ability to deliver exceptional results.

In terms of attracting Indian tourists, what strategies or initiatives has Soaltee Hotels implemented to capture this market segment?

Soaltee Brand is strategically targeting the Indian tourist market, employing proactive measures to attract travellers from India. The brand has set up a dedicated office in Delhi NCR, staffed with a specialized team of four professionals. Additionally, contact teams in Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata exclusively work to build relationships, promote Soaltee hotels, and cater to the needs of Indian travellers.

To enhance visibility and engagement, Soaltee Hotels and Resorts actively participates in various trade shows, sales blitzes, and hospitality events across India and internationally. By showcasing their properties and connecting with potential guests, the brand effectively raises awareness among Indian tourists.

These focused efforts exemplify Soaltee Hotels and Resort’s dedication to understanding and meeting the preferences of Indian travellers. With a physical presence, dedicated contact teams, and active participation in industry events, Soaltee aims to establish strong connections, forge partnerships, and become the preferred choice for Indian tourists exploring Nepal.

Could you provide information on the average RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room) and average occupancy rate for Soaltee Hotels during the previous year?

Soaltee Hotels has been a pioneering force in the Nepalese hospitality industry, consistently ranking among the top hotels in terms of RevPAR. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we achieved an impressive 25% increase in RevPAR compared to pre-COVID levels, with a focus on key source markets such as India, China, Middle East, and Europe, contributing over 52% of our total inbound guests in 2019. To gain a major market share in India, we established a PAN India sales office, while also intensifying efforts to attract more visitors from China and the Middle East.

Furthermore, Soaltee Hotels & Resorts actively participates in major international and national trade fairs, including NTB, HAN, and NATTA, fostering stronger relationships with Foreign DMCs and FTOs. By continuously enhancing our products and services, we aim to boost our Average Daily Rate (ADR) and further elevate our RevPAR.

asmita.mukherjee@saffronsynergies.in

 

‘district150 offers a comprehensive, premium hospitality experience with its array of meeting rooms, event spaces, and breakout areas’

Amidst the bustling world of commercial real estate and hospitality, Vivek Narain emerges as a visionary force with district150 and The Quorum. district150, his brainchild, is a game-changing lifestyle-focused, hospitality-powered, multipurpose meeting and events hub, revolutionizing the conventional concept of office spaces. With a unique amalgamation of business and hospitality, Narain’s concept is set to reshape the future of office buildings, seamlessly integrating work and play. In a conversation with Asmita Mukherjee, Vivek Narain, Founder & CEO, district150 & The Quorum shares insights on the maturity of the Indian market for this innovative concept and the overwhelming response it has garnered so far.

Traditionally, the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) industry in India heavily relied on hotels for meeting and event venues. However, district150 disrupts this norm by ingeniously leveraging under-utilized office buildings to cater to a wide array of business and cultural events. Narain explained the concept, stating that district150 merges hospitality and office spaces. “Observing and tracking real-world trends helped us identify the need for a space & concept like district150; a lifestyle-focused, hospitality-powered, multipurpose meeting & events hub designed to revolutionise the future of the office building.

It is conceptualised to encourage a reset in the way we work and engage. There is now a higher emphasis on amenity rich, experiential offerings in commercial buildings. Built to catalyze the power of networks, district150 embraces the trend of ‘working from anywhere’ by creating versatile workspaces that integrate head-down work, collaborative zones, social spaces, and meeting rooms under one roof.

Furthermore, district150 believes that office buildings can serve as social and cultural infrastructure beyond work hours. Energising these spaces during evenings and weekends, the hub aims to transform them into vibrant social hubs, providing tenants with a more comprehensive experience. This forward-thinking approach challenges the traditional MICE industry norms in India, as district150 leverages under-utilized office buildings for business and cultural events, presenting a fresh and innovative perspective to the industry.”

Narain emphasised the significance of the hotelisation of office spaces, stating, “Traditional venues have been unable to reimagine themselves to cater to the current audience’s needs for differentiated spaces. The aim with district150 is to address these limitations and challenges, and provide an infrastructural solution with a fresh approach to event planning and execution.

