HAPPENING -- 19

EVIRONMENT AWARD AND INITIATIVES OF SAVOY AND GATEWAY HOTELS

 

BY P S SUNDAR

 It is praiseworthy that the star-studded hotels – Gateway in Coonoor and Savoy in Ooty – belonging to the IHCL SeleQtions from the Taj stables The Nilgiris in South India have bagged ‘Platinum Certificate’ of EarthCheck, the worlds’ leading International Certifying Agency from Australia, on high level environment.  

Additional Chief Secretary in the Department of Environment Climate Change and Forests Supriya Sahu told me,” This is a marvellous milestone to be achieved at the commencement of peak summer tourism in The Nilgiris.   She said that the certification is a recognition of the hotels' commitment to adhere to high level environment protection measures.    Observing that the Government has been consistently working for re-defining environment to accord a sustainable global value, she said that this recognition deserves to be emulated by the entire hospitality industry.    She congratulated the Cluster General Manager of the Hotels Ritesh Choudhary on winning the coveted recognition and urged him to be the leader to help other hotels also to follow line.

Complimenting the Chief Engineers Sagaya Nathan (Gateway) and Sudharsan (Savoy) for their valuable contribution in winning this global recognition, Ritesh Choudhary said that both the hotels have been applauded for their pro-environment ambiance, controlled carbon footprint and quality hygiene.

In keeping with this and the tradition, both the hotels laid impressive footprints on World Environment Day on June 5.   “We did this in line with the framework to drive our sustainability and social impact measures under Paathya.    Derived from the Sanskrit term पथ्य, inferring a path, Paathya encapsulates initiatives to lead positive change with IHCL’s core values of Trust of all stakeholders, Awareness around the needs of our ecosystem and Joy at heart.  Taking ahead our organisation’s legacy, Paathya forges a journey focused on Environmental Stewardship, Social Responsibility, Excellence in Governance, Preserving Heritage, Value Chain Transformation, and Sustainable Growth”, said S N Deepak, HR Manager of both the hotels.

“We planted more than 500 saplings at various spots through Savoy Hotel Ooty and gave a sapling to each guest on departure. We also conducted emission test on all vehicles of the guests and associates. We conducted an on-the-spot painting competition for the associates on the theme, ‘Only One Earth’.  Likewise, we conducted painting competition for the children of guests”, Ritesh Choudhary disclosed.

“Through Gateway Hotel in Coonoor, in addition to the above activities, we planted tree saplings at Stanely Park, Shanthi Vijaya Primary as well as Higher secondary Schools, and Coonoor Heritage railway station.  In all, we planted 520 saplings”, he noted.

Every year at the summer Flower Show being held by Tamil Nadu Government at the Government Botanical gardens in Ooty, both the hotels receive prizes for their well-maintained gardens and lawns.    This year, both the hotels individually received the largest number of awards in many decades at the world-famous Flower Show 2022 held at Government Botanical Garden Ooty, inaugurated by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin.

Ritesh Choudhary has listed the awards as under:   

 

Savoy Ooty

 

v  2 Rolling Cup for Best Flower Garden (A) Category in Ooty

v  1^st Prize for Best Lawn (Villa Flora Lawn)

v  2^nd Prize for Best Lawn (Front Lawn)

v  1^st Prize for Best Flower Pots

 

Gateway Coonoor

 

v  2 Rolling Cups for Best Flower Garden (A) Category in Coonoor

v  1^st Prize for Best Lawn

v  1^st Prize for Best Flower Pots

v  2^nd Prize for Herbal Garden (Dining Room)

(Response can also be sent: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com) 

 OUTLOOK – 2:

 

IHCL TO ADD 300 HOTELS NEXT FOUR YEARS

 

BY P S SUNDAR

 

Indian Hotels Company Ltd (IHCL) will add 300 hotels in the next four years, said Puneet Chhatwal, MD & CEO.

 

Of them, Taj will have 100, Vivanta and SeleQtions 75 and Ginger 125.

 

Along with, there will be 500 homestays and 25 Qmin (culinary and home delivery platform). 

 

Presently, IHCL has 236 hotels (including 60 under development) in over 100 locations in 11 countries across four continents.  In the past five years alone, it signed 100 hotels and opened 40 hotels.

 

IHCL’s goal is to maintain 50-50 portfolio of owned hotels vs management contract hotels.   Currently, 46 per cent are under under management contract and 54 per cent are owned.

 

“I see a scope for increase in occupancy and Average Room Rate across the industry”, Chhatwal said. 

(Response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)  

OUTLOOK -- 1

 

TOURISM IS GROWING IN THE POST-COVID ERA.

 

By P S SUNDAR

 

That the tourism sector is growing in the post-Covid era is evident from various studies undertaken by Government and private units.

