Underlining the importance of the Indian hospitality industry, four chairmen and CEOs of leading international chains came together yesterday afternoon for the first time.

A Special Supplement on the Occasion of the 9th Annual HICSA Conference, 2013, Day 2. 4th April

Global Captains Hold Stage at HICSA

Are Owners Making Money: Candid speak brings new insights

HICSA Hotel of the Year AwardsBest Luxury/Upper-scale HotelPark Hyatt, ChennaiBest Upscale Hotel Double tree by Hilton, GurgaonBest Mid-Market Hotel Lemon tree Hotel, ChandigarhBest budget Hotel Holiday Inn Express, AhmedabadSmall Hotel Svenska design Hotel, Bangalore

With the supply - demand chain falling rapidly, room occupancy down from 72% to 60% and con-struction cost up 22% are there still ways for owners to make money in the industry? Moderator Uttam Dave, President and CEO, Interglobe Hotels poses the right questions to a set of interesting panellists.

“The two parameters that define profits for companies are cash surplus and wealth generation. Making money is creating wealth,” states Arun Saraf, Managing Director, Jupiter Hotels. He continues to say, “Business cycles will always be there. The best way forward is to have enough cash. A well-capitalized brand does not have anything to fear when a low situation sets in.” The point being that the industry demand is increasing and one can increase profits by making smart and calculated calls.

SP Jain, Managing Director has a simple and effective formula on how profits can be maximized for owners. He says, “Meeting your operating expenses and keeping surplus cash for future expansion is the need of the hour. Do not been driven by any formula, what you need to discern is profitability and how to double your income.”

Group President, K Raheja Group, Neel Raheja says that there has to be a substantial amount of return on the capital employed and capital equity. For the Raheja Group it is about alternate uses of real estate. By analysing the optimal use of their property, the company ensures the greatest revenue generating model.

Ashish Jakhanwala, Managing Director and CEO, SAMHI clarifies all doubts about his company when he says, “We are a hotel real-estate company. For us the ultimate test is a dividend yield. The financial crisis in the country poses a small problem towards development.” For him and his 18th month old company, the word exit does not exist. He feels that international leverage is the most important factor that will pave the growth of the industry.

Although GOP levels are 40-45% it is still not paying for operations in the Indian market. Atul Chordia, Chairman and CEO, Panchshil Realty is a firm believer that property appreciation for hotels does not happen. Instead he thinks that the only reason people will buy a hotel is because of profit. “As long as there is a sustained cash flow, leverage should be used for more projects under construction. The returns are not bad as long as the cycle is right,” adds Chordia.

Arun Saraf Atul Chordia Neel Raheja Ashish Jakhanwala S.P. Jain

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The HICSA conference witnessed a historic moment when the captains of the four leading inter-national brands – Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Hyatt Hotels Corporation shared the stage for a panel discussion for perhaps the first time ever.

While the four corporations may adopt different business strategies to gain global market-share, they all seemed to be on consensus on betting big on India. “We have been operating in India since 1973 and India has grown to become our 4th largest market and will soon be our 3rd largest market,” says Frits van Paasschen, President and CEO, Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Starwood currently operates 36 hotels in India and has 25 hotels under construction.

“India is currently our most important market given the opportunity that its immense fundamentals will present over the next 5-20 years,” Christopher J Nasseta, President and CEO, Hilton Worldwide. He points out that while India presents a strong population base with a growing infrastructure, its supply of 180,000 rooms is lower than the total room inventory of Orlando, Florida. Currently Hilton operates 12 hotels in India with 2500 rooms with 25 in the pipeline and the company expects to have 50 hotels op-erational in India by 2016. The Hyatt Hotels Corporation has been present in India for the past 30 years and currently operates 16 hotels in India and company has a long-term view on India as well.

“We continue to focus on people and 11 of our 16 hotels are led by Indians,” says Mark S Hoplamazian, President and CEO, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, “with these measures, we are making sure that we develop future leaders in the country. Marriott International currently operates 18 hotels in India and Arne M Soren-son, President and CEO, Marriott International agrees with the extraordinary opportunity that India presents.

While the business potential of the Indian market remains unquestionable, it does present a fair bit of challenges as well. “The combination of high cost of land with high cost of financing in India proves to be quite a challenge,” says Nasseta, “also processes take 15-100% longer between starting point of the discussion to start of the hotel than in other countries.” He adds that the acquisition of talent is also prov-ing to be a challenge given that the supply talent is unable to keep pace with demand growth and growth in supply of hotels.

