PEAKLIFE delves into how hotels and resorts, the worst hit hospitality segment by the pandemic, is gearing up to welcome guests with revamped and renewed concepts for the new normal.
Irrespective of the kinds and classes of hotels, the inconsistent and fluctuating moods of the constantly mutating virus has prompted a rehash in work force policy, branding and tariff management. But thinking out-of-the-box will help put the phoenix of the hospitality industry on the road to re-claim revenues in the future.
Safety First
Devendra Parulekar – Founder, SaffronStays
Observing hygiene protocols tops the list as we resign ourselves to the pandemic situation. Hand gels, wearing masks, cleaning tables regularly and other ‘touch’ areas with sanitisers, ensuring a safe distance are upheld and in force in all hotels. Responsible leisure tours take precedence and wellness resorts thrive more than before. The main concern is to scale down the touch factor and hotels are going big on contactless payments which also saves time.
Devendra Parulekar, Founder, SaffronStays, observes, “While pre-pandemic, our private villas were perfect spaces for people to come together for a celebration, post-pandemic, it’s become more of a necessity. You want to be with your people at a safe and sanitised space where you are not close to strangers, free to use the pool, you literally own the place, can have customised, fresh home-cooked meals and stunning views for company.”
Value Added Attractions
The hospitality segment is getting used to dealing with tourist demands for local experiences. While some wish to check out the bucolic life, others want to try indigenous jaunts. As the trend of revenge travel is picking up, more travellers are looking to explore properties that are secluded and offer local experiences. Dharana at Shillim offers various activities like Shillim Forest Walks, Shillim Cooking School and Farm, bird watching, bicycle trail which take you a step closer to connect with nature.
Continuous marketing efforts are being made to attract keen travellers irrespective of their level of intent. “Great ideas empower us to thrive and move towards a better day. This summer, we observed an overwhelming response from family leisure travellers, and to keep the momentum, we have added experiences like cooking classes for kids, farm tours, movie screening to name a few,” mentions dynamic Vinay Singh, Hotel Manager, Le Meridien Jaipur Resort & Spa, adding, “Jaipur is synonymous with art, heritage, and culture, and we are extending this to our guests with curated experiential packages in new-fangled ways to explore the city with Hot Air Balloon rides over the Aravalli ranges, Artchill Gallery, guided tour at Amber Fort, Night Tour of Jaipur on an electric bicycle, Village Experience at Dera Amer and lunch at Wilderness.”
As cities commenced unlock, families were eager for weekend getaways. Conrad Bengaluru has the perfect offering says Sidharth Koul, Commercial Director, Conrad Bengalaru, “Under the umbrella of Hilton’s campaign “Great Small Breaks”, tailor-made for families with specific service design it promises to enhance the Conrad experience, especially the young ones with personalized surprises, interactive games and a whole gamut of fun activities.” Value added offers while not compromising on quality is certainly something most Indian consumers are keen on.
Kevin Ashley Martis GM S&M The Fern Hotels & Resorts
Since the beginning of 2021, Concept Hospitality has introduced seven new properties placing them on the first position amongst the players which have opened a greater number of properties during pandemic. Kevin Ashley Martis, General Manager Sales & Marketing, West India, reveals, “Fern Hotels & Resorts is eyeing Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities as these areas also hold relevance considering leisure travel preferences. Our main aim is to give our guests a feel of unseen destinations and to increase the employment rates in the hospitality sector.”
Staycations and Workcations
Ravi Rai, Cluster General Manager, Novotel Visakhapatnam, Novotel Vijayawada and The Bheemli Resort
Staycations are an increasing trend because it’s an easy way to take a break without travelling too far. “At The Bheemili Resort, we are witnessing a pent -up demand from local city people who would love to step out for a weekend with their friends and family for a wholesome experience. It attracts travellers from near-by cities like Orissa and Kolkata. With the newly introduced westernised techniques at The AyurBay, the guests are loving the Ayurveda and westernised combination offered at the spa,” avers affable Ravi Rai, Cluster General Manager, The Bheemili Resort managed by Accor, Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach and Novotel Vijayawada Varun.
Post-Corona, when homes doubled up as workplace, people preferred to work out of private villas in serene destinations. Earlier, most of the SaffronStays villas did not have WiFi and were perfect spots for a digital detox. Once the staggered unlock began, many people wanted to work out of SS villas which led to them installing high-speed WiFis. “Since people were studying/working out of homes, weekday bookings too shot up extending to month-long stays. Taking mini-breaks during the day, they felt nice to take a dip in the pool, go for a nature walk with fascinating views around,” points our Parulekar.
Resurrect with Wellness
Srikant Peri – General Manager of Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa
Wellness retreats have an edge over regular resorts. Their cash cow is Ayurvedic wellness packages as Dr. Rejith Daniel, General Manager, Viveda Wellness Village, Nashik reveals, “With the looming threat of second and third waves people utilised the lockdown period to improve their health. We have guests checking in for wellness treatment packages from 7 days to a month when they stay put in the retreat, undergo Ayurvedic spa treatments, and live on customised diet drawn up by the in-house doctor. They go back healthy and rejuvenated.”
There has been a steady increase in curiosity amongst guests to understand what eco-wellness retreats have to offer. “For the health-conscious and organic food consumers, the retreat’s ‘Dharana Food Philosophy’ is something that the guests always look forward to. We focus on locally sourced produce and ingredients that are used from the Shillim organic farms of the retreat to elevate the guests’ experience,” says Srikant Peri, General Manager, Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa.
Revamped FnB
A healthy shift in guests’ food preference has been noticed. Mindful eating has spurred revamped menus with healthy beverages and organic food across restaurants. Most of the fnb outlets of hotels have adapted their menu to serve nutritious meals.
Fresh veggies and fruits and hot meals right off the stove – it’s an experience of sorts! At a few SaffronStays villas, they have organic produce so one can experience a straight farm-to-table experience. “These authentic home-cooked meals are prepared by local cooks who add the local touch to it and bring you one step closer to nature,” informs Parulekar.
Future Boom
Millions of Indian travellers who visit international touristy honeypots can be spun into potential clients by the industry operators. “Unparalleled experiences and enhanced value creation, seamless services and flawless hygiene protocols should be the primary credo rather than a bounce in interim revenue. Uncertainty may drive hordes of Indian globetrotters to sidestep travelling abroad but prefer to explore domestic vistas in line with Government of India’s Dekho Apna Desh initiative,” signs off Vinay Singh.