At district150 we provide purposefully designed, versatile spaces coupled with modern amenities, technology, world class hospitality and a team of expert event curators who help our guests plan & execute top-notch events, whether corporate or social.”

With a unique blend of business and hospitality, district150 has set out to reshape the future of office buildings, particularly in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) segment. In India, the MICE industry conventionally relied on hotels for event venues. However, district150 disrupts this norm by tapping into under-utilized office buildings, breathing new life into them to cater to diverse business and cultural events.

Narain’s “hotelisation” concept elevates the experience for event organizers and attendees, with prime locations, ample parking, and excellent connectivity. As district150 spearheads this transformative evolution, the MICE segment in India opens doors to endless possibilities for the future of business gatherings.

With the rising demand for office spaces equipped with hospitality-grade amenities, district150 emerges as a leading player in meeting this requirement. Narain highlighted the remarkable offerings of district150, stating, “district150 offers a comprehensive, premium hospitality experience with its array of meeting rooms, event spaces, and breakout areas.

The facility comprises various multifunctional spaces, including The Stage, a tiered hall for learning and performances; The Dunbar Room, a pillar-less events space with top-notch AV and acoustics; The Cove, a relaxed event space for casual gatherings; The Grid, a content creation and media center with screening and podcast recording capabilities; Maker150, a Deep Work zone for solopreneurs; and NETWRK, meeting and conference rooms for both in-person and virtual interactions.

Moreover, district150 houses ZILA, a progressive Indian restaurant, and SUBKO artisanal-coffee program & chocolate cellar. With an in-house event planning and production team, the hub ensures a seamless experience for clients, from customized menus to digital signage for branding. Overall, district150 goes beyond mere room rentals, striving to create unforgettable experiences for its guests,” he added.

Narain further elaborated on the brand’s strategy to capitalise on The Quorum’s programming expertise, aiming to create an unforgettable experience for district150’s clients and visitors. He highlighted The Quorum’s profound impact on culture since 2018, driven by its diverse programming across various genres.  “Since its inception, we have put together over 2,500 experiential events for our members. Since district150’s hospitality & events offering is powered by The Q, we will bring that same degree of quality and overall curation to its programming too.”

Elaborating on their investment plans, he added, “Our current investment stands at INR 16.5 crores. However, we have ambitious expectations to invest between INR 150-200 crores in scaling it over the next few years.”

District150 is set to make its debut in Hyderabad’s Knowledge City, but the brand’s ambitions reach far beyond. Narain said that the vision is to establish multiple locations in prominent Indian cities such as Mumbai, NCR, Chennai, Kolkata, and Pune in the near future. “d150 aims to become a prominent amenity block for commercial real estate properties. Looking ahead, the long-term vision entails having 8-10 locations across major metropolitan cities in the next 5 years. But the prospects are even more substantial, with the concept poised for international scalability,” he concluded.

asmita.mukherjee@saffronsynergies.in

Passing of IHCL’s Esteemed Senior Vice President Vincent Ramos Leaves Hospitality Industry in Grief

Vincent Ramos, the Senior Vice President of IHCL, aged 55, breathed his last just before sunset on Wednesday, August 16 evening. His contributions were deeply rooted in the ‘Taj’, the flagship brand among the various labels he nurtured in Goa.

An alumni of Mont de Guirim school and hailing from Chorao, Vincent’s journey took him from these beginnings to becoming the General Manager of the esteemed ‘Best Hotel in the World’, Umaid Bhawan Palace Jodhpur in 2016.

Chief Minister Goa, Pramod Sawant fondly recalled, “Vincent was a strong advocate for promoting young talent in the hospitality industry. He enthusiastically supported government initiatives aimed at developing programs within the hospitality and tourism sectors.”

Vincent Ramos was actively engaged with the state government in enhancing Goa’s tourism and contributing to policy formulation. He served as a guiding figure for the tourism committee of the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and he held a role on the managing committee of the Travel and Tourism Association of Goa.

In more recent times, Ramos assumed responsibilities as the Area Director for Goa at IHCL, a role which saw him charting strategies for the brand’s adaptation to the new Manohar International Airport at Mopa.