The Marriott International group tackles the Indian challenges by entering the various markets through partnerships. “The single most important question we ask before signing each project is do we have the right partner. Getting the partner selection right is critical as it is crucial that our partner has both the capital and the ability to survive the market volatility,” says Sorenson.

“Resource constraints of water and energy will become areas of serious concern in the future in India and we are more spending more time to figure out how to do things differently as we recognize its potential to adversely effect on our bottomline,” points out Hoplamazian. – Amish mody

Editor: Navin S Berry navin@crosssectionmedia.comDirector Projects: Priyaanka Berrypriyaanka@crosssectionmedia.comAdvertising: Saurabh Shuklasaurabh@crosssectionmedia.com Design: Ashok Saxena, Neelam Aswani

Hotelscapes at HICSA is being printed through our online office at Grand Hyatt Mumbai, courtesy HVS India. Tel: 91-11-43784444; Fax: 91-11-41001627. E-mail: info@crosssectionmedia.com

It is the owners who are the most important segment in the industry as without them, there would be no hotels. Sounds simple but often something which is overlooked or forgotten!

Manav Uncensored presents a frank and vital insight into trends

The first session yesterday was the presenta-tion by Manav Thadani, in a session aptly called Manav Uncensored. It was a frank exchange from him, sharing his vital in-

sights into currents thoughts and practices in the industry. The session, typical of HVS, started dot on time, and the audience started trickling gin as he spoke. Soon, it was a packed audience, over 500 of them attentively listening on. In brief, what was presented were highlights of the problems that plague the industry. Manav salso shared that this conference was probably the most controversial of all because of the various clauses including various brands not getting shortlisted for hotel of the year awards.

Manav’s brief introduction was focused on ‘Sustainability’ by the industry. The main idea was based on the fact that reducing operating expenses can be brought around by diligence and informed decisions. As consultants, HVS have set given themselves three main targets which play a vital role in effective sustainability- Benchmarking, Auditing and Project Implementation. The reason why HVS are amongst the leaders in this space is because they think like owners, like hoteliers. Using simple examples like water wastage while defrosting, gas burners left on and waste not effectively dealt with, Manav emphasized the amount of money that gets wasted. What is actually meant to be a no cost to the company should stay that way and employers must en-force these ideals.

Vital attention needs to be given to low cost factors as well. Even if the focus is sustainability, brands are now required to change their ‘Go-Green’ initiative and instead talk numbers and figures. In a survey held for the owners of various hotels a certain amount of inter-esting figures and data cropped up. The top challenges faced by owners are the scarcity of manpower, high cost of capital, the lengthy approval and rising development cost pose a threat to growth in the industry. Also owners prefer to vacation abroad instead of investing money in their own country. According to the survey nearly 43% of the owners had not received any formal training in hospitality. However 68% said that they would rather prefer management contracts compared to just 32% who voted for franchises as form of engagement for hotels.

Manav feels that by 2020-2025 India will have the most number of hotels than any other country in the world. What he would like to see thou, are international companies investing in training their own candidates rather than use poaching techniques to acquire staff. Owners need to cut down on their ‘Ego’ in order to see a large increase in profits. They need to approach qualified people from outside the hospitality industry who will be capable of driving growth for the brand. He also suggested that GM’s get paid per performance and brand standards be ethical and well calculated. He has personally witnessed a case where a brand has launched a hotel with 0% capital. Owners need to keep a check on tabs to ensure that the hotel they are constructing does not change from a mid-market to upscale one during the process.

A Top down View on India: Four CEOs on stage together

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Their pleasant smiles and heartwarming welcomes, has ensured that the role of women in the hospitality sector never goes unnoticed. However, what does it

take for women to go from entry level employees to management executives or for that case on the board of the companies? The obstacles and challenges that woman face are immense but there is surely away around them. With Dilip Puri, Managing Director, India and RVP - SA, Starwood Hotels and Resorts as the Moderator, the stage was set for an expert set of women panelists to put forth their view points about the same.

Trudy Rautio, President and CEO, Carlson who addressed the topic brought to light a couple of key factors, she says, “There are many opportunities for women to move ahead in the industry. However advances can only be made if they opt to be more flexible and the work that they do comes to the at-tention of the right people.” The Carlson group was recently given the ‘Equality Award’ by the state of Minnesota for the changes that they have made in the company. Trudy, is the second woman CEO of the company and is at the fore runners to see women move up in this industry. Structural and attitudinal barriers are the greatest challenges faced by woman, according to a survey. “We need to start a trend in

the trend of empowering women in the hospitality industry, so that others will soon follow,” quips Rautio.