 

In particular, a study by Tourism department of Government of India projects the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of tourism sector to grow by 17.30 per cent in the period 2020 to 2029.

 

The value of tourism sector is projected to rise to $ 512 billion in 2029 from $ 194.3 bn in 2019 and $ 121.9 bn in 2020.  

 

Last two years were testing time for the hospitality sector as a whole because of Covid-linked restrictions.

 

Travel and hotel stay have already picked up in 2022 due to the easing of restrictions across the globe.   

 

In 2020, Bangladesh topped the inflow of foreign tourists to India.  Tourists from the USA, UK, Canada, Russia, Australia, France, Germany, Malaysia and Sri Lanka followed in that order.

 

The largest number of outbound tourism (Indians travelling abroad) was to the UAE.  This was followed by visit to the US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Singapore, Oman, the UK, Thailand, Canada and Kuwait in that order.

 

In the case of domestic tourists’ visit in 2020, Tamil Nadu topped the list.    UP, Maharashtra, Karnataka, AP, Telangana, Maharashtra, West Bengal, MP, Gujarat and Punjab followed in that order.

 

Among foreign tourists, the largest number visited Maharashtra, closely followed by Tamil Nadu.   UP, Delhi, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Punjab, Kerala, Bihar and Goa followed in that order.  

 

Largest number of domestic travellers visited Taj Mahal.   The other monuments they visited were Mamallapuram, Sun Temple (Konarak), Golkonda Fort (Hyderbad), Qutab Minar (Delhi), Upper Fort (Aguada), Agra Fort, Hazardurai Palace (Mushidabad), Chaminar (Hyderabad) and Gol Gumbaz (Vijayawada) in that order.

 

Likewise, Taj Mahal was the monument visited by the largest number of foreigners.  The other monuments they visited were Agra Fort, Qutab Minar, Humayun’s Tomb, Fatehpur Sikri, Saranath, Red Fort, Baori at Abhaneri, Itimad-ud-Daulah Tomb and Mattancherry Palace (Kerala) in that order.  

(Response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

 

 CELEBRATIONS -- 25

WHEN STAR HOTELS CELEBRATED NEW YEAR WITH DEPRIVED PERSONS

 

By P S SUNDAR

 

In a moving gesture, the star-studded Taj group’s IHCL SeleQtions Hotels in The Nilgiris – Savoy in Ooty and Gateway in Coonoor – celebrated New Year on January 1, 2022, with the deprived segments of the society.

 

This is in continuation of the tradition established by these hotels over the years. “Our HR department colleagues Deepak and Sachin planned and executed the celebrations with great enthusiasm in true reflection of our ‘Tajness’ culture”, Cluster General Manager of these hotels Ritesh Choudhary told me.

 

The executives of Gateway Hotel Coonoor visited ‘Anbalayam’ the old age home run by M N Trust in Denalai village.   Started and run by a Baduga couple Ramamurthy and his wife Rajeshwari in 2005, the Trust, bearing the name of Ramamurthy’s mother Mitchiammal and father Nanjaayyaa, presently has 51 inmates, most of them elderly women.    They are all deserted by their family members and belong to very poor economic background mostly in rural centres.

 

“We served Vebetable biriyani, vegetable kurma, raita, steamed rice, rasam, plum cake, ice cream, apple and banana to all the inmates.   

We cut the cake specially made by Executive Chef Ramalingam.  

We presented each inmate with a coffee mug as our New Year gift.   

We danced and kept the elderly happy for the period we were in”, Riesh told me.

 

The executives of Savoy Hotel Ooty went to Mizpah Trust which takes care of the orphaned children since 2000.

 

Every year, Sonam who runs ‘The Wishn Oven’ cake extravaganza in Ooty, enjoys preparing a multi-tier special cake for these children.  Continuing with this practice, she donated an excellent cake which the children enjoyed cutting and eating!

 

“Here, we served mutton biriyani, raita, laddu, apple and banana.  We gifted each child with stationery materials and chocolates”, Ritesh said.

 

“We followed the Standard Operating practices in both places and also used the occasion to create awareness on safety norms against Covid”, he added.

(Response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com) 

 

 

HAPPENING -- 18: 

WHEN ELITE VISITORS CLAPPED FOR CHRISTMAS CAROLS BY POOR CHILDREN

By P S SUNDAR 

 

Christmas celebrations at the star-studded Gateway Hotel of the Taj group in Coonoor gained value-addition with children from poor economic background making the elite visitors from various places clap with loud applause for their captivating Christmas Carols.

 Felix Marshal, music teacher who trained these children, told me, “We gave a musical presentation on the Birth of Jesus marking the Christmas.  The children gave the narration besides singing Carols”.

While six boys of the Government-aided St Antony’s Higher Secondary School, Coonoor, took the front stage singing, two 9-year-old kids – Pradhiksha and Melchior – supported with mesmerising keyboard presentation.

