The document provides information about upcoming co-located events - Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) and Corporate Travel World (CTW) Asia-Pacific. This year will see the 27th and 22nd instalments of the events respectively, organized by TTG Events from 24-26 September in Bangkok, Thailand. New initiatives like brand showcase presentations and buyer activities have been introduced to foster connections between suppliers and buyers beyond scheduled appointments. Major industry players like Dubai Business Events, TCEB, and JTB are participating and several have opted to engage buyers through new formats. The events will feature knowledge sessions, association forums, and an expanded focus on sustainability across programs.
2. Global DestinationsSept - Oct 2019 1
Dear Friends
Asia-Pacific's largest MICE and Corporate Travel event is all set to open its doors
to specifically invited/hosted delegates, buyers and media. These two specific events -
Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) and Corporate Travel World
(CTW) Asia-Pacific - have been co-located since 2004 making it easy for MICE and
Corporate Travel delegates to get an unified platform to do business, learn and network
with industry players from around the region and beyond. Organized by TTG Events,
a business group of TTG Asia Media, this year will see the 27th and 22nd instalment
of IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific respectively. IT&CM Asia and CTW Asia-Pacific
2019 will feature a re-designed programme with proven engagement activities aimed at
fostering new avenues of lead generation between suppliers and buyers beyond one-on-
one business appointments.
Kohinoor group with three distinctive properties – Kohinoor Continental, Kohinoor
Elite and The Elite Grand will be showcasing all the three properties at ITB, Asia in
Singapore. While most Indian hotel groups hesitate to participate or event visit global
events, Mukund Kamat, Vice-President, Hotel Division, Kohinoor Group understood its
importance and has been visiting global events like ITB, Berlin; WTM, London and
even last year participated at ITB, Berlin and ITB Asia. Kohinoor Group which was
founded by Dr. Manohar Joshi way back in 1961 has over the years grown into a large
conglomerate. Today the Group has a significant presence in hospitality, Education,
Real Estate, Power and Healthcare sectors. The group today has three hotels - Kohinoor
Continental, Kohinoor Elite and the Grand Elite, a huge exclusive banquet hall, one
internationally renowned institute - Kohinoor IMI School of Hospitality Management
and a world class hospital - Kohinoor Hospital.
As management companies are on the rise in India, Hayes Hospitality Management
and Development Services (HHMDS), a Master Franchisee of Cardinal Hotels LLC
,USA has already tasted success in India and is on the path of having 50 hotels in its kitty
by 2025. Cardinal Hotels is a USA based Hospitality Company having Sales Offices
globally in Asia, Middle East and Europe.
We have also covered Nirvana hotel that is set across 17 acres with three swimming
pools and 82 luxury rooms – all of the same size, 440 sqft of living space an ample
amount of space. The hotel has state-of-the-art infrastructure as far as banqueting goes.
Nirvana hotel provides premier conference and banqueting services with numerous
venue options ranging 20,000 sq.ft pillar less hall capable of holding more than 4,000
people to 1,20,000sq.ft of immaculately manicured open air party lawns. Add to this the
poolside gazebo and conference/party rooms covering 900 sq. ft. each. Its also a popular
venue for weddings or other occasions.
We have also covered The City of Luxembourg - A historic UNESCO site. Located
close by is Schengen town in Luxembourg where the Schengen Agreement was signed
on 14 June 1985 abolishing internal border checks. It truly was a historic movement
visiting the spot as many of us as tourists and business men appreciate the Uniform
Schengen visa giving us access to all 26 member countries of the Schengen Area.
Strasbourg, the European capital with a 2000 years of rich history also has a UNESCO
World Heritage Site - “Strasbourg, Grande Ile and Neustadt" - an entire historic urban
centre. The site features high-quality collection of monuments including the area
overlooked by the Cathedral.
E d i t
Chandragupta Amritkar
Editor
chandraguptaa@hotmail.com
editor@globalfeatures.info
Editor - Chandragupta Amritkar, Managing Editor - Chandra Talware, Design - Manoj Durgam
Contact - Global Destinations, B-701, Customs Colony, Military Rd, Marol, Andheri(E), Mumbai-400 059, India.
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Global Technologies makes all efforts to ensure that the information published is correct and reliable. However the publication holds no responsibility for
any inadvertent errors, commissions or opinions expressed.
4. Global Destinations Sept - Oct 20194
C o n t e n t s
Hospitality
Interview
Fern
.........................10
ibis
........................15
Kohinoor Hotels
........................18
City Trail Overseas
Strasbourg
26.......................
Luxembourg
.......................28
Rendezvous
Nirvana
24.......................
Management
Cardinal
.......................20
Sarovar
........................14
Global DestinationsSept - Oct 2019 5
Organised By Host Country and Strategic Partner Official Airline Official VenueSupported By
Exhibitors & Sponsors
Corporate Travel Managers
Conference Delegates
Media | Corporate Travel
www.corporatetravelworld.com/apac
ctm.ctwapac@ttgasia.com
Exhibitors | MICE
Buyers | MICE | Association Professionals
& Executives
Media | MICE & Associations
www.itcma.com
buyers.itcma@ttgasia.com
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24 – 26 September 2019
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featuring freshly curated
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Up to 100%
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with the largest collection
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Corporate Travel Suppliers
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including flights and
accommodation for
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including an interactive ice
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In Partnership with:
YOUR NAME COULD BE ON
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5. Global Destinations Sept - Oct 20196
C u r t a i n R a i s e r
T
wo specific events - Incentive Travel & Conventions,
Meetings Asia (IT&CMA) and Corporate Travel World
(CTW) Asia-Pacific - have been co-located since 2004
making it easy for MICE and Corporate Travel delegates to get an
unified platform to do business, learn and network with industry
players from around the region and beyond. Organized by TTG
Events, a business group of TTG Asia Media, this year will see
the 27th and 22nd instalment of IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific
respectively.
IT&CM Asia and CTW Asia-Pacific 2019 will feature a re-
designed programme with proven engagement activities aimed at
fostering new avenues of lead generation between suppliers and
buyers beyond one-on-one business appointments.
Following a successful roll-out during the China event earlier
this March, new initiatives such as Brand Showcase Presentations,
Exhibition Walkabouts and Meet-The-Corporates have seen
adoption by close to 20 brands that have chosen these activities
to supplement their business appointments and enhance their
outreach to niche buyer segments during the upcoming show.
Brand Showcase Presentations - For the first time, 10 brands
including Dubai Business Events, Japan by JTB, Macao Trade and
Investment Promotion Institute, Royal Orchid Holidays, Taiwan,
Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), Thai MICE
Cities, will be sharing their latest highlights and developments
first-hand at these 20-minute sessions open to MICE, Association
and Corporate buyers and media.
Exhibition Walkabouts - Targeting association buyers and
media, up to 10 featured destinations comprising India Tourism,
JNTO, TCEB and more will get to make quick introductions and
exchanges with these sought-after delegates at their own pavilions
/ booths during these 4 x 1- hour guided sessions over 2 days.