“Men need to give women the credit they deserve instead of looking at them as eye-candy,” says Priya Paul, Chairperson, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels. She adds that the main focus should be on the up-bringing of the child and family support in what the girl can achieve. Sexual harassment policies need to be put in place to bring around conscious issues like gender sensitiza-tion. What people need to understand is that gender diversity is essential for the team to grow.

Madhu Nair, Dir. Interior Design and Ops, The Leela Palaces says, “Woman need to believe in themselves above anything else. They need to work hard and contribute towards the growth of the company.” The Fairmount Hotels recently opened their first hotel in India at Jaipur. Jennifer Fox, President, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, adds that woman should be wise in choosing a husband as they require a partner who provides the much required support. Camellia Panjabi, is of the view that woman in sales and marketing positions tend to do a better job than their male counterparts.

Samsung for years has been the leader in innovation aimed at making your guests stay pleasant and memorable. Its latest line up for Sam-sung Hospitality TV’s provides entertainment solutions that optimize operational efficiency, promote customer satisfaction and improve

sustainability.The Samsung Hospitality TV has raised the standard for premium hospital-

ity. It combines the latest LED technology with the elegance of a finely crafted work of art. Each of its sophisticated features was designed to awake all senses of even your most discerning guests. With the Samsung LED Series guests will experience the viewing pleasure that a typical HDTV would deliver but in a elegantly designed exterior.

Samsung provides various choices for hospitality multi-TV managementHospitality managers need efficient ways to manage multiple TV sets

without having to update or adjust each unit individually. Typically, property managers enlist personnel to visit every guest room to perform system upgrades, set changes and other maintenance. Manually updating each TV through-out the property consumes valuable resources, time and operational costs. Additionally, hospitality businesses want to enhance their guest services by pro-viding guests with convenient, on-screen hotel information and a user-friendly electronic program guide (EPG).Samsung provides management solutions that help hospitality establishments:

• Eliminate manual updates and visits to each guest room with a single-location remote solution saving resources,

• Offer better guest services by providing important hotel information in a pleasant, clutter-free guest room environment and

• Reduce operational costs by using existing infrastructureSamsung offers the following two integrated hospitality options, which can

be tailored to meet individual property requirements:Samsung Remote Enhanced Active Control for Hospitality (REACH).

An embedded software solution in SIRCH that offers a user interface (UI) designed for ease of use. It also provides an editing tool for updating content remotely or through Universal Serial Bus (USB) cloning on a room-by-room basis for customized updates.

Samsung Interactive Remote Control for Hospitality (SIRCH). A remote controller device for Digital TVs (DTVs) that integrates with the REACH soft-ware to eliminate the need to make updates or adjustments in each guest room.

Competitive advantageThe Samsung REACH and SIRCH solution provides hospitality property managers the ability to manage multiple TV sets remotely and more efficiently. With the advantage of upgrading and routinely managing multiple TVs re-motely with a robust Content Management System (CMS) tool, labor costs are reduced. In addition they can provide new and enhanced service to their guests, such as hotel and program guide information.

Leading women CEOs share their experiences and their perspectives on a subject that could well pronounce the industry’s sustainability

Women in Hospitality:The challenges ahead

Samsung Makes it big in the Hospitality Sector

4 HICSA SUPPLIMENT 2013

Destination Bekal Upcoming Kerala Country

Address Hotels looks to creating footprint in India

Destination Bekal in Kerala is up and coming, says Dinesh Khanna, owner and investor of the recently opened Taj Vivanta. He is here for HICSA, makes time for the event in his annual calendar, more like his annual pilgrimage. “It is a great platform for the world to know what is happening in the Indian

marketplace”, he says.Bekal is happening, as a place for ‘do nothing’ holidays. Khanna says he gathers there

is Westin signed up, and also a Marriott coming. The Lalit and Taj Vivanta are already opened. This kind of activity augurs well for the pristine destination, he believes. In the course of the next five years, he expects some ancillary developments to take place, like the setting up of tourist villages, recreational parks and the works.

Kerala is the place known around the world for rejuvenation, and it is indeed the best place to perk up around Ayurveda. “I have been here myself for the last five days with my family, and I don’t feel like leaving”, he confesses.

How is the business doing? This month, The Lalit hosted three conferences. There is a growing clientele for 7 days and 14 days packages for Ayurveda wellness programmes.

We meet with Josef Kufer, Chief Operating Officer, Emaar Hospitality on the first day of the HICSA conference where he shares with us his expansion plans and bringing The Address Hotels and Resorts to India. Currently they have seven operating hotels in the Middle East and another twelve in development

in the Middle East, Turkey and Egypt. In the short span of five years, the company has built an impressive portfolio and is set to expand to other parts of the world. They are looking at India as a key future market. Kufer is familiar with India having been the first General Manager at the Grand Hyatt, venue hotel of HICSA.

