SPA: The Wellness Sector

The concept that spa is meant only for women who need to beautify themselves is no longer valid. It has become redundant. The increasing hectic lifestyle has increased the need for body and mind wellness irrespective of gender. Wellness has become a new segment of the hospitality industry. Wellness tourism is growing at 50 per cent faster rate than the global conventional tourism. A report by Global Wellness Institute reveals that the global wellness tourism economy generated $ 4.4 trillion during 2020. The wellness tourism sector accounted for $ 436 billion. No wonder the spa segment in the hotel industry is on the rise. In fact almost all hotels, irrespective of size are now having a spa. Ashok Malkani takes a look at the various aspects of spas in the hospitality sector.

The Heart of Hospitality

From the mundane job of cleaning to the creative chores of styling and being the ears and eyes of the hotel in ensuring security, the housekeeping staff plays multidimensional roles in presenting a hotel in its best.

Breaking Fast

The role of breakfast in our daily routine cannot be overstated. It is perhaps the most important of all meals; a hearty breakfast can greatly facilitate to give a good and cheerful start to the day.

Bathroom: Going with the Flow

Many guests compulsively check the bathroom as soon as they walk in the room and nothing delights the heart more than a well proportioned, properly equipped and personalized bathroom that is attached with the room in the hotel

Wireless Site Survey

WiFi has become a basic need for the guests till the point they arrive at the hotel and leave. Most hotels are providing WiFi services to the guests, which technically require a lot of networking design and operations. Hotels with strong and stable WiFi are preferred over hotels with just WIFI.

“Be passionate about what you do”

Having taken over the reins as General Manager, Harkaran Singh is at the helm of Hyatt Regency Dehradun, the first 5-star hotel in Dehradun and the largest luxury hotel in the state of Uttarakhand. Harkaran brings with him 15 years of varied experience across Marriott & Hyatt hotels in India. He began his journey with the Hyatt family 12 years back and has worked across Hyatt Pune in 2010 to Hyatt Hyderabad Gachibowli, Hyatt Regency Kolkata and was General Manager at Hyatt Raipur, before taking on his latest role at Hyatt Regency Dehradun. Passionate about delivering above-and-beyond moments for guests & colleagues, Harkaran is strategically aligned, financially disciplined and result-oriented with a repertoire of exceeding expectations of all stakeholders. In his role as the General Manager, he is leading the multicultural team of the stunning 263 keys hotel across all disciplines. In an exclusive interview with Sharmila Chand, he talks about his work philosophy and more ….

Revving up the Revenue

The corona virus outbreak has not only impacted travel in affected regions it has also caused the cancellation of some of the world’s biggest exhibitions, which has adversely affected the hotel industry globally. Though the lockdown for India’s hospitality sector was lifted from June 8 by the central government several states have continued with curbs on usual operations. This has affected the industry on several fronts. Ashok Malkani reviews the upshot of the pandemic on different aspects of the industry and the steps taken by it to tackle this situation effectively.

Coping Up The Impact of Pandemic Challenges

As with other industries, the food and beverage sector is making endeavours to bounce back in business.

The Growing Role of Contactless Dining

Contactless dining has become a buzzword for India’s food service industry in these trying times. It can be helpful in preventing the menace of Covid-19 from invading the guests and staff.

Serviced to Hospitality

Despite the temporary slump in India’s hospitality industry due to Covid-19, one can say with confidence that in the near future, business travel in India would pick up its original momentum. In fact, not only business travel in India is expected to pick up its original momentum soon but it is expected to grow appreciably say five years down the line.

Hyatt Announces ‘Hyatt Loves Local' Initiative

Driven by Hyatt’s purpose to care for people so they can be their best, Hyatt Hotels Corporation announces the ‘Hyatt Loves Local’ initiative, a global effort by Hyatt hotels to uplift and collaborate with small businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Passionate Hotelier - Wajeed Bagwan, General Manager, Oakwood Premier Prestige Bangalore

Wajeed Bagwan, General Manager, Oakwood Premier Prestige Bangalore has over 27 years of experience in hospitality in India and the Middle East, specializing in setting up and launching new star properties. Having worked with world-renowned groups including the Taj Group of Hotels, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, The Leela Group and Radisson Hotels & Resorts. As a specialist in pre-opening and operations, Mr. Bagwan has an excellent record of accomplishment of efficiency, which includes functioning and capacity building style of management. In an exclusive interview with Sharmila Chand, he talks about his working mantra and more…

Tackling Indoor Air Pollution In Restaurants

To prevent indoor air pollution in restaurants successfully, all the products used to design the restaurant need to be of good quality — be it the furniture, carpets, blinds or curtains, or even the paint used for the interiors. Moreover, the restaurants and their kitchen/s should be well ventilated, and air-conditioners should be timely serviced

The Need to Foster Responsible Tourism

With the hospitality and tourism industry in India resuming their operations after months of Covid-19 induced lockdowns, it is also the time to rethink on what kind of tourism we as a society or rather our blue planet needs for its future.

