Published on 23 November 2013
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The JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity announced its full-blown opening at a glitzy bash attended by the travel industry, Delhi's party regulars and celebrities
It's ostensibly an airport hotel, but doesn't look anything like one. Far from exuding the aura of an out-and-out business hotel, the JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity is a 5-star deluxe property with all the spit and polish expected of it in position. The hotel just became the first to throw open its doors in the controversy-hit Aerocity hospitality district, off the international airport in Delhi. This takes the number of JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts in India to five with hotels in Mumbai, Chandigarh, Pune and Bengaluru.
Sitting midway between the corporate hub or Gurgaon and Delhi (and probably just a few hundred metres from the nearest airplane hangar) the hotel is offering a sizable 523 rooms and lavish F&B options (with cutting-edge chefs at the helm). It's got a ballroom that's supposedly the largest in Delhi and is also got plenty going for those who want to host conferences and in-your-face weddings at the hotel.
The hotel announced its full-blown opening at a glitzy bash that was attended by the travel industry, Delhi's party regulars and celebrities. The soft launch of the property -- which is the 23rd hotel from the JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand in India -- took place on 18th October this year.
Sushil Gupta, chairman and managing director, Asian Hotels West, said at the launch, 'Besides targetting leisure travellers we are also keenly eyeing the MICE segment.'
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A glass installation by San Francisco based artist Nicholas Weinstein, designed with 35,330 custom-made glass tubes, stretches across the lobby
He rued the fact that the construction and the operation of the hotel was delayed by about eight to nine months on account of security issues related to its proximity to the airport. The delay, as Gupta pointed out, pushed up the cost by about 20 per cent and eventually the property was built at a cost of Rs 900 crore.
Balan Paravantavida, general manger, JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity, said: 'This is the largest Marriott in India and with it we have notched up 6,71,000 rooms worldwide.'
Simon F. Cooper, president and managing director, Asia-Pacific, Marriott International, said: 'Our aim is also to launch hotels in secondary and tertiary cities as well.' So, there's a Renaissance hotel each in Lucknow and Bangalore while three Courtyard by Marriott hotels will be up and running by 2015 in Agra, Bilaspur and Jaisalmer.
As you step into the JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity, a glass installation by Nicholas Weinstein, the San Francisco based artist, grabs attention. The installation stretches across the lobby, designed with 35,330 custom-made glass tubes! And if the cable that's been used hold the sculpture together is stretched out it would be some 4.7 km long!
The hotel has six restaurants and lounges including K3, an all-day dining restaurant with three open kitchens offering Cantonese, Tuscan and North Indian cuisine. Its patisserie, DBC (Delhi Baking Company), is a highpoint, promises Gupta while Oval Bar is a perfect place to catch up with associates and friends. Akira Back, the hotel's signature restaurant, will dish out Japanese cuisine with a Korean twist while the JW Lounge is a casual space to chill out in.
And for those looking for complete relaxation, there's Quan Spa with its huge menu of treatments.
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Celebrated American fashion designer Kenneth Cole (front, centre) at the presentation of his Spring Summer 2014 fashion line and launch of the Kenneth Cole brand in India
Kenneth Cole Comes Calling
A highlight of the last week was the much-awaited visit of the celebrated American fashion designer Kenneth Cole as he arrived on his maiden India visit. The designer was in town to treat Delhi to a presentation of his Spring Summer 2014 fashion line and also to officially launch the Kenneth Cole brand in India.
Delhi's well-heeled arrived by the drove to raise a toast to the designer over an evening of exotic cocktails at The Lodhi. The designer converted the hotel's gardens into an industrial warehouse setting to showcase his latest collection. Trendy streetwear mixed leisurewear and sportswear into the collection, throwing in lots of colours and textures. There was a healthy play on patterns, graphic prints and metallic detailing.
Spotted at the do were designers Malini Ramani , Rohit Gandhi and Rahul Khanna, Rohit Bal, Rajesh Pratap Singh, Tarun Tahiliani, Varun Bahl, Nainika Karan, Shivan Bhatia and Narresh Kukreja as well as Mandira Wirk. Other party regulars who attended were Dior's Kalyani Saha, model Joey Matthews among others.