The senior leadership team from IHCL is set to come to Goa to pay their last respects to Ramos, a figure hailed as the ‘Most Admired General Manager of the Decade’ in 2018.

Puneet Chhatwal, the Managing Director & CEO of IHCL, conveyed his grief by saying, “The sudden demise of our esteemed colleague and friend, Vincent Ramos, Senior Vice President at IHCL Goa and TTAG Managing Committee Member, has left us deeply saddened. A cherished presence within the TTAG Managing Committee, Vincent was not just a friend and mentor, but also a dependable colleague and an all-around wonderful human being. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and friends from everyone at TTAG.”

‘We are looking to expand further in the North Eastern states, Andamans and Key North Indian Tourist Spots’ : Sumit Periwal, Director, Summit Hotels and Resorts

Amidst the continuously changing panorama of the hospitality industry, Summit Hotels and Resorts have charted a distinct and remarkable path. In an insightful conversation with Asmita Mukherjee, Sumit Periwal, Director, Summit Hotels and Resorts, shared his journey and unveiled the brand’s strategic roadmap for the future.

Reflecting on the journey that began in 2010 with a single hotel in Gangtok, Periwal recounted the transformative evolution of Summit Hotels and Resorts. “We have seen consistent growth in terms of our room inventory as well as the our geographical presence,” he stated. Over the years, Summit Hotels has emerged as a pioneer in operating multiple leased properties under a single brand name.

Periwal candidly addressed the challenges that Summit Hotels encountered, including political disruptions and the unprecedented impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. “We have had our fair share of challenges due to political disturbances in the region when a large portion of our inventory had to suspend operations and which is what led Summit to look for areas outside of the north Bengal and Sikkim region. Covid ofcourse was our biggest setback since all our properties were on lease and we had to let go of a few of our hotels but it also helped us consolidate our operations thereby making us more efficient and agile,” he emphasised.

While Summit Hotels and Resorts established its strong presence in the North Bengal and Sikkim regions, Periwal shed light on the brand’s expansion strategy. “We are looking for expand further in the North Eastern states, Andamans and some of the popular tourist destinations in North India,” he explained.

Earning the esteemed India Travel Award marked a significant achievement for Summit Hotels and Resorts. Periwal attributed the brand’s success to its distinctive approach. “Operating a leased hotel gives us greater flexibility in our operations as compared to managed properties and allows us huge advantages in terms of economies of scale and optimum utilisation of our resources,” he revealed.

While speaking on the brand’s vision Periwal unveiled, “We will continue to operate in leisure destinations on the model that we are operating in at the moment.”

“Considering how sensitive tourism is as an industry, geographical presence in vital to offset challenges that may impact one or more of our locations and that’s where our focus is for now. In addition to augmenting inventory at our existing locations, we are looking at adding new destinations in the north east very soon,” he concluded.

asmita.mukherjee@saffronsynergies.in

Dusit continues expansion in Japan with new luxury hotel, Dusit Thani Kyoto-duplicate-1

Dusit International will continue its expansion in Japan this September with the opening of Dusit Thani Kyoto, a new luxury hotel in the city’s vibrant Hanganji Monzen-machi district, only 850 metres from major transportation hub Kyoto Station, which offers seamless travel connections throughout Kyoto and to the rest of Japan.

Building and expanding on the foundation set by Dusit’s first hotel in the country, the lifestyle-oriented ASAI Kyoto Shijo, which opened in June, Dusit Thani Kyoto has been thoughtfully crafted to deliver distinctive and remarkable stay experiences for luxury travellers seeking authenticity, exclusivity, and enrichment in the utmost of comfort and convenience.

Located in a peaceful residential area, the hotel has been specially designed to reflect the rich cultural heritage and stunning architecture of Kyoto. Inside, the seamless design direction continues and includes references to another ancient capital – Ayutthaya, Thailand – with subtle nods to the magnificent chedis for which the city is renowned. This unique meeting of cultures further informs the interior design of the 147 meticulously appointed guest rooms, delivering a harmonious blend of timeless elegance and contemporary charm.