Meet-The-Corporates - Conducted in a speed-dating format,
up to 12 IT&CM Asia exhibitors like Dubai Business Events have
opted to meet and connect with attending CTW corporate travel/
procurement professionals over 2 x 1 hour sessions over 2 days.
“IT&CM Asia continues to be an important event on our annual
calendar of activities in key markets, and we are excited about
returning as an exhibitor at this year’s edition. In addition to our
one-on-one meetings, we have chosen to take advantage of the
Brand Showcase Presentation and Meet The-Corporates platforms
to further highlight our city’s appeal, explain the support Dubai
Business Events can offer, and build new connections with the
wider business events community, and especially corporate
buyers.” said Steen Jakobsen, Assistant Vice President of Dubai
Business Events.
Another newly added segment to the show this year is Say Hi
to Everyone. Formatted as an interactive ice-breaker and helmed
by MICE Strategist and Hospitality Consultant Mr David Barrett,
this session allows all delegates to get a sense of who’s who at this
year’s show and to identify profiles they would like to meet across
both events, kick-starting connections before business days begin.
More Brands Engaging Target Segments Beyond One-On-
One Appointments
In line with the strong take-up of new initiatives, more brands
have also opted for captive engagement sessions this year with
an extensive line-up of sponsored events to date. TCEB will
be presenting a “Corporate Exchange, Exclusively Thailand”
networking mirroring the new “Meet-The-Corporates” format,
featuring up to 48 Thai suppliers, and attended solely by corporate
buyers over 2 days.
“Our new branding Thailand Redefine Your Business Events
inspires us to find every window of opportunity to create value
and enhance return on investment and return on time for MICE
stakeholders. Our partnership with IT&CMA in launching
Corporate Exchange, Exclusively Thailand initiative is a perfect
match with our new branding. We are excited to see the Thai
suppliers and Corporate Travel Managers leverage on this new
initiative and deepen their interaction in an exclusive setting”
said Mrs. Nichapa Yoswee, Senior Vice President – Business of
Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau.
Meanwhile on the CTW Asia-Pacific front, sponsor CWT will
be fronting the light-hearted interactive session for all CTW
delegates over coffee and tea in a corporate networking exclusive.
Re-designed buyer friendly programme
at the largest Asia-Pacific MICE showcase
Asia-Pacific's largest MICE and CorporateTravel event is all set to open its doors to specifically invited/hosted
delegates and buyers. Global Destinations previews this all important travel fraternity event
Global DestinationsSept - Oct 2019 7
7. Global Destinations Sept - Oct 201910
Firstly congrats on completing a
decade. Can you in brief throw light on
the journey?
When we started independently in
2009 we had just 6 hotels, No brand but
we had a team. Each of them supported
the company, when the company had
tough financial times in 2011 they agreed to hold back part of
their Salaries. They helped create the brands and put the company
in the position we are today. Today we have 66 hotels operational
another 17 to open with half the year left so in short the journey
has been wonderful, with its ups and downs but still a long way
to go our first step of reaching 100 hotels is at hand we now look
forward to the next phase of growth.
Most of your owners are quite happy with the group. Any
particular reason/secret?
We are partners in growth with our owners - we grow with them.
We try and exceed their expectations when it comes to performance
of the hotels as well as maintenance/upkeep of the hotels. This
helps in value enhancement of the assets we manage. There are
some great hits and some misses, but ours is a very transparent
way of engagement and we truly value each relationship we have
with our property owners.
How do you provide higher yields for asset owners?
Firstlyifweareinvolvedastechnicalpartnersduringconstruction
we try and ensure that hotel being build is financially efficient and
later on also operationally efficient. Cost savings to the owners are
ensured through our involvement at project stage itself which helps
owners to have better yield going forward. During operations,
while the endeavour is for revenue maximization, similar focus
is towards cost rationalization which again ensures better yield to
owners. Further, hospitality is all about team work and the quality
service we provide. Our recruitment processes ensures that we
have good hotel managers who in turn become brand ambassadors
and ensure maximum output in terms of financial and service level
at the hotel level.
Co-living has emerged as a concept, especially for
millennial's who move to cities, and many hospitality ventures
are branching into this segment. Your views.
Co living is not a new concept to India, Anyone here who’s been
through college would have either stayed with a group of friends
or at least have friend who pitched in and shared an apartment.
What we are seeing now is its new avatar with some structure
thrown in. From my perspective I’m not sure if this segment can
afford too much structure or if it could replace the PG and shared
renting rampant in the cities, I’m not clear on the margins enough
to comment. Either way at the end of the day I see it similar to the
hotel industry where it comes down to a real estate game for it to
drive returns for the developers. What we will see in a significantly
enhance quality of living for the students, which is great news.
Pilgrimage tourism is on the rise. Any plans to expand your
footprint in India’s pilgrim spots?
We are already present with 81 keys The Fern Sattva Dwarka
Resort in Dwarka, Gujarat, 55 keys The Fern Residency in
Somnath, Gujarat and 58 keys The Fern Residency in Kathmandu,
Nepal amongst the religious destinations. Kathmandu is also
renowned for holy shrine of Lord Pashupatinath. By end of this
year we will have 44 keys in The Fern Residency in Sarnath, Uttar
Pradesh. Hence religious destinations are of equal interest to us.
We are open to exploring new opportunities in destinations like
Katra, Shirdi,Varanasi, Bodh Gaya,Tirupati, Puri and other similar
destinations. Most of these hotels would need other complimentary
business and cannot completely rely on pilgrimage since most
pilgrimage destinations offer ample budget accommodation and
most pilgrims don’t believe in indulging during these visits.
Can you throw light on your loyalty program?
The Green cover loyalty Program is a tiered room driven loyalty
program for our guests. The program is free for guest to join,
I n t e r v i e w
“We are partners in growth with our owners - we grow with them”
An alumni from IHM Mumbai, trained and worked with the Oberoi Hotels / Orchid Hotels he has
over 17 years of experience in the Hospitality Industry.He has been instrumental in the growth and
development of Concept Hospitality and has fore fronted the success ofThe Fern Brand across India.
Continuing our series on Fern group of hotels this time we caught up with Suhail Kannampilly,
CEO, Concept Hospitality. In an exclusive interview with Global Destinations he highlights the
importance of relationship with employees, owners and the group’s future plans. Excerpts
Global DestinationsSept - Oct 2019 11
where members earn points off every stay and can redeem them
for any services at the Fern hotels. The program offers a value of
1 point to 1 rupee which goes towards our philosophy of being
transparent. Current membership numbers are in excess of 80,000
in just 3 years.
What specific technological innovations are you planning to
bring into your group?
Technology has been our Achilles heel; however currently
we are in the process of strengthening our IT team. We recently
launched a new Sales CRM software and are in the process of
moving all our hotels to a new cloud based PMS. The hotels that
have opened in the last year have all adopted this. We see a lot of
further development on this front.
