On the path of a resileint future
Anuraag Bhatnagar, COO, The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts, shares how they rode the wave of rapid technology adoption and created opportunities amid the global crisis.
COVID-19 has not left anyone untouched, observes Anuraag Bhatnagar, COO, The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts. "The pandemic has affected the hospitality industry and the travel trade equally," he says. But, he claims, for Leela, it was a time for growth. "We created opportunities out of this adversity and opened three hotels—The Leela Gandhinagar, The Leela Palace Jaipur, and The Leela Bhartiya City in Bengaluru. We used this time by adapting to advanced technologies, hire some of the best talent, set up our systems in the organisation, and bring in some cost synergies," he adds.
Detailing the survival strategies they employed during this period, he shares, "The first step was to survive. So, we made our fixed cost structures as variable as possible. Secondly, we used this time to deploy our people. Also, we were one of the first companies to ensure that a 100 per cent of our employees were vaccinated along with their families. We brought in people-centric strategies, training, and development technology," asserts Bhatnagar.
Taking into account the rapid adoption of advanced technologies all across industries, they also upgraded themselves to offer a high-tech experience without taking the personalisation away. "We rolled out The Leela Palace Butler Services Programme; Ceremonial Rituals as a representation of true Indian luxury; the Pride Pins that we wear; and the ‘I am Leela' campaign. We deployed technology to make our HR, accounting, and finance processes more efficient," he shares.
Most importantly, claims Bhatnagar, "We used this time to acquire hotels and expand our portfolio. The Leela Palace Jaipur, which we opened during the pandemic, is now topping the Jaipur market as the preferred destination for FITs and weddings. The Leela Gandhinagar hosted the renowned IATO Convention. Further, we have a lineup of international and domestic events at this hotel along with Mahatma Mandir."
When asked if they would enter the budget space, Bhatnagar says, "Leela is synonymous with true Indian luxury and that is where we have made a niche. Our customers are now increasingly consuming luxury. Our resort hotels, especially during the pandemic, have been garnering 120 to 140 per cent of the revenue that they were achieving in 2019. We see all this continuing and we are optimistic."
QUICK BYTE our resort hotels, during the pandemic, have been doing 120 to 140 per cent of the revenue We used this time to bring a lot of technology and hire some of the best talent
The Swosti Group's latest offering, Swosti Premium Beach Resorts, the first five-star premium luxury beach resort in Sipasurubuli, Puri, is poised to provide the Indian events sector with a new address. The property features large open-air landscaped lawns and is equipped to host mega conferences and elaborate wedding ceremonies.
Foodies may sample cuisine from several Indian states, as well as Chinese and global cuisines, at the food court. The Sky Lounge bar, which is 150 feet above ground level and overlooks the Bay of Bengal, is the property's centrepiece. If you have some leisure time, go for a swim in the infinity pool. The 125 luxurious rooms, including five premium luxury long suites on the 12th floor, all have a view of the sea with no obstructions. More similar, cutting-edge amenities may be found throughout the completely air-conditioned property. Each banquet hall will be attached to an openair lawn.
There is also a gaming zone near the food court area for the young and young-atheart to ensure that there are enough activities to keep the guests entertained. The resort will also have a state-of-the-art wellness spa and gym, making sure that fitness and wellbeing remain at the forefront of everyone's minds. In addition, the basement has enough parking to accommodate large-scale weddings as well as conventions.
Swosti Group, led by
J.K. Mohanty, has been effectively marketing the travel and tourism sector of Odisha since 1981, employing over 1,200 people through offices in Delhi, Kolkata, and Ahmedabad, as well as affiliated offices in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai. The new Swosti Premium Beach Resorts is gearing to employ 375 people directly and around 700 people indirectly, including all vendors.
Locals with expertise in the hospitality industry or who have undertaken hotel management courses at Swosti Institute of Management & Social Studies will be prioritised.
Apart from Swosti Grand, Swosti Premium, and Swosti Palm Resort in Bhubaneswar and Gopalpur-on-Sea, Swosti Chilika Resort on the banks of Chilika Lake has established itself as a key tourist attraction in the state and has become a popular leisure and M!CE destination in four years.
While Odisha has a shortfall of star-rated hotel rooms in comparison to other states, Swosti Group's latest offering will attract investors to invest in tourist infrastructure. The government of Odisha has taken a number of steps to encourage investment in the tourism sector, which is the world's largest employer.