India witnessing a boom in luxury hospitality is “in our nature course of expansion”, says Kufer. “A lot of our clients coming to Dubai are actually from India. So we are sure we already have good brand identity”. They are open to meeting investors and property owners to discuss potential opportunities and want to enter the market asset-light and operate as the manage-ment arm. Beyond the obvious metro cities, Delhi and Mumbai, they are also looking at the possibility of a resort in Goa, and other cities such as Chennai and Bangalore.

The Address, he says, focusses on lifestyle and service. “We pay special attention to guest service delivery and ensure all guests feel welcome. We also have a special 24hr check in policy; whenever you arrive you get 24hrs to checkout”.

Josef Kufer, Chief Operating Officer, Emaar Hospitality.

Dinesh Khanna with sons Tushar and Bharat.

The more things change, the more they remain the same. Or do they? In 2012, one billion people travelled internationally. Tourism contributes to one out of eleven jobs globally. “While Goldman Sachs predicts that the global economy will grow more in 2011-2020 than it has in the last three decades, the source of growth will radically

change,” says Amitabh Kant, IAS, Chief Executive Officer and MD, DMICDC. According to him growth in travel will be driven by the Asian tigers as opposed to the western world. The demographics of travelers will change drastically as well. “60% of the western population has travelled internationally whereas only 5% of the eastern population has travelled internationally. The number of eastern travelers will continue to grow rapidly and as a result the global products will need to redesign themselves to cater to the Asian requirements,” he points out. The rise of the urban middle class will also change the dynamics. “By 2021, 41% of the population will constitute of the middle class,” says Kant. The rise of low-cost carriers will also impact the travel industry as these carriers have witnessed a growth of market share from 0% - 52% in the last ten years. Kant predicts that there will be a noticeable shift to experiential tourism and mass tourism will be a casualty.

Amitabh Kant: Winds of change will impact the travel and tourism industry

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Brand Courtyard – Marriott’s Key Growth DriverCourtyard by Marriott Hotels aspires to be the global leader in

lodging for travelers who seek the freedom and opportunity to disconnect from routine. In India, the brand has witnessed phe-nomenal growth, and has been very strong for all the right reasons.

Targeting the secondary and tertiary markets, by the close of the second quar-ter 2013, Marriott India would have would have 10 Courtyards operational in India with another 25 under construction. The brand has grown within a span of just 4 years covering the cities of Mumbai, Chennai, Pune (2 exist-ing properties and the Courtyard By Marriott Chakan, which is set to open in the 3rd quarter of 2103), Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Kochi and Bhopal. The growth strategy for Marriott will focus on the CYM brand as its key growth driver, with a vision to have it become the market leader within its operational competitive set

Introduced by Marriott International in 1983, in the United States, Court-yard has been the leading choice in its lodging category The idea for this brand was conceived when Marriott International Inc (NYSE/MAR) decided to pursue moderate tier hotels. This brand is designed for business and leisure travelers who are mo-tivated by success but also enjoy the break from routine that travel offers. The Courtyard by Marriott guest balances achievement with enjoyment, and actively manages the demands of being on the road with the pursuit of personal time.

India and Asia are growing rapidly for Marriott, and within Asia there is no place growing more rapidly than India. Marriott is covering the length and breadth of India, taking the Courtyard brand into smaller towns and satellite cities across the country.

The brand footprints are set to cover places like Bilaspur, Guwahati, Raipur, Shillong and Amritsar to name a few. As the India domestic market is on an upward growth indicator. Marriott

started from gateway cities, catering to International travellers, but today the growth in India is with the local travellers, who seeks to get the most out of their stay, in both the leisure and business segments, across small and big cities alike. It is here when the Courtyard model caters perfectly to that booming domestic market, which now makes up about 65% of the targeted guest mix.

The Courtyard brand in India comprises of highly efficient service hotels, offering warm, Intuitive and professional hospitality, sophisticated yet functional guest room design, lobby spaces that facilitate working, dining and socializing, meeting and event spaces that are gold standard and expansive, with an eclectic mix of dining options and the signature MoMo Café that takes centre stage across all the Courtyard properties. The properties are very entrenched within the local culture and community they operate in, driven by a high sense of social responsibility and overall community welfare, giving their growth story a very

humane dimension.Brand Courtyard, drives the

Marriott growth story as we en-ter the new golden age of travel, where opportunities to do busi-ness and travel are opening up like never before. Through our Courtyard’s we work to provide the opportunity for rewarding travel experiences for our guests, as we continue to serve them with the best of both world’s, that enhances their growth both per-sonally and professionally.