You have been quite successful in Seychelles - thanks to an
excellent partner. Any plans to tap the potential in Africa?
We have looked at East Africa and do believe the potential is
huge; they had a significant supply demand gap, which is being
corrected quickly. A lot of new inventory has entered the market
and rate correction has hit them. While I do think it would be a
market for us to enter into in the future currently our objectives are
closer to home. We are growing in India and moving steadily into
the Indian Subcontinent. The next phase is looking at South east
Asia. Post this we can bring Africa back on the table.
Any strategic expansion plan for the next three years?
At this juncture, we are looking at closing in on our 2020 target
of 100 hotels we have 81 slated to be operational and will have 20
more in the pipeline crossing the 100 figure.
We are also in the process of launching our new brand in lifestyle
segment “The Zinc” - the first property of 193 keys is opening
shortly in Bangalore. A few big plans for our vision 2025 are in
development and we will announce it as soon as they are done.
Being the son of such an illustrious person was there
pressure to achieve and raise to the expectations?
There is always pressure to step into the light, but he’s been very
supportive and I can always reply on him when I’ve gone wrong
to help put things back in line.
What is your leadership mantra?
About 3 years ago I heard Arne Sorenson when asked to
describe Marriott in 1 word, his response was ‘Restless’, it echoed
with me and when asked to describe my Leadership Mantra the
same word come to mind. I believe reluctance to change has seen
the downfall of many organisations. If the world’s largest hotel
company describes itself as restless it doesn’t leave any space for
complacency on our part.
I n t e r v i e w
Pencils for ages have been a delight to use be it in our schools or for artists or designers or in our offices or in hotels
or by journalists. But understanding the importance of going eco-friendly a few pencil manufacturers have gone the
environmentally responsible way. One such leading manufacturer based in India is environmentalist Mr. Mufaddal Motiwala.
With 100% dedication for saving the environment he makes eco-friendly pencils using recycled paper, newspapers
and natural ingredients. His brand Woodwise Pencils TM is helping companies, hotels, schools create an Eco-Friendly
Corporate Identity.
Deforestation is a major cause of many negative environmental changes. To make wooden pencils, forests are cut down
every minute to supply wood. 82,000 Trees are cut to produce 14 million pencils as per world survey report. Let’s play a
vital role in its preservation.
• Eco-Friendly Ball-point Pens
• Eco-Friendly Packaging
• Newspaper Pencils
• Plantable Pencils with Seeds
• Velvet Pencils
• Polished Pencils
• Colour Pencils
Demand for Eco-Friendly Paper Pencil is continuously increasing as a call for safe and green products.
It’s our commitment towards eco-friendly while maintaining quality
REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE
Contact Us : Adams Invention, Unit No A-12, Thakkar Industrial Estate, 20, Annexe Building, 1st Floor,
Old Anjeerwadi, Mazagoan, Mumbai - 400 010, Maharashtra, India. Phone: +91 98199 08152 / 98202 42935
E-Mail: info@woodwisepencils.com, Website: www.woodwisepencils.com
Let’s write without guilt
9. Global Destinations Sept - Oct 201914
W
ith 75 + operational hotels across 50 destinations in
India and Africa, Sarovar has created a niche for itself
and is certainly one of the fastest growing hotel chains
in India. Whenever I go from the Delhi airport into the city two
hotels are quite noticeable – the Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport
and the Taurus Sarovar Portico. Having covered Radisson, I
decided to cover Taurus Sarovar Portico on my next visit to Delhi.
Co-ordinating with the ever dynamic MansoorAdil, Senior Exec
VP at Sarovar Hotels and Manisha, Manager-Public Relations,
Sarovar Hotels I planned the visit. I was surprised when Vinay
Kumar the GM of the hotel called me – it was more than 4 years
since we had connected and he said he was looking forward to
catching up with me.
Arriving at the airport the chauffeur drove me to the hotel.
Though it was past 8 pm Vinay Kumar was waiting for me and
I was taken directly to their new restaurant Delhi Barbeque for
dinner. “We have recently opened this and already getting great
reviews and response. The idea is to take our guests an opportunity
to relish Delhi’s culinary delights under a single roof. We term the
experience as ‘Dilli ke kebab ka Zaike Ka Safar’ and its found a
lot of appreciation from Delhities,” said Vinay Kumar.
With an interactive kitchen and almost 100 covers, the restaurant
is spread over 3200sqft area. I was quite impressed by the wooden
rustic decor of the restaurant. The walls are designed with unusual
elements with black themed furniture. The hanging style lightings
are handmade to give it a more personalized touch. All this gives
some beautiful vibes “This beautiful décor is thanks to our owner
Kanwarjeeet Singh Kochhar who takes personal interest.” said
Vinay Kumar.
We started off with some barbeque starters,
famous chat from the streets of Chandnichowk
along with the Chef’s unique chutneys. From
Galauti’s to Kakori to Akhroth ke kebabs the
Delhi Barbeque menu features both traditional
and contemporary dishes complimented by a vast
choice of beverages. We landed up just relishing
the starters – some taken twice and had to skip the
buffet. “The buffet and select starters are changed
every day, so our guests don’t get bored with
same food. Also with our delicious food one can
enjoy music as we invite singers to perform,” said
Basheer Ahmed, the sales manager who also was
with us for the evening.
After our dinner we went to the lobby that is not only spacious
but also well decorated with some nice fountains. Taurus Sarovar
Portico is a 4 star hotel with 81 rooms (63 standard rooms, 16
executive rooms and 2 executive suites) with a bar, coffee shop
and a specialty restaurant. It can also be considered as a transit
hotel as it is situated just 4 km from the airport. It’s also close to
the aerocity metro station.
I was given the suite room with a refurbished master bedroom,
a private sitting area, a sofa and a dining table. At 600 ft² it was
quite expansive. After a good night’s sleep I went to Alfa 66 the
hotels all day dining restaurant for breakfast. The breakfast buffet
spread was quite good with plenty of variety including south
Indian dishes. The bakery items were fresh and tasty, especially
the cakes which were delicious. “That’s but expected when a hotel
has an in house bakery and we give substantial importance to this
segment. We are quite popular among our guest and dinners who
love to take the pastries and other bakery items back home. That’s
the reason we have a takeaway counter in the lobby,” said Vinay
Kumar.
The hotel has some great banqueting spaces spread over almost
11000 ft² and can cater to 450 persons in theatre style and 600 +
persons in social gathering. This hall can be split into two event
areas. Apart from this they have an Aries hall that’s 2600 ft² and
can accommodate 80 guests.
The hotel has expansion plans and wants to add 50 rooms. “We
are doing extremely well, thanks to our par excellence service and
quality of food. Seeing the response we have decided to add 50
more rooms,” said Vinay Kumar.