Radisson Blu Mumbai International Airport Opens

Radisson Blu Mumbai International Airport opened its doors to the iconic city of Mumbai.

Novotel Pune Nagar Road Introduces Innovative Services for its Guests

With the recent resumption of hotels in India, hotels are set to grow with renewed fervour.

Lounging in the Hotel Lounge

Be it an investment idea or a high profile deal, business travellers prefer to do it in the hotel lounge. No wonder the hotels are now laying emphasis on the overall décor of this space. In this period of maintaining social distance, lounges are becoming popular not only with business travelers but even with people who are visiting hotels for what has recently come to be known as staycations. Places where they do their office work. Today the connotation WFH has come to mean Work From Hotel instead of Work From Home. The result is that today the hotel lounge offers sleek couches gourmet hors d’oeuvres, etc. The young discerning business heads or entrepreneurs resorting to WFH have an eye for luxury. Ashok Malkani finds that lounges are not only limited to business travelers but are also catering to the families and leisure travellers preferring personalized services

Interactive Kitchens

Up until the mid 90s the expectations from a restaurant were limited to good food, ambience and at the most a live musician for entertainment.

Incorporating Greenery in Hotels

Landscaping is an important component of hotel design and plays a crucial role in enhancing the property’s value.

Facilitating a Hygienic Kitchen

Hygiene doesn’t come on a platter, especially in the commercial kitchens

Hospitality Resumes with Added Safety

With hospitality properties being allowed to resume operations across India, it seems that the pitch dark period for India’s hospitality industry which began in the end March of this year, is showing signs of erasing to a new dawn.

Effect of COVID-19 on Hospitality Industry

The economic damage caused by COVID-19 novel corona virus pandemic is difficult to predict. However, there is widespread agreement among economists that it will have severe negative impacts on global economy. The hospitality and leisure clients were the first ones that experienced bad weather conditions but they are moving quickly and remain focused to understand and quantify the operational and financial impact for their business. The hospitality industry showing maturity, by working together, is showing true hospitality commitments by helping the society, where it can. With the Mission Begin again and the subsequent unlocks, the hotels were allowed to open, with SOPs. Ashok Malkani tries to gauge the impact of the lockdown on the hotel industry and how it is meeting the challenge of keeping the properties’ environment safe for the clients.

Spa Trends For 2020

Over the last few years the hospitality and tourism industry has been boosted by the spa industry. Within the last 20 years spas have increasingly gained importance. Today’s guests call for high quality standards in spas and are extremely health-conscious. There is an enormous competitive pressure among spa hotels.

Treehouse - Karma Hospitality

An Expansion: Road Ahead in 2020

To Buy or say ‘Bye'?

Purchase department in any organization is important as, being the centre of successful supply chain management; it helps in improving your business. The top objectives of the department in the hotels, as in any other business are selecting a mix of suppliers who can provide the best prices and terms, reduce risk and ensure the security of supply, improve quality, pursue innovation, etc. The purchase department in the hotel industry has to deal with a wide spectrum of activities to ensure that the organization attains – and maintains – profitability. Ashok Malkani tries to evaluate the on how it deals with various objectives and the problems that it faces.

Initiatives to Promote Religious Tourism

India is a young nation. It also seems to be aspiring to be a modern nation in the post-modern age but it harbours an ancient but still thriving civilisation with its timeless ethos and values.

Hotel Industry Comes Clean on Cleanliness

One of the top priorities for general managers and department heads of a hotel is to maintain cleanliness and hygiene, ensuring guest satisfaction in all areas of the property extending from entrances to workout facilities. This enables the property to get positive comments on review sites, which in turn ascertains increase in business. Further, positive customer experiences result in repeat business. Irrespective of the size of your property, it is necessary to maintain a high degree of cleanliness and hygiene – not only in the hotel but also in F&B outlets of the property. Ashok Malkani examines of how the cleanliness and hygiene standards are maintained.

A Riverside Rendezvous! Barahi Jungle lodge

Nestled in the foothills of The Himalayas, endowed with diverse flora and fauna flourishing in the most fertile region of Nepal called Chitwan valley is the world-famous ‘Chitwan National Park.’

Hot Trend 2020 - Interactive Dining Experiences

Across the globe, experiential dining is the new culinary catchphrase firing up restaurants’ focus beyond just good food.

Ambiente 2020 7 - 11 February 2020, Frankfurt, Germany

Ambiente-the leading international trade fair will be held from 7 to 11 February 2020 at Frankfurt, Germany.