Courtyard is currently the world’s 12th largest lodging brand with more than 800 hotels in 28 countries.

HICSA MICE AD_43.78X28.54.indd 1 28/03/13 1:03 PM

It was a busy registration hour at the Grand Hyatt yesterday. Delegates were pouring in, registering and renewing fraternity ties among themselves. Registration was brisk, professional and hassle-free.

Registration Time was a good Networking Opportunity

Couryard by Marriott Mumbai

HICSA SUPPLIMENT 20137

HICSA MICE AD_43.78X28.54.indd 1 28/03/13 1:03 PM

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The proceedings were not open to the media. We therefore do not have a report. However, HICSA was able to give our photographer a peek into the debate.

Owners Meet brings several issues upfront at HICSA

New CEO of Carlson Rezidor India is here

Raj Rana, who has recently taken over as the CEO, South Asia of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel group returns to India after with the group for 23 years in the US. In his last assignment he was heading the company’s franchise operations for the Americas. “I am extremely

excited to come back to this promising landscape which has become more competitive and yet continues to provide an opportunity for top-notch inter-national hospitality brands,” says Rana.

While he admits that the current demand and supply situation does present a temporary blip with ARRs being put under pressure, Rana remains confi-dent of the long-term prospects of the industry. “There is a growing need for top-class international hospitality brands in many cities and improvements in infrastructure, growing need for corporate travel and tourism will boost demand in the long-term,” he points out.

Currently the Carlson Rezidor hotel group is largest international hospitality brand in the Indian market by virtue of the number hotels it currently operates. The company operates 62 hotels in India and another 42 are in the pipeline

and company is on pace to operate 100 hotels by 2015. “While we have a solid foundation in India and it is important to build on it further by continuing to add hotels and create value for partners and owners,” explains Rana.

Moving forward, Rana intends to focus on talent to ensure that the com-pany has the right bandwidth of talent to serve the needs of Indian guests. “The Indian hotels today are over-serviced to meet the expectations of Indian guests. However this is not sustainable given the increasing labor and land costs, hence it is important to improve our HR efficiencies without adversely impacting the service levels to improve the bottom-line for owners, partners and also our company,” explains Rana.

The company has recently signed a strategic partnership with Bestech to launch 49 Park Inn hotels in India. The group is currently constructing two Park Inn properties in NCR and Mohali which will be ready to welcome guests in the next couple of years. “Park Inn is a vibrant, colourful, asset light brand that is very easy to operate and is well-poised to deliver encouraging bottom line,” says Rana. – Amish mody

Maharana of Mewar, owner of HRH Hotels in Udaipur with his daughter.

Dr. Ramesh Kapoor, CMD, Radisson, Delhi Airport (second from left) with Arun Saraf, MD, Juniper Hotels and Umesh Saraf, MD, Grand New Delhi (in the second row).

S.P. Jain, Chairman, Pride Hotels (second from left) and Uttam Dave, Interglobe Hotels (second from right).

Dinesh Khanna (left), Managing Director of Novotel Juhu Beach and owner of Taj Vivanta Bekal.

The Carlson team at HICSA: Simon Barlow and K.B. Kachru

Raj Rana, the new CEO (right) interviewed in the Grand Hyatt lobby yesterday.

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Unfortunately, the per-ception of food safety in India remains very low among interna-

tional tourists. CheckSafetyFirst has entered the Indian market in October 2012 to help change this. The UK-based health and safety risk management company is par-ticipating at HICSA as a vendor to increase its client-base in India. The company has been in opera-tion since 20 years and currently offers its services to 1300 hotels in 41 countries.

CheckSafetyFirst’s latest reports indicate that 34.2% European tourists who opt for packaged tours to Goa suffer food-related illnesses during their stay. “We consider our presence here in India as a step in the right direction to promote India as a safe destination,” says Steve Tate, Chairman, CheckSafety-First. The company carries out health and safety audits of the various aspects of hotels including food, water, fire, swimming pools, environment and room facilities among others and makes hygiene and safety informationation avaible to both tour operators and international travelers via its online directory.

CheckSafetyFirst has currently signed up 4 hotels in India including Clark Shoaiz in Agra, the Bagh in Bharatpur near Agra, Rathambore Regency and Agra-based restaurant – Rio. “We are targeting to sign up 50 hotels in the next one year,” says Tate.