Delhi Barbeque@ Taurus Sarovar Portico
H o s p i t a l i t y
Global DestinationsSept - Oct 2019 15
L
ocated just opposite Wipro Technologies and between
Phase I and II of Hinjewadi IT Park, ibis Pune Hinjewadi is
doing extremely well. Pune has a large influx of travellers
be it for business, education or leisure purposes. Hinjewadi is
already the hub for the IT in Pune with all the top ICT companies
having their presence. “This is our group’s third property in Pune
and I think we could not have got a better location for the property
as most, especially as many IT and ITES companies are located
within a 10 minute drive - International Biotech Park, MNCs like
Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Wipro, Accenture, IBM etc,” says Anant
Leekha, General Manager, ibis Pune Viman Nagar & ibis Pune
Hinjewadi.
As one enters the lobby, this ibis property has it all that guests
can look forward to – a gaming zone with a pool table, a foot
massager, two macs, a nice open lawn to enjoy the evening with
a drink from the bar, a seemingly delightful restaurant and a
welcoming reception.
The hotel has 136 modern, sound proof rooms with
contemporary design and without being opulent they are neat and
clean with all necessary amenities. It features the signature Sweet
Bed bedding concept by ibis. The hotel also offers complimentary
high speed WI-FI access. While the rooms are typical ibis size
and the bathrooms are well-fitted with health faucets and shower
cubicles, the hotel scores on the excellent service and the amenities
provided.
For food enthusiasts the hotel features its signature ‘Spice
It’ restaurant – a culinary concept tailor-made for India serving
Indian, Oriental and European cuisine prepared from the freshest
locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant turned out to be a
highlight with an open kitchen. In the menu theres a twist with
local delicacies included. “All ibis hotels across the country
have launched new menu with geographical uniqueness with
select/popular dishes from that particular region where the hotel
is located. For example we have the
famous Mumbai Pav Bhaji. Apart from
this we have dishes from all over India
and select parts of the globe,” said
Anant Leekha.
The Chef's Special Dishes were
well cooked and looked fresh making
our taste buds happy. The Chur Chur
ParathaisamustalongwithDalMakhni
and Raita, Penne
pasta with twist of
Makhani gravy. On
the dessert side for
the first time I tasted
Parle G Cheesecake
and Rasmalai panna
cotta.
With this type of
business friendly
location but natural
for the hotel to have
suitable meeting facilities. “We have two modern and stylish
meeting rooms equipped with state-of-the-art conferencing
facilities and can cater up to 85 delegates. These are Ideal for
board meetings or team brainstorming sessions. Apart from this
fitness enthusiasts can enjoy a total workout at the cardio centre
equipped with the latest fitness equipment,” said Anant Leekha.
The best part is that it’s one of the longest breakfast that I have
ever come across – an eight-hour all-day breakfast concept starting
from as early as 4am till Noon. “The morning buffet breakfast the
highlight in our stay. It has been a hit with most of our guests.
Infact this uniqueness is available in all ibis hotels across India.
Surrounded by ICT company’s guests may have to go in shifts.
For those who want to go early or take an early flight/train they
can have their early breakfast or just pack a few items,” said Anant
Leekha.
The business hotel at Hinjewadi
H o s p i t a l i t y
Anant Leekha
11. Global Destinations Sept - Oct 201918
K
ohinoor Group which was founded by Dr. Manohar Joshi
way back in 1961 has over the years grown into a large
conglomerate. Today the Group has a significant presence
in hospitality, Education, Real Estate, Power and Healthcare
sectors. Heading the Kohinoor
Group’s Hospitality Division
is the dynamic and energetic
Mukund Kamat, Vice-
President, Hotel Division,
Kohinoor Group. Under his
guidance the group today
has three hotels - Kohinoor
Continental, Kohinoor Elite
and the Grand Elite, a huge
exclusive banquet hall, one internationally renowned institute -
Kohinoor IMI School of Hospitality Management and a world
class hospital - Kohinoor Hospital.
While most Indian hotel groups hesitate to participate or event
visit global events, Mukund Kamat understood its importance
and has been visiting global events like ITB, Berlin; WTM,
London and even last year participated at ITB, Berlin and ITB
Asia. “The key objective behind Kohinoor Hotel’s participation
at these global shows is two-fold - to meet and greet visitors and
exhibitors from across the globe and establish new contacts with
international travel agents to understand upcoming international
trends prevailing in the hospitality industry and secondly through
these events we aim to position our brand on an international
platform and to help visitors quickly find their way through the
wide product range offered by Kohinoor Hotels,” said Mukund
Kamat.
This year again they will be exhibiting at ITB, Asia and
attending IBTM, Barcelona. ITB Asia got them an excellent
response. “It was our first year and it is heartening to note e that
business materialization started immediately. As a first timer, this
response was overwhelming. We look forward to another great
response this year too,” said Mukund Kamat.
Hotel Kohinoor Continental
Hotel Kohinoor Continental is a 4-Star Deluxe property and a
well-established brand situated Mumbai, Andheri East and close
to the airport. The 137 rooms are classified into 118 Superior
rooms, 17 Premium rooms and 2 Suites (Sapphire and Topaz). The
suites are an experience as they have a tastefully decorated dining
room, living room, and well-equipped bedroom with an attached
bath and toilet. The hotel has large multi-purpose banquets
of superior quality, a large pool deck and very popular F&B
outlets. Up the grand staircase is the famous Solitaire Restaurant,
a preferred destination for food connoisseurs in the city thanks
to the right mix of superior quality, delicious and healthy food.
During weekdays they majorly cater to Business Travellers and
over weekends its mainly leisure travellers.
Hotel Kohinoor Elite
Hotel Kohinoor Elite on the other hand is a 3 STAR Business
Hotel providing 5 STAR quality services. It’s truly a brainchild of
the group and certainly an innovation in hospitality. The hotel’s
main USP is its unique single bill concept wherein the guest is
offered accommodation, all meals, laundry and internet service
in a single value package. Being a Budget Business Hotel in
Mumbai, Hotel Kohinoor Elite comprises of a selection of 100
well-appointed rooms each of which spans over an area of 270
square feet making it one of the largest rooms in its category.
Adjacent to the lobby is our multi-cuisine restaurant that provides
18 hour buffet service setting it apart from the rest. The Hotel also
has a well-appointed conference space.
Vows Banquet
Vows Banquet is 3200 square feet, pillar-less stand-alone
banquet hall located at Prabhadevi opposite the world famous
Siddhivinayak Temple. The hall is ideal for corporate, social
and wedding related functions. Key features of the Hall include
mood-lighting, valet services lavish menu offering Indian and
continental cuisines with various themes and experts on the panel
to help facilitate pre and post event requirements like decoration,
make-up, DJ, photography and videography. The venue is suitable
for various occasions including Wedding, Engagement, Corporate
Event, Team Outings/Party, Birthday Party, Cocktail Party or just
a Get Together.
“MICE has been a major revenue spinner for the Hotels
Division and foreseeing this we have equipped our hotels with the
latest state-of-the-art facilities making it an ideal destination to
host high-profile business conclaves and seminars,” said Mukund
Kamat.