“This is an attempt to provide opportunity to children from marginalised section of the society to enjoy not only the Christmas festivities but the centre-stage amidst an elite audience”, said Cluster General manager Ritesh Choudhary who honoured each with gifts.

Food and Beverage Manager Bala Murugan ensured that these children enjoyed the same lavish Christmas-eve dinner as the guests.

Moved by all these, a student D Antony Joseph said, “My father is a mason and my mother is homemaker.  We cannot imagine being in such five-star ambience”.

Another student Saharish Emmanuel said, “My father is a driver.  The experience I enjoy now is unimaginable for us in the family.  But, this gives me a motivation to study well and occupy good position in life like the guests who enjoyed our presentation”.   

A visitor from Karnataka said that programme was not only enjoyable but added value to the festivities.

(Response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com) 

 CELEBRATIONS -- 24

CHRISTMAS EVE CELEBRATIONS AT GATEWAY COONOOR 

BY P S SUNDAR

IN keeping with the high traditions of Hotel Gateway Coonoor and the IHCL SeleQtions hailed to be among the world’s strongest hotel brands from the Taj umbrella, the Christmas Eve on December 24, 2021 had many attractions despite the need to follow Covid-19 safety protocols.

 

Cluster General Ritesh Choudhary told me, “The response for Christmas-New Year booking is overwhelming as people are interested to move around after being confined for long.  We have made usual arrangements for celebrations but with double caution due to Omicron spread.   This makes us cautiously optimistic this winter”.

"Because of the tourism restrictions in many countries due to Omicron, Indians are unable to travel abroad easily but they now move around within the country.  This adds to larger number of domestic tourists to The Nilgiris now”, he explained.

 To engage such guests, there was a captivating Carol singing by children from deprived sections of the society, Santa Claus distributing gifts, magic show and bonfire.

 There were also sumptuous spread of dinner and Christmas cakes. 

 

The entire hotel’s outskirts were illuminated with colour lights, there were Christmas Crib and tree for decoration. 

 

The dining hall had its own festive decoration. 

 

Executive Chef Ramalingam had come out with an elaborate dinner as per the Menu listed here in association with Food and Beverage Manager Bala Murugan and Restaurant Manager Shafiuddin under the guidance of the Cluster General Manager Ritesh Choudhary.  

Ramalingam 

Bala Murugan 

 Shafiuddin

CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER MENU

Soup

 

      Karaikudi attukal nalli soup

      Cream of broccoli, roasted almond & basil soup with cheese garlic croute

Bread Display

 

      Jewish challah bread / Garlic pesto & olive focaccia / Multigrain rolls / Chili & cheese rolls / Oregano Rolls / Hard rolls / Whole Wheat Rolls / Grissini / Oats rolls / Soup sticks

       

Chef’s Salad Bar

 

      Sesame rainbow salad / Basil quinoa, walnut & apple in honey chili dressing / Baby corn, sprouts & ice berg salad / Grilled sweet potato, pomegranate, Pepper mint salad / Som tam (Raw papaya salad) / Celery potato, cherry tomato in ginger mayonnaise / Pineapple, cabbage, caper, thyme in ginger Jaggery dressing / Pasta, green apple, sundried tomato in mint dressing / Mint, cucumber, tomato with feta cheese / Vegetable sandwich / Hummus bi Tahini / Tabbouleh Salad

Cheese Platter

      Edam, Parmesan, Brie, Cheddar, Blue Cheese & Feta Cheese with Celery Relish, Grapes, Crackers.

Condiments & Dressings

      Olives / Sun dried tomatoes / Fried lemon chili / varieties of Lettuce / Cherry tomato / Sprouted beans / Marinated mushroom / Vegetable crudités.

       

      Coriander mango dressing / Curry leaves dressing / Honey chilly dressing / Citrus vinaigrette / Lemon chilly jiggery

       

Cold Cuts -:

Roast leg of lamb slice in mint sauce / Chicken Galantine / Thyme rubbed roasted turkey

 

Chat Counter

      Bhel puri / Papdi chat / Masala puri / Pani puri

       

BAR-BE-QUE Live Counter:

      Lasooni pomfret / Chicken angara kabab / Chicken hariyali kebab / Cashew & Pista Kebab / Mutton galouti kebab

       

      Tiwali Babari Aloo / Tandoori Broccoli / Tandoor saffron paneer tikka / Tandoor grilled Pineapple

       

 

HERITAGE STYLE –LIVE COUNTER -: Appam with vegetable stew

Indian Breads – Live Counter - Coin Paratha, Methi Paratha

 

Pasta – Live Station -

 

      Penne, Spaghetti, Fusilli, Macaroni

      Sauce -: Bolognese, Arabiata Spicy Tomato, Cheese Sauce.

 

NON VEG –HOT DISH

 

      