Renaissance Mumbai

"HOME AWAY FROM HOME"

If one is looking for an oasis of luxury and nature for a peaceful getaway in Mumbai, the Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel- a Marriott Luxury and Lifestyle hotel, set on the banks of the stunning Powai Lake with an obstructed view of the Mumbai Skyline is the best option as I discovered during my recent stay in this expansive hotel. As I entered the regal lobby filled with indigenous artifacts and mural walls representing ancient Indian epics of Ramayana and The Ganesh Puran, I was impressed by the spaciousness of the hotel in a city where space is a luxury. The newly renovated Renaissance houses 600 rooms including suites designed with contemporary elements to provide a sleek look along with state of the art facilities. Situated amongst lush greenery with a picturesque view, the Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel provides a home away from home without compromising on the luxuries of a hotel.

Speaking about the hotel, Nicholas Dumbell, General Manager- Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel stated “Situated on the banks of the Powai Lake, the Renaissance is a vision of luxury and comfort carved into a state of the art hotel and convention centre. The hotel combines international standards of service and infrastructure along with local cultural elements of the vibrant city- Mumbai. This sprawling property is a home away from home for many of our guests who either have beautiful memories attached to the hotel or are busy creating new memories at the picturesque property. Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel is a visual delight coupled with delectable food and everything else that makes a home.”

Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel boasts of several fabulous food and beverage outlets managed by an efficient culinary team led by Executive Chef Sahil Arora. Culinary experts at Fratelli Fresh-the hotel’s Italian speciality restaurant choose from the freshest variety of vegetables and meat which adds to the flavors. Fratelli Fresh is known for its immensely popular Sunday brunches as I was to discover during my stay. A contemporary chic décor, an open and interactive kitchen, a beautiful view of the Mumbai Skyline and the Powai Lake creates the perfect ambience for a holistic dining experience here. Signature dishes such as Fratelli Fresh Cassoullet and “3” mushroom risotto are great options to try from while at Fratelli Fresh. While at breakfast, I was fascinated when served a local version of Eggs Benedict, a popular breakfast preparation. Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel places an emphasis on everything indigenous including the cuisine which leads to interesting innovations. Those who prefer Asian cuisine can go for an authentic Pan Asian Meal at the Emperors Court – the hotel’s oriental specialty restaurant. An exquisitely crafted menu with dishes like crab meat sweet corn soup, Peking duck and dim sums prepared by Chef de Cuisine- Cham Hun Chakhap makes for a fabulous meal while at this restaurant. Nawab Saheb, the Indian specialty restaurant at the hotel offers an array of Indian food cooked in Mughlai style in a royal ambience which also offers live music. Chef De Cuisine- Yunus Khan and his team ensure that every guest feels like royalty while dining in this restaurant and on weekends there is live entertainment in the form of ghazal singers. Dum Nalli Gosht and Potli Nihari are signature dishes offered by the Chef in Nawab Saheb. An all day deli-the Mumbai Express serves quick bites such as pastries, bagels, sandwiches, muffins, puffs, etc to those who are looking for a quick snack or food on the go.

It is a good idea to spend some time at the hotel’s beautiful swimming pool. I spent a considerable amount of time at the Quan Spa managed by Vinaya Jadhav while at Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel and came away feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. Adopting its name from the Mandarin language, the word ‘Quan’ translates into a source of pure water. Keeping in tune with the name, the spa borrows from the natural elixir of life- ‘water’ to provide healing therapies and treatments which are pure, natural and help to restore the natural balance of the body. The interiors of the Quan Spa have been heavily inspired from the aqua theme and hence the décor of the spa entrance, the treatment rooms and the suite are also in sync with this calm and tranquil theme. The specially designed spa menu consists of treatments and therapies that use the most natural and calming ingredients such as Marine

Algae, Jojoba beads, Shea butter, Dead Sea mud, Apricot extract and Sandalwood. Various therapies offered at the spa include the signature Quan therapy, Algae Body Wrap, Deep Tissue Massage, Aromatherapy hot stone massage, foot reflexology. Quan Spa also uses the best quality aroma oils and essences for all their therapies. The USP of this spa is

‘Quan Signature Massage’ during which the healing powers of pure essential oils and their properties have an invigorating and soothing effect on the mind. Using classical techniques light pressure is applied to improve the circulation and ease muscle aches for complete relaxation. One can choose from an array of essential oil blends to experience this signature treatment. Being located in Mumbai, the spa has also adapted to the vibrancy and evolving culture of this beautiful city. As the hotel is in close proximity to both the domestic and international airports, it houses a lot of guests who travel frequently. Keeping this in mind, the spa has also included a unique ‘Jet Lag Body Massage’, which is a complete body massage to calm one’s frayed nerves from long distance travel. During this massage, the therapists focus on relieving the nerves and increasing blood circulation reduced due to travel with special attention to the legs. Quan Spa is also an ideal location to host intimate events like soirees, bachelorette parties and other types of ‘Sparties’.

The executive Lounge located on the 36th floor at the Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel along with providing another interesting option for breakfast, evening meals and snacks also boasts of attractive views of the Powai Lake. The friendly and efficient staff gave me a set of binoculars using which I could spot a couple of crocodiles that are part of the Powai Lake. The stylish lounge is aesthetically divided into different zones catering to different moods and includes boardrooms, a central bar, a library, an entertainment zone, a sundeck area and a massage room making it ideal for both business and pleasure.

The Marriott Executive Apartments has 173 Rooms in all and is a pet friendly hotel. With a Well equipped kitchen, a refrigerator, an oven, a microwave, a dishwasher, induction plates, cutlery et, it is nestled in 15 Acres of lush greenery overlooking the Powai Lake with Complimentary Laundromats on each floor, Access to the ten-

nis court, jogging track and the swimming pool exclusively for the apartment guests, Children’s play area, In-room delivery of groceries, Access to all the dining options of Renaissance Mumbai, it is perfect for guest who are looking for long stays in Mumbai. Marriott Executive Apartments has introduced a Pet Café at MEA Lawns operational on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) in between 11 am to 7 pm. While Mumbai has a few popular pet cafes, but pets on leash are allowed. At MEA they are leash-free and they have the freedom to run around in a fenced garden. This café is open for residence and non-residence guests.

Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel is a destination in itself what with its various dining options, opulent décor and spaciousness, the relaxing Quan spa where one can spend an entire day just rejuvenating, a luxuriously expansive Executive Lounge along with their newly renovated well-appointed rooms and suites which make for a comfortable and entertaining stay. All in all definitely worth several visits while in Mumbai!