Kohinoor Hotels: Global Branding at International Events
H o s p i t a l i t y
Kohinoor group with three distinctive properties – Kohinoor Continental, Kohinoor Elite and
The Elite Grand will be showcasing all the three properties at ITB,Asia in Singapore.
Mukund Kamat
Global DestinationsSept - Oct 2019 19
O
ne of the best hotels on OMR, Chennai is without doubt
the recently renovated and modernized - The Elite Grand
(TEG) standing majestically amongst 2.25 acres of land.
This 5-star corporate hotel in Chennai has remained the first choice
of both business as well as leisure travelers in the city. Various
Tech Parks such as ElCOT SEZ, TEK Meadows and TECCI Park
are just a few minutes away from TEG as well as being in close
proximity to the various multinational companies it’s become a
convenient location for business travellers. Major hospitals of the
city, including Gleneagles Global Hospitals and Apollo Hospital
are also 20-25 min away from the property.
The hotel with 178 rooms has four categories of rooms – superior
and deluxe rooms which are quite large with a starting size of 330
square feet; there are 13 Studio Rooms and 3 Executive Suites
with a huge living room and a spacious bedroom.
The 24-hour open multi-cuisine dining outlet can host 102
guests at a time and is quite popular among the youngsters.
“We have analysed our source markets and also analysed the
food preferences of these markets. We have an excellent F&B
production team which ensure that we take care of the palate of
these guests. Also, another area is our banqueting wherein we
need to ensure that food served has the right taste and is served in
the right way. We are very soon going to be opening an authentic
Thai restaurant which will give that edge over our competition.
Another unique thing which this hotel has is that we have an
exclusive vegetarian kitchen which is preferred by the North
Indian community to facilitate their style of cooking,” said Pankaj
Katyal, General Manager The Elite Grand.
In a short time TEG has earned the distinction of being one of
the best destinations for events and corporate meetings in Chennai
thanks to its banqueting space of 30,000 sq. ft. “That’s one of
our USPs. The hotel is designed in such a fashion that rooms are
clearly separated from the meeting space. In fact, the lobby for
rooms and the banquets are different and so is the access. I can
proudly say we have the meeting space which no other hotel on
OMR stretch has. Our meeting space are designed is such a way
that we can host numerous events of different sizes at the same
time - ranging from conferences, weddings to fashion shows
from 10 guests to a maximum of 1000 guests. Our prime focus
is to push MICE considering our location since we are mid-way
to Mahabalipuram and the city plus for larger MICE events we
can help our customers by providing rooms nearby in case if their
need is for more rooms,” said Pankaj Katyal.
Being recently renovated the hotel has made sure its
environment friendly. They have replaced entire hotel’s lighting
with LEDs instead of fluorescent lights. They treat sewage water
for gardening the plants and maintain them. They have setup and
waste recycling system wherein all the organic waste is treated
and its compost is used for gardening the plants. They have fixed
aerators in the bathroom taps that has resulted in drastic reduction
of water consumption. They have replaced all the plastic like carry
bags etc, with jute and other nature friendly material.
The target markets in India are Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and
Pune and internationally they are targeting Singapore, Malaysia,
US and UK and already have guests staying from these countries.
When queried on competition Pankaj Katyal said, “Our
motivated and committed team plays a vital role in ensuring
that every guest is
looked after well.
Our large size rooms,
F&B ad meetings
space available is the
clear differentiator
between us and our
competition.”
The Elite Grand: Prime focus on MICE
H o s p i t a l i t y
12. Global Destinations Sept - Oct 201920
M a n a g e m e n t
A
s management companies are on the rise in India, Hayes
Hospitality Management and Development Services
(HHMDS), a Master Franchisee of Cardinal Hotels LLC,
USA has already tasted success in India and is on the path of
having 50 hotels in its kitty by 2025. Cardinal Hotels is a USA
based Hospitality Company having Sales Offices globally in Asia,
Middle East and Europe. Sanjiv
Narang, Director, HHMDS had
gone to USAto tie-up with Cardinal
hotels. “We were pretty impressed
by the group. It is an innovative and
progressive integrated hospitality
management, franchisor and
development company, with a focus
on mid to upscale hotels and resorts
that are intelligently designed and
operated for the professional and
leisure needs of the business traveller,” said Sanjiv Narang.
Cardinal Hotels comprises of different Brands which cater to
all size, types and categories of hotels - Cardinal Hotels - a 4-star
Superior First Class ; Cardinal Express - a brand for 3-star Business
hotels; Cardinal Stay - a brand meant for hotels conveniently
located in city centres and on key transit destinations and near
business centres; Cardinal Grand
& Cardinal Residences - only the
selected distinguished properties
are admitted thus assuring standards
of high quality.
“We already have six operational
hotels and seven more are scheduled
to open by next year. So in total we
will be having 500+ rooms to cater.
We are also looking for investors
who understand hospitality so that
we can expect to have atleast 50 hotels by 2025,” said Harbans S
Sekhon, Director, HHMDS.
Development and Interior design mistakes are costly and take
years to rectify. To avoid disasters, HHMDS becomes a mentor.
HHMDS is a hospitality management and development company
which has expertise in providing all solutions pertaining to
different possibilities i.e., Running-Management, Franchise,
Marketing and Commercialization to anyone who owns a hotel
and would like to become a part of an ever growing and fast paced
Industry in a short span of time. “Our uniqueness is that we are
strong on audit and focus on GoP. I am sure our highest standards
of performance in everything we do will make us the first choice
for Hotel Owners,” said Sanjiv Narang.
The hospitality management & consulting division of HHMDS
offers a full menu of hotel consulting services encompassing all
aspects of operations in the hospitality industry. From pre-opening
planning and marketing to day to day hotel operation to asset
repositioning, HHMDS offers the flexibility and ease where you
need us, when you need us.
Operating a hotel without a budget can lead to problems.
HHMDS has vast experience in budgeting and forecasting; a
staple to our efficient operation. HHMDS annual budgeting
process begins very early with market and past hotel performance
HHMDS Group plans to have 50 hotels by 2025
Sanjiv Narang
Harbans S Sekhon
Located in Chandigarh Hayes Institute of Hotel
Management has created a niche for itself among the
hospitality world within India and globally. Heading
it is Sona Luthra Narang who has over 16 years of
experience in Hospitality, Aviation, Trainings and
Persona Enhancement and is also the Director in
HHMDS. “Hospitality industry is more dependent on
human touch and aptly trained humans can make
all the difference to the hotel brand. Good trained
manpower is the need of the hour and through our
institute we try to provide learning experiences
both in class rooms as well as integrated internship
programs with leading hospitality chains India &
globally,” said Sona Luthra Narang.
The institute aims to aptly build the professional skills
of their students so that they become employable
and not just qualified.
Industrial Training, Tie-
Ups and Placements with
leading Hotels are the
strengths of the institute.