The packaged Travel Directive of 1992 in the European Union puts the financial burden of claims made by travelers on the tour operator which in turn debit the claims to the hotelier. “Our services pro-tect hotels against claims, reduce illness and thereby reduce the problems for the hoteliers,” explains Tate.

According to Tate, people choose hotels based on seven attributes including location, reputation, price, facilities, star rating, brand and referral. “Hygiene and safety are the key differentiators for hotels which will help them tap ad-ditional segments and increase their occupancies,” he points out. Our services cost 5000-6000 USD annually and helps improve the hotel’s occupancy and also provides economic benefits by encouraging them to use their resources more efficiently.

– Amish mody

The Ashok New Delhi in a Swanky New AvatarThe Ashok, India’s legend in hoteliering. The finest expression of

Indian hospitality, a glorious blend of royal comfort and modern day amenities. Pandit Nehru’s ideas of modern India are manifest in the hotel’s architecture – a hotel India is proud of. And a name

reputed the world over as the abode of the Elite.Build in 1956 and located in the prestigious Diplomatic Enclave of New

Delhi, the flagship of the Ashok Group truly lives up to its claim: “They do not build hotels on such grand lines any more”. The Ashok, “The grandest of them all” is a magnificent red sandstone edifice. Its walls have echoed to momentous declarations of peace and friendship, and in the shadow of its splendor, the history of the nation has been created.

Sprawling over 25 acres of land, The Ashok literally houses a minipolis that bustles with international cross-currents of meetings, conferences and seminars. The hotel provides the perfect ambience and setting for major global events and offers the most extensive and impeccable convention services available in the country. From customer specific seminars for 50 people to comprehensive convention packages including pre and post conference plan-ning for up to 2000 delegates. Along with the back-up of modern business amenities, communication services, travel and ticketing facilities and the choicest accommodation and cuisines.

The Convention Hall offers ultra-modern back-up in terms of seating, light-ing and business facilitation props such as audio-video aids and simultaneous translation in languages. The Hall accommodates up to 2000 persons and can also be sub-divided to accommodate smaller numbers with ease. The Banquet Hall, Friendship Lounge and Party Rooms facilitate customer specific requests. The sprawling lawns are perfect for outdoor parties.

The total convention care is as business – like leisurely and comfortable as a guest would like it to be. And that includes, great theme parties, special packages for spouses as well as entertainment and shopping facilites.

The Ashok has been setting standards, not only in conference handling but also a fantastic host for state guests and VVIPs. World-class services and amenities pamper emperors and presidents, celebrities and sports stars from home and abroad, with traditional Indian hospitality. And, ever responsive to the need of times, the Hotel offers an array of international cuisine experiences, apart from its regular culinary offerings. Supplemented by a health club and a destination spa in natural surroundings.

Over the years, The Ashok has been refined, perfected and made more comfortable. For, The Ashok is in constant touch with the times, with a clear vision of the future. Constantly updating its facilities to suit the needs of today and adapting them to the requirement of the future. For, hospitality here has become “an appreciative art”.

Here at HICSA, a senior team from CheckSafetyFirst is recommending the virtues of getting the safety audit for hotels. Hotelscapes catches up with them.

CheckSafetyFirst recommends Hotels to undertake Safety Audit

Steve Tate, Chairman and Vivek Angra, President - Development India.

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Introducing Kempinski East DelhiEurope’s oldest luxury hotel brand, Kempinski, launches its first

independently managed hotel in India in the commercial district of East Delhi – Kempinski Ambience Delhi. Within a few months of its launch, it has become the landmark destination for business,

entertainment and weddings in the region.

DESIGN AND FACILITIESThe hotel has been designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA) to evoke a distinct sense of place, utilising shades of grey and white with free flowing spaces and Achal Kataria being the principal architect. Italian marble and wood act as the perfect backdrop for Indian weddings and other social events. The façade has been designed with the angles of the sun in mind to conserve energy. Located in a green belt, the hotel is surrounded by beautiful landscapes, a well-maintained park, a sports complex and entertainment hubs, including shopping arcades and play areas for kids.

The hotel is contemporarily designed with 480 rooms and suites in two tow-ers, connected by a sky bridge. Each tower has a dedicated entrance, a lobby and a check-in desk. Kempinski Ambience Delhi features banqueting facilities of over 70,000 sq ft, including India’s largest pillar-less ballroom in a luxury hotel that can accommodate up to 6000 guests. Amongst the dining options are three specialty restaurants – Café Knosh (all-day dining restaurant), Dilli 32 (an Indian specialty restaurant) and Mei Kun (an Asian restaurant). In addition, the hotel has a scenic, glass-enclosed bar, the Cherry Bar, two business centres

and recreational facili-ties including the spa with hammam and ice fountain. Surrounded by an affluent business community, entertain-ment destinations and prominent state-owned buildings, the complex is well connected via road and the metro rail

to the airports and city centre.

