The St. Regis Goa Resort
Signature experiences wrapped in luxury
Located in the serene and subtle environs of South Goa, The St. Regis Goa opened its gates in 2022. Known for its stylish abode and luxurious services, the hotel has already established its footprint within one year of its inception. TTJ spoke with Satish Kumar, General Manager, The St. Regis Goa, to get an insight into the year gone by and their plans to enhance the guest experience in 2023. Here’s a look at what he has to say…
The St. Regis brand is known for its bespoke and anticipatory service, underscored by the signature Butler Service. A selection of family traditions and rituals provide a spectrum of unique experiences that their guests are privy to. Combine that with an unparalleled location, and it would well sum up a St. Regis resort experience. The unmatched address of being located near the estuary, at the confluence of the Sal River and the Arabian Sea, blends beautifully with the resort in pristine South Goa.
As a relatively new resort, there are certain challenges in streamlining its operations. Satish Kumar says, “Finding top talent and retaining them has been on the top of everyone’s radar. Shortage in the workforce is an acute challenge and we are trying to tackle this by collaborating with colleges and providing excellent training for our teams. It does help that we are part of Marriott International and the sheer number of our workforce means that there’s always a helping hand or support to step in when needed.”
Currently, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi continue to be their top feeder markets in the country. The numbers from these cities are continuing to grow. They have seen a healthy return of their international guests as well. Guests from Russia, the United Kingdom, and the CIS countries like Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan continue to come back to Goa and this has also impacted the length of stay because they come in as pure leisure guests. Some Western European countries are also showing up as source markets, which is a good sign.
At The St. Regis Goa, they are in the process of curating a purely wellnessbased Ayurveda Journey Package, as there has been a marked interest in this segment.
The St. Regis Goa Resort features 206 guestrooms, including 46 suites offering private terraces overlooking the tranquil lagoons or the golf course. For the ultimate bespoke luxury, there are 20 luxuriously appointed suites and villas, 12 of which feature plunge pools, private access to the beach, and all-day indulgent dining at The Manor.
“The St. Regis Goa Resort provides exquisite resort experiences which are rare for global and national guests. Everyday rituals like our resort’s Afternoon Tea, Family Traditions and Evening Champagne Sabrage by the beach are some unique experiences that guests enjoy during their stay. For groups, there is a wide selection of activities ranging from yoga and meditation, golf, outdoor picnics, nature walks, etc., and a mobile library for junior guests. These are some of the USPs of the property. We also have the varied iterations of the classic Bloody Mary cocktail that our global guests recognise as signature offerings of the brand. Enlivening these rituals against the stellar backdrop of our South Goa resort has been nothing short of extraordinary!” assures Satish Kumar.
On the marketing front, as a Marriott brand, the focus is on driving qualified traffic to the hotel’s website. The hotel also likes to keep a relationship going with their OTA partners as well as with the travel agent fraternity. “In all honesty, the cost of doing business with these third parties is high because of commissions and advertising costs. I also mean that there is a lapse in the direct relationship with our guests. On this direct connect aspect, we have to mention the power of our loyalty program, Marriott Bonvoy, which aims to be a great connector with our guests,” informs Satish Kumar.
Coming to MICE and wedding business, the resort nestled in lush greenery by the banks of Mobor Beach is a tranquil paradise and getting the attention of wedding planners and potential couples looking for bringing their dream wedding to life. The property is set to change the experience of MICE travellers with the launch of Glass House - a unique, concept-driven outdoor space for meetings and events. They have not only conducted some exquisite tropical weddings but also had MICE groups from renowned companies, attended and appreciated by their global leadership teams.