“Now with HHMDS and our
tie-up with Cardinal hotels
we are able to provide
quality manpower to our
own hotels as well,” said
Sona Luthra Narang. Sona Luthra Narang
Global DestinationsSept - Oct 2019 21
M a n a g e m e n t
analysis. Utilizing data from various sources and combining it
with other variable, HHMDS corporate and hotel management
team create a road map for the following year.
Hotel franchising is the buzz word but HHMDS work with a
difference. “In an effort to bring more hotels into our System,
especially in this current economic condition and financial crises
we have introduced a new Franchise Licensing model with very
reasonable fees for the hotel owners uwho rn hotels independently
while the current lodging industry trend in which major hotel
chains are increasing the percentage of fees they take from
franchisees,” said Harbans S Sekhon.
Further adding to this statement Sanjiv Narang said, “While
most chains are looking at the top tier cities, we are focusing on the
smaller cities. We are confident of success as we have successfully
created operational systems and marketing programs that help
develop and maintain the hotel in the best way. Our management
has a total of 130 + year’s experience. We have our own training
institute that is run by one of our directors. This enables us to
provide the best manpower.”
Hotels under Cardinal Hotels brand in India include – Ludhiana,
Shimla, Katra, Bathinda, New Delhi. These hotels are under
construction or in the pipeline – Zirakpur, Rajpura, Kasauli,
Vrindawan, Palampur, Amritsar, Dehradun.
HHMDS aims towards achieving the primary objectives for
each client and each project – profitability, occupancy, quality and
property sales. HHMDS has executed more than 100 Projects at
various stages from Green projects to finally managing hotels and
this is what is going to help in its growth.
A business hotel in Connaught Place, Delhi
Located in the center of the Business Hub - Inner Circle Connaught Place is a small
boutique hotel - The Corus Hotel. It’s just a kilometre away from the New Delhi railways
station and for those who want to commute by metro in Delhi, the Rajiv Chowk metro
station is just a few minutes by walk and visible from certain rooms of the hotel.
“The location has been our biggest USP and we have truly capitalised on it. We plan to
make it predominantly a business hotel. We are also
getting a fair share of leisure guests as Connaught
Place is considered to be one of the finest shopping
destinations,” said Kuldeep Lagwal, GM, Hotel Corus.
The hotel has 30 rooms including Deluxe Double
Room and The Premium Room. They plan to add
seven more rooms. Complementary Wi-Fi is provided
throughout the hotel.
The only restaurant in the hotel is Life Caffe which is quite popular. The café
is quite spacious with both indoor and outdoor areas. The décor is beautiful
and pleasant with special touch in their interiors consisting of shades of
neon-green. Seating is also pretty comforting. They outdoor seating in
the courtyard has a small water fountain and light music on weekends. It
looks awesome at night. One
should certainly try the pasta
and parathas.
The Corus Hotel is the brain
child of Ankur Sachdeva
whose main aim is comfort
of the guests. “What is
hospitality all about? We do
our best to keep our guests
are comfortable by giving
them good service, good
food, clean room and add to
that an excellent location in
Delhi,” said a smiling Ankur
Sachdeva.
Ankur Sachdeva
14. Global Destinations Sept - Oct 201924
R e n d e z v o u s
W
hen Sanjiv Narang, Director, HHMDS said that we are
going to a hotel set across 17 acres with three swimming
pools, a 20,000 sq.ft. pillar less hall capable of holding
more than 4,000 people, I was astonished. Having covered over
800 top notch properties across 46 countries how did I miss this
property and that too located in Ludhiana.
As we reached the property (a 2 hour drive from Chandigarh
airport) I was pretty impressed by the natural splendour. As we
entered the lobby for check-in its vast expanse captivated me. The
hotel offers 82 luxury rooms – all of the same size, 440 sqft of
living space an ample amount of space. In room amenities are
great and one should not miss the yummy biscuits provided in the
room.
On the F&B side the hotel provides delicious food. Dovka - the
bar, located at upper ground floor overlooking
pool side features extensive selection of
sparkling wines and champagne. Kona is an
all-day dining restaurant providing a wide
variety of choices from Indian and international
cuisines.
The hotel has state-of-the-art infrastructure
as far as banqueting goes. Nirvana hotel
provides premier conference and banqueting
services with numerous
venue options ranging
20,000 sq.ft pillar less hall
capable of holding more than
4,000 people to 1,20,000sq.ft
of immaculately manicured
open air party lawns. Add
to this the poolside gazebo
and conference/party rooms
covering 900 sq. ft. each. Its
also a popular venue for weddings
or other occasions.
Since conferences require
highly professional services to
support its delivery, all conference
venues are suitably loaded with
overhead projectors, high speed
internet broad band and ISDN
connections, Wi-Fi connectivity,
digitized projection screens and
secretarial services.
Nirvana Hotel has world class facilities and a myriad of
entertainment avenues. To provide guests with the ultimate
luxurious experience the hotel provides both saunas that use dry
heat as well as steam rooms
that use moist heat. With
yoga being the buzz word in
the last few years Nirvana
Hotel considers yoga to be an
integral part of the facilities
that they offer. Yoga is
probably the exercise that is
the most beneficial and stress-
free, with solution of every
disease, ailment, physical and mental problem,
hidden within it.
It provides a full –fledged sports complex of
such high standards that it is capable of playing
host to international tournaments for a wide
variety of indoor as well us outdoor sports - a
full-fledged gymnasium three badminton courts,
two squash courts, billiard and snooker tables,
table tennis, card rooms, three swimming pools
including a half Olympic size swimming pool, a
play pool with sunken bar. The hotel has plenty of greenery with
gardens and jogging tracks which nature lovers will relish.
When queried on the huge expanse as well as expense incurred
in building this magnificent resort Sukhvinder Singh Oberoi, MD,
Hotel Nirvana said, “My main aim was to fill the world with light
and warmth of hospitality, to create a brand that will become a
permanent choice of many and represent our city, country in the
best way in terms of tourism in international arena.”
Opulence at Nirvana Hotel in Ludhiana
Sukhvinder Singh Oberoi
Global DestinationsSept - Oct 2019 25
C o v e r S t o r y
15. Global Destinations Sept - Oct 201926
C i t y T r a i l
I
t was during IMEX, Frankfurt that I chanced to meet the
charming Mireille Dartus, Director of Strasbourg Convention
Bureau. When I mentioned that I was planning to visit
Strasbourg post IMEX, with great enthusiasm within a day she
set up an agenda as well as my stay in a castle or manor house -
Chateau de Pourtalès.
The Château de Pourtalès
Arriving into Strasbourg station (2.30 hrs from Frankfurt), I
took a taxi to the Chateau de Pourtalès. A good 20 minutes drive
brought me to a magnificent castle hotel. On check in I was given
a room on the first floor - access to this floor is through a winding
staircase. The room is quite spacious and without any frills.
Though I felt being a castle the bathrooms could have been bigger.