GUESTROOMSThe accommodation is modern in design and provides perfect solutions to the needs of business and leisure travellers alike. Each room features a soothing colour palette with hues of brown and grey to provide a balance and contrast to colourful and lively Delhi. Comfortable upholstered furniture, wooden flooring, textured wallpaper and rugs coupled with modern artwork complete the oasis setting. A full entertainment system with Bose speakers, UK and US sockets, triple play fibre integrated IP technology, a laptop-sized safe and a high definition 40-inch LED screen are just some of the additional features. All rooms offer a complimentary mini-bar and coffee/tea making facilities, and all rates include a full breakfast.

MEETING AND BANQUETING FACILITIES:The appropriate venue can bring special occasions alive, from a royal wedding to a large conference and launch events at Kempinski Ambience Delhi. It boasts of the largest pillar-less ballroom (25,000 sq. ft.) in a luxury hotel in India ac-commodating up to 6000 guests.

RECREATIONAL FACILITIESTo rejuvenate the mind, body and soul, Kempinski Ambience Delhi offers a luxurious spa with five private treatment rooms offering guests Asian and Western treatments. Located on the fourth floor of the Hotel Tower, the spa offers a variety of massages including Ayurvedic, Thai and Swedish massages as well as facials and other body treatments. The unisex salon provides mod-ern facilities for hair care and also includes a nail bar, along with two separate bridal rooms. The fitness centres in the respective towers feature TechnoGym cardiovascular and strength training equipment.

Swimming PoolFor a well-shaped and toned body, two outdoor 20-metre heated swimming pools are on offer on the third floor of both towers, offering great views of the landscaping.

Our team walked around yesterday afternoon and idenditified booths that were manned and ready to meet visitors. We bring you this selection.

Exhibiting Brings Opportunity to Showcase and share information

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The first Dusit in India, the much awaited first of them, across the international airport in New Delhi, is due to open anytime now. It is awaiting last minute government approvals. A joint venture between Birdgroup and Dusit will see the establishment of 5 luxury based

hotels all around the country. Attending HICSA, and also a speaker at the event, Ankur Bhatia, Executive Director, Birdgroup gives us valuable insights on how the collaboration of these two brands will bring around changes which are unique to this industry.

The Dusit will initially flag off in India with their first hotel -The Dusit Devrana. Designed as a luxury based hotel, it will give tired travelers the best services in order to rejuvenate. Situated on the NH8 highway, just a few kilo-meters away from the airport, this luxurious hotel will spread across 8 acres of land. High standards of sophistication and utmost regard to excellence are

two of the key factors that will separate the Dusit from the rest. Considered to be the ‘Oberoi’ of Thailand, the Dusit brand intend on combining the values and services of Thailand with the culture and cuisine of India. The Devrana will have 50 rooms coupled with all the facilities and privileges that may catch anyone’s fancy.

The second hotel that will be launched in December will be the Dusit - D2, at Aerocity at Termianl 3, New Delhi airport. Apart from the rich and famous there are many other travellers including the young and the adventurous. The D2 is designed keeping in mind this target audience. Besides a cinema and a lifestyle shopping mall the hotel will also have plenty of recreational activities to help guests unwind. The standards of Dusit being par-excellence and the growing need to cater to younger audience; the D2 is bound to revolution-ize this sector. The fine attention to detail that they have entailed in their spa programs is bound to stand out from industry standards, disclosed Bhatia.

“Separating oneself from an already crowded market is not easy thing but the Dusit brand have what they think is a key factor to make this task accom-plishable – The Management Team. Picking out some of the most talented and professional individuals in the industry will help transform this brand”, he says. They feel that the focus and the potential lies with the management to make smart yet calculated decisions.

Another unique proposition what the Dusit Brand will bring to the table is that they will be handling 3rd party hotel properties. Expansion being their main target the group feels that there is a huge void between the demand and supply chain. The 3 other hotels will be launched in Rishikesh, Goa and Jaipur. These projects are aimed to be completed within the next 2 years.

The Dusit Devarana in Rajokari, prime located on NH8, will be opening its doors anytime now. This is the first of the Dusit Hotels planned in India. We catch up with Ankur Bhatia.