Set around a serene and beautiful courtyard, the hotel offers a wide range of facilities for business and leisure, including elegant event spaces for up to 240 guests, a well-equipped fitness centre, an indoor swimming pool, and a signature Devarana Wellness centre. Here, guests will find a unique fusion of ancient Thai massage therapies and traditional Japanese rituals, personalised wellness treatments, and bespoke well-being journeys specially created to help guests de-stress, detoxify, and enjoy deep restorative sleep.

Dining and imbibing at Dusit Thani Kyoto also promises to be an exceptional experience, with a range of enticing options, including a speciality Teppanyaki restaurant, a luxurious tea shop, a stylish basement bar, Den Kyoto, and extraordinary dining experiences crafted by acclaimed chefs Duangporn“Bo” Songvisava and Dylan Jones from Thailand.

Renowned for their commitment to authentic Thai cuisine created with seasonal and sustainable ingredients, Bo and Dylan earned global recognition, including a Michelin Star, at their former Bangkok restaurant, Bo.Ian. Their latest gastronomic concept, Ayatana, at Dusit Thani Kyoto, offers a one-of-a-kind, multi-sensory fine dining experience where the authentic flavours of Thai cuisine meet the finest Japanese traditions, creating unforgettable moments to savour. To complement this distinctive culinary journey, the couple has also created Kati, a unique dessert atelier that offers an innovative take on traditional Thai desserts.

To help guests connect with the culture and spirituality of Kyoto, Dusit’s team is on hand to help arrange memorable excursions to nearby attractions such as Nishi Honganji and Tojitemples (both UNESCO World Heritage Sites), as well as other popular destinations and hidden gems throughout the city. Swift and efficient travel from Kyoto Station ensures guests can maximise their time and easily explore everything this remarkable destination has to offer.

“With our commitment to impeccable service, exceptional wellness and dining experiences, and unique fusion of Thai and Japanese hospitality, Dusit Thani Kyoto is primed to be a haven for luxury travellers seeking a harmonious blend of cultural appreciation, culinary indulgence, and ultimate relaxation,” said Mr Gilles Cretallaz, COO, Dusit International. “Our prime location near Kyoto Station ensures our guests can effortlessly navigate and discover the rich cultural heritage, iconic landmarks, and hidden gems that Kyoto offers. Whether it’s visiting the revered Nishi Honganji Temple or venturing further to explore the serene bamboo groves of Arashiyama or the historic charm of the Gion district, we’re delighted to provide a luxurious base for a memorable exploration of Kyoto’s treasures, ensuring guests can make the most of their visit –and enjoy a total Kyoto experience.”

To celebrate its opening, Dusit Thani Kyoto is offering exclusive room rates for members of Dusit’s guest recognition programme, Dusit Gold, starting at JPY 56,925 (USD 400) per night, inclusive of JPY 5,000 hotel credit per person per stay. This offer is valid for booking until November 30th, 2023 for stay dates between September 1st to December 28th, 2023.

‘India continues to remain key source market for Turkey’s Ciragan Palace’

During his recent visit during the multi-city Kempinski Hotels roadshow in umbai and New Delhi, seasoned hospitality professional Ralph Radtke, GM & Regional VP, Ciragan Palace, Kempinski Hotels spoke about the potential of Indian market, and hosting the first ever Indian wedding in Turkey 12 years ago.

Talking to TravelBiz Monitor, Radtke said, “Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul, located right on the Bosphorous, has been to many Indian weddings in the past decade. More than 12 years ago, I hosted the first Indian wedding to Turkey, and since then I visit India twice a year to promote destination weddings. We witness 15% weddings coming to Turkey from India every year. Besides Indians, Pakistanis and Iranians living outside their nation are big markets for us. India continues to remain a key source market for us.”

The Ciragan Palace is home to 317 rooms and suites, and is known for its historical past. The property has hosted Indian weddings with over 1,000 pax. The average length of stay for Indian wedding guests of three days, Radtke said. “We are participating in wedding shows and will be hosting FAM trips for agents and social media influencers in partnership with Turkish Airlines. This is an important part of our strategy.”