The owner, Harald Leibrecht, a politician and former member of
the Bundestag (German Federal Parliament) was there to receive
me. This delightful and equally handsome hotelier took me for a
show round.
Set in a beautiful park with proximity to nature and away from
the hustle and bustle of city life is this 270 year old castle hotel.
The Château de Pourtalès was built around 1750 by the Bussière
family and has been visited by dignitaries like Albert Schweitzer,
Franz Liszt, Napoléon III, Empress Eugénie, the Princes of
Belgium and Russia, Ludwig I of Bavaria, the Grand Duke of
Baden etc. “In 1972 when my father Dr. Walter Leibrecht bought
the castle it was in bad condition thanks to the world wars and
its aftermath. He began reconstruction and initially students of
Schiller International University were accommodated. In 2009
the Château de Pourtalès started welcoming guests from all over
the world. Today apart from tourists it is available as a campus for
students from international universities and has become a second
home for many Members of the European Parliament during the
session weeks,” said Harald Leibrecht.
The hotel offers 28 hotel rooms that are located in the château
or the annex. WiFi is available and free of charge in all the rooms.
The hotel also provides a spa area with Finnish sauna. “Originally
this spa area was the stables. So when designing the spa we were
conscientious to conserve the original flair of the stables. By using
authentic material we created a unique atmosphere,” said Harald
Leibrecht. In cooperation with “Nomad Wellness” they also offer
revitalizing massages and facial treatments.
That night for dinner Harald Leibrecht took me out to an Indian
restaurant just across the border. On the way he showcased me
the highlights of the city. Over dinner I understood the love and
affection that he has for India and some of his anecdotes made me
smile.
After a decent night’s sleep, I went to the breakfast room.
Surprisingly there’s no restaurant in the castle. “We are expanding
and will soon add 20 more rooms, then we can probably look
at a restaurant,” said Harald Leibrecht. Over breakfast I was
introduced to Pascal Papillon, the yoga instructor. A PhD student
in Yoga philosophy from India he conducts regular yoga session
which are free for guests and yoga mats are also provided.
Strasbourg Convention + exhibition center
After a healthy discussion over an equally healthy breakfast
we awaited my transport that was arranged by the Convention
Bureau. The taxi brought me to the convention center where the
charismatic Mireille Dartus was awaiting. She introduced me to
Catherine McCarty, sales manager at Strasbourg Convention +
exhibition center.
“We provide MICE organisers support in organising their
events be it large conventions, congresses, conferences or just
board meetings. This can be held in a hotel or at our Convention
Centre. Located at the heart of a business district and the European
institutions it’s a unique, multi-purpose and multi-function
complex,” said Mireille Dartus.
The Strasbourg Convention & Exhibition Center has two parts.
The Congress Palace has three auditoriums of varying capacities
of 1,800, 1,200 and 500 seats. There are another 23 meeting rooms
from 25 to 450 seats fully equipped with day light availability.
There is also a modular dining area accommodating up to 1,500
guests. An additional 10,000 m² of flexible space (exhibition,
catering and conference) is there. The other part is exclusively
for large exhibitions there is 70,000 m² space including 24,000 m²
spread over 4 halls: hall 7.1 (6,650 m²), hall 7.2 (5,700 m²), hall 5
(6,000 m²) and hall 8 (6,650 m²).
Strasbourg: The European capital with 2000 years of rich history
Global DestinationsSept - Oct 2019 27
After the show round Mireille Dartus provided me with a tram
ticket so that I can go around the historical town center. She herself
used a bicycle to move around and explained it, “We have dual
benefits – exercising as well as eco friendliness. In Strasbourg
the bicycle is used by many citizens and tourists making it an
ecofriendly city.”
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Strasbourg, the European capital with a 2000 years of rich
history also has a UNESCO World Heritage Site - “Strasbourg,
Grande Ile and Neustadt" - an entire historic urban centre. The
site features high-quality collection of monuments including
the area overlooked by the
Cathedral. The Cathedral
was constructed between
the 11th and 15th centuries
it’s a symbol of the city with
narrow winding and cobbled
streets. Its height of 142
m. classified Notre-Dame
of Strasbourg as the tallest
edifice in Christendom up
until the 19th century. I
loved the organ chest, the
Astronomical Clock, the
Pillar of Angels. I was
informed that the Cathedral
has 500 spotlights that
highlight its exceptional
architecture. The Cathedral
is surrounded by several picturesque parts like the Petite France
that is surrounded by four canals and museums which give an
insight of that era.
Strasbourg the European capital
Many may not be aware that New-York, Geneva and
Strasbourg are the only cities in the world - home to international
organisations without being national capitals. The Council of
Europe has 47 member countries and deals with ensuring that
human rights are respected as well as social, educational, cultural,
and environmental matters. The Palais de l'Europe, built in 1975
where Council of Europe sessions are held is worth a look. This
is a vast quadrilateral containing a semi-circular council chamber
with an interesting mahogany ceiling.
The European Court of Human Rights houses both the European
Court of Justice and the European Commission of Human Rights.
The building resembles 2 metal drums on supports, suggesting
the scales of justice as a reminder of its function. The European
Parliament building is based on a fusion of circle and ellipse.
The Strasbourg Christmas market is a must visit as it celebrates
its 450th anniversary in 2020 making it the oldest in France.
Strasbourg through waterways
They had also arranged for a complementary boat ticket on
Batorama and the terminus was close to the Cathedral. I met
Jonathan Hoffmann who took me on to the boarding point. The
boat was quite spacious and we sat in the front row. The tour of
1.15 hours, takes you to the heart of 3 emblematic districts of
Strasbourg and as you witness the beauty of the buildings - modern
as well as half-timbered houses which can be seen in the reflection
of the canals. You can listen to the stories in English as the boat
navigates through canals and old coolers. Cross two locks and
discover the Covered Bridges and the Vauban Dam, witnesses of
the fortifications of the city under Louis XIV, the imperial district
of Neustadt, or "new city”, the Palace of the Rhine, the Opera,
the Library or the University Palace and finally the symbols of
unity and European construction - the European Parliament, the
European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe, all
built by renowned architects.
After the boat ride I met Christine Harter, Promotion Manager,
Tourist office of Strassbourg and its region. She gave a few
insights on the city and all of a sudden I felt I should have spared
a day more. She fondly remembered her visits to India, “India is
certainly a beautiful country and I feel a top market with a huge
potential. We hope to tap this growing market soon.”
After that I proceeded to the railway station for my train to
Luxembourg.
C i t y T r a i l
16. Global Destinations Sept - Oct 201928
I had planned a trip to Luxembourg post IMEX to cover another
Hilton property. During IMEX I met Stéphane Mockels, Head
of MICE, Voyages Emile Weber – a leading travel agency. He
was quite agile and in co-ordination with his team and tourism
department, quickly arranged for a sightseeing program spread
over 2 days.