Meetings and Incentives by MarriottAccording to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), India has

one of the fastest growing outbound travel markets in the world. The CIA World Fact Book website reports that, as of 2010, India held the second highest population in the world, home to 1,173,108,018

nationals. By 2030, the population of India is expected to surge ahead of China to become the largest in the world. While the country grows, so does outbound tourism. Indians leave their home country to tour other parts of the world, from nearby Asian countries to Australia, Canada, the U. S. and beyond. Ac-cording to the Indian Tour Operators Promotion Council (ITOPC), Singapore is India’s top travel destination, with an average of 600,000 Indian nationals visiting the island country yearly. The second most popular destination is China, which welcomes 400,000 Indian national travelers. Thailand and the U.S. followed with 350,000 and 340,000 tourists, respectively. Other popular destinations included Hong Kong, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

Marriott is a global business brand and believes that business events are the biggest drivers of business for our hotels. The MICE segment in India is of paramount importance as is evident from the Marriott group’s existing 5 properties viz. Renaissance Mumbai Hotel & Convention Centre, JW Marriott Pune, Hyderabad Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre, the Marriott Jaipur and the soon to open JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity. By 2015, Marriott is expected to develop between eight to ten large convention centers in India, thus making Marriott the biggest player in the MICE market.

In order to build on the Marriott portfolio within the highly competitive MICE market, the focus is to cover events from our corporate clients and as-

sociations which have industry strengths in the relevant destina-tions. Leisure has its peaks and valleys fol-lowing the trends of the city. MICE events are more business fo-cused and tend to go to

a destination to improve their industries in the city and have sustained business throughout the year. Hence the focus at the Marriott is to strategically engage and mobilize resources with such relevant business partners.

There are specific properties within the chain which cater to this growing MICE market. The Hyderabad Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre is a much preferred MICE destination; and houses one of the biggest Convention Centres in the City, covering an area of 18326 sq feet.. With state of the art technology, matched with a strong room inventory, the hotel is also an ideal destination for Residential conferences , as they can provide up to 300 rooms at one time.

The Jaipur Marriott is the largest hotel in terms of space in the royal state of Rajasthan –the meetings and banquet space is spread over 43000 sq feet, covering indoor and outdoor space, the lawns on property can comfortably accommodate close to 1000 people.

The JW Marriott Pune is the perfect venue for any meeting planner who is looking at doing an event under one roof or even an event which has an exhi-bition element to it. The property offers 40,000 sq ft of banquet space which includes 35,000 sq ft of trade area, 13000 sq ft of pillar less ballroom with a ceiling height of 23 feet and a total of 12 breakaway rooms.

Mumbai’s answer to a MICE venue is the Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel overlooking the serene Powai Lake. The hotel has 17 meeting rooms, with dimensions ranging from 300sq feet to 13000 sq feet, with an outdoor space ranging from 5000sq feet to 38000 sq feet. The hotel is known to host some of the biggest conventions in the country with absolute perfection.

The first JW Marriott property in New Delhi, the JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity opening in the 2nd quarter of 2013, will be offering one of the city’s largest MICE facilities. The hotel will provide unrivalled business serv-ices to accommodate 2,302 sq. mts. of total meeting space with eight meeting rooms and breakout meeting rooms spread across two levels. The Grand Crystal pillar less ballroom is spread over 1,210 sq. mts. with an exclusive pre-function area of 622 sq. mts. The ballroom has a seating capacity of 1550.

MICE is not just about large events – 80% of MICE business across the globe are under 500 guests. Marriott believes in the MICE outlook of doing business – the ease of doing business the way the guest wants it.

Hyderabad Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre

Ankur Bhatia being interviewed at the Mahogany Room, Grand Hyatt.

Dusit makes entry in India with New Delhi hotel with Ankur Bhatia

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This year’s annual edition of Cinemascapes will bring a new look to the event, held in close association with Film and Television Producers Guild of India. It is also now being held as a companion event at the prestigious Mumbai Film Festival, organised by MAMI. We bring you images of last year’s event, presented by the publishers of Hotelscapes. For enquiries, contact cinemascapes@crosssectionmedia.com

Cinema Tourism is the flavour at Cinemascapes this October

At a panel discussion: Raj Tilak, Amit Khanna and Mukesh Bhatt, among others.

Mahesh Bhatt, Ramesh Sippy and Shyam Benegal at the Awards function.

Mahesh Bhatt with Siddharth Roy Kapur and Anurag Basu,

Enquiries being met with: with representatives of Sarawak.

Leading TV producer Manish Goswami at the Malaysia counter at the Mart.

At the inauguration, senior representatives from the film commissions and tourism ministry from Croatia, Sarawak (Malaysia) and Sapparo (Japan) with Mukesh Bhatt, Raj Tilak and Amit Khanna.

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