Creating an Ambience
The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, Delhi, claims to have the largest convention facility in the country. Jaideep Anand, General Manager, gives insight on the uniqueness of the hotel's MICE facilities
Enlighten us on the USP of hotel.
The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, Delhi is the number one convention hotel in the country. There are not much competitors as far as convention facilities are concerned in the country. There are only one or two competitors in India who have similar capacity.
Our hotel has two arrivals, two pre- arrivals, two concierges, two check- in counters, two buildings; we have 300 room tower and 180 room tower. We spent around 50 lakhs on improving the F& B and the banqueting infrastructure. Also, we are the closest hotel from Agra. Old Delhi is just a flyover away; we have Connaught Place about 20- 30 minutes away.
Tell us something about the major events that have happened in the hotel?
We have done some 14- 15 major events but Sri Sri’s entire event happened in the hotel. The main convention happened in our hotel. We had 14 head of states and nine Prime Ministers staying with us. Sony’s National meet, which again was for 2,000 people, was conducted in our hotel; we also conducted Microsoft’s conference.
We hosted Asian Paints’ people, where 465 rooms for six days were occupied and where approx 1,800 people were having breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have done social events, like cement business, we have done product.
How much business are you garnering out of MICE?
We are making approx 60- 62 per cent business from MICE. The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel, Delhi, is a game changer in the MICE industry. Apart from having world class infrastructure, the hotel claims to have the largest convention facility in the country.
People are becoming smarter these days. Everyone wants bespoke services and this is where intelligent people will score. Guests today, have themes for the conference and we have to render them everything around that theme
What are the trends in MICE you see for the coming year?
People are becoming smarter these days. Everyone wants bespoke services and this is where intelligent people will score. Guests today, have themes for the conference and we have to render them everything around that theme. Microsoft had this theme of ‘ Digithon’, where the entire thing was about Marathon of digitalisation and how do you succeed in long run in a digital world. As long as you can give experiences to people and are smart about arrival and departure of the guests, things can work in your favour.
Aerocity properties get transit travellers, what about you?
Well, let’s give them this credit, they are right there. They are a great transit destination and I can never compete with them.
What are your future plans related to this hotel?
We are still in the process of realisation. But what we need is to have very strong signature restaurants. We definitely want to upgrade banqueting to the next level. We are going to have some more state of the art equipment.