The Kenneth Cole brand is being marketed and distributed in India by Reliance Brands.
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Bursts of colours like orange, coral, off white in white chiffons and georgettes decorated with laces, dominated Payal Jain's collection
A multi-hued palette
It was an evening that fused live music from Kutle Khan, the talented Rajasthani folk musician with graceful dance performances. And it was also an evening of fashion as designer, Payal Jain, showcased her Autumn-Winter 2013 collection at the poolside lawns of Hyatt Regency, New Delhi. The hotel had collaborated with the designer to celebrate 30 years of Hyatt Regency in India.
The fashion show titled me -- The Soul saw many familiar faces sashay down the catwalk. Top models Carol Gracias, Sonalika Sahay, Nayanika Chatterjee and Indrani Dasgupta did more than justice to Jain's ensembles. The collection opened with an all-black line had dresses, gowns, sari gowns and saris. A burst of colour followed as ink blue, orange, coral, off white and white chiffons and georgettes decorated with laces. The embroideries, cut-work and sequins took over the ramp in the next line of the collection. The embroideries were embellished with a sprinkling of crystals, pearls and glass beads. The silhouettes went from clingy to flowing-freely and Jain's line-up of floor-length gowns marked by high slits and tone-on-tone embroidery were the head-turners of the show.
The show was attended by designers Suneet Verma, Ravi Bajaj, Ashish Soni, Leena Singh. Also present were author Anuja Chauhan, make up artist Ambika Pillai and FDCI's Sunil Sethi.
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Digvijay Singh (centre), general manager, Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences and St. James' Court, A Taj Hotel, London, with singers from Incognito Artists
Taj reclaims its London hotels
Recently, the Taj Mahal New Delhi came alive to the sounds of three British singers hailing from Incognito Artists. An international portfolio of talented stars, members of Incognito Artists are known to bag lead roles on Broadway and in the world of opera. The singers for the evening -- dubbed 'London Chic' -- belted out a medley of delightful foot-tapping numbers dating to the 60s through to the 90s. And Taj's top guns took time out to announce the group's plans for its two London properties.
The Taj group owns, manages and operates two hotels in London -- St. James Court, A Taj London Hotel, which was formerly operating under the umbrella of Crown Plaza London - St. James, a franchise of the Intercontinental Hotel Group and the second hotel, 51 Buckingham Gate Taj Suites and Residences. Come January 2014, and the Taj Group will re-launch the hotels after some major facelifts and rebranding. Also, 51 Buckingham Gate Taj Suites and Residences will now be renamed Taj 51 Buckingham Gate, Suites and Residences. Regular guests checking into these properties will notice the massive renovations and enhanced standards of luxury introduced at both properties.
Over the past two years, both hotels have received significant investment and undergone extensive upgrades, said Digvijay Singh, general manager, Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences and St. James' Court, A Taj Hotel, London. Several rooms at St. James' Court, A Taj Hotel have been re-modelled and a streamlined design and vibrant colours have been introduced, he added. Refurbishment of the remaining rooms is also being undertaken to offer a fresher, cleaner appearance, but with a 'classic' feel. One of the USPs of the hotel is its located as its set between Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament. Singh said, 'India has always been a significant market for the UK. The hotel repositioned as a contemporary hotel that celebrates its British heritage.'
Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, the marquee of the Taj Group in Europe, has also undergone refurbishments, including the addition of two signature suites. Last year it roped in designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee to design and furbish the Cinema Suite, a 1,832 sq. ft. two-bedroom suite. In his signature style, the designer has paid tribute to the history of film and takes inspiration from motion pictures across the globe. The other much-talked about space in the hotel is the world's first Jaguar Suite that opened in 2011. This suite is overseen by Jaguar's in-house design director, Ian Callum, and features specially commissioned artwork and displays while the suites offer many subtle references to Jaguar's iconic models.
Commenting on the re-branding of the Taj London hotels, Yannick Poupon, COO - Luxury International Hotels, said: 'The idea is to consolidate and expand our brand in the UK. This is in line with the company's strategy to develop and consolidate strong brand presence in all of its key source markets.' The programme of hotel upgrades will continue into 2014.