Arriving in the evening from Strasbourg, Serigo Dias the
chauffer from Voyages Emile Weber was there to pick me up with
the very comfortable and tech savvy E Class Mercedes.As he drove
me down to DoubleTree by Hilton Luxembourg, he highlighted on
the program for the following day. He talked highly of the hotel,
saying even though it’s a bit old its one of the prominent hotels in
the country and also surrounded with lots of greenery.
DoubleTree by Hilton Luxembourg
Arriving at DoubleTree by Hilton I was welcomed like a VIP
guest, thanks to Janine Kemp, Area GM, DoubleTree by Hilton
Luxembourg who was kind enough to extend hospitality. I
asked the reception to inform Alexandra Samzun-Aflalo, DoSM,
DoubleTree by Hilton Luxembourg that I had arrived. She was
quick enough to come down and accompanied me to my room.
My room was a wonderful suite right on the top floor (560
sq. ft). “It’s the room that we reserve for our VIP guests. Its big,
specious with a seating area and walk-in wardrobe providing a
panoramic view overlooking the large forest of Luxemburg,” said
Alexandra.
During the show round she explained that the hotel is located
within 15 minute’s drive of the city center and they also run a
scheduled shuttle to Luxembourg Airport. The hotel, one of the
largest in the country has 345 rooms including Suites that were
recently renovated. For long stays there are 24 Deluxe Suites with
kitchenette. It has an indoor swimming pool, fitness centre and
sauna.
The Green Restaurant and Bar located next to the lobby serves
modern European cuisine. Its an all-day dining restaurant serving
an excellent breakfast buffet as well as lunch and dinner. Over
lunch I had very tasty Risotto with a nice mix of vegetables.
“Rooms and restaurants are fine but it’s our banqueting space
that’s truly getting laurels. With our 16 flexible meeting and
event spaces with daylight it’s a preferred venue for conferences,
meetings, briefings and celebrations. Our spacious grand ballroom
with high ceilings and stunning chandeliers is ideal as a wedding
venue,” said Alexandra. I was also pretty impressed by the MICE
facilities and this coupled with on-site parking for 250 vehicles.
Don’t forget to collect the hotels signature cookie during check-
in. I simply loved it.
The vineyards
The next day morning we departed to Remich, a 30 km drive.
Situated on the banks of the Moselle River Remich is enclosed by
vineyards and for thousands of years the city of Remich, have been
Luxembourg's winegrowing hotspots. The English-speaking cave
tours are quite
popular and I
went on a tour
at the Caves
St Martin. I
was surprised
to know that
this was their
centenary year
of celebration.
The tour –
almost 30
minutes takes
you through
the underground galleries and barrels of wine that stretch nearly a
kilometer. It is very informative tour as one gets a lot of insights
into the local history, details on winemaking and types of wine.
Without Borders
Since we had time Serigo Dias suggested why not visit the
Schengen town in Luxembourg where the Schengen Agreement
was signed on 14 June 1985 abolishing internal border checks.
It truly was a historic movement visiting the spot as many of us
as tourists and business men appreciate the Uniform Schengen
visa giving us access to all 26 member countries of the Schengen
Area. These include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Located at the venue is The
European Museum which gives an excellent insight.
The City of Luxembourg - A historic UNESCO site
O v e r s e a s
Global DestinationsSept - Oct 2019 29
The old town and the fortifications
From here we proceeded to Hilton where they had organized
lunch. After a bit of rest we proceeded to the center of the town
where I was going to meet a professional guide provided by
Luxembourg City Tourist Office to show me around the city.
Our meeting point was at The Golden Lady or the Monument
of Remembrance, a war memorial situated in the heart of
Luxembourg City. I met Georges Blau – quite a knowledgeable
English speaking guide who mentioned that the old city and its
ancient fortifications was designated a UNESCO World Heritage
Site.
Starting the tour from The Roman Catholic Notre-Dame
Cathedral that was built in the early 17th century - originally a
Jesuit church, and is the only cathedral in Luxembourg. One can
see a lot of late gothic architecture as well as many Renaissance
elements and adornments. The cathedral was expanded and
enlarged from 1935 to 1938.
Within walking distance from the Cathedral in the historic Old
Quarter are quite a few places of interest - the fortifications and the
underground defenses known as the casemates, the Grand Ducal
Palace, Place Guillaume II with the City Hall, the Place d'Armes,
the Adolphe Bridge towering over the valley.
From here we walked down to The fortress (Casemates) -
dubbed the "Gibraltar of the North," as it was impregnable. And
what a wonderful experience. This fortified castle was built on the
Bock promontory in 963 by Count Siegfried. It has three fortified
rings with 24 forts, cannon-loopholes, a unique 23 km long
network of casemates (a small room in the wall of a fortress, with
openings from which guns or missiles could be fired) underground
passages hewn from solid rock - covering an impressive 40,000
square meters. These could not only shelter thousands of soldiers
and their horses, but also housed workshops, kitchens, bakeries,
slaughter-houses etc.. After the dismantling of the fortress in
1867, 17 kilometers of the casemates were spared, left in good
condition. Since 1933 the Bock and Pétrusse casemates have been
open to the public. As I looked down at the old fortifications I
would see the cobbled streets, charming old homes and buildings,
greenery and parks, large sitting areas and absolutely a great place
for selfies.
Restaurant Le Plëss
After the guided tour we proceeded to Hotel Place d’Arme
where dinner was organized in restaurant Le Plëss. It’s a
wonderfully laid out restaurant and the chef was able to provide an
all vegetarian meal that included Starter - “Old Tomatoes Salad”
with Burrata cheese and Pesto; Main dish - “Green Risotto” with
green asparagus and black truffles; Desert - “Vanilla & Almond
Rolled Cake” with orange flower water and lemon marmalade.
After dinner Alexandre Bonnenfant from Hotel Place d’Arme
took me around the hotel. I was surprised to know that the Place
d'Armes was installed on the site of a former printing works and
composed of 7 different houses build in 18th century. They have
been linked together by a set of suspended terraces and verandas,
mix of glass corridors, staircases and patios. Architects will love
it and each of the 18 rooms and 10 suites has a totally different
interior design. The hotel has 3 restaurants and 5 private rooms.
O v e r s e a s
Luxembourg plans to offer public transport FREE
Among the many topics that Serigo Dias shared the one that caught my
attention was that from 2020 Luxembourg plans to offer public transport
free - on its trains, trams and buses for all citizens and tourists. This is
part of efforts to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. The hope is
that eliminating all fees for public trains, trams, and buses will encourage
more people to use those service. Not only would that decrease personal
vehicle traffic, it would also be better for the environment. Public transport
was already free for senior citizens. Luxembourg also has the highest car-
to-person rate of any nation in the European Union: 662 cars for every
1,000 people. Nearly 200,000 people from the neighboring nations of
France, Belgium, and Germany commute into Luxembourg for work. In
January 2013, Tallinn, Estonia became the first capital city in the European Union to give its residents a free
ride on public transport after buying a special green transport pass for just two euros ($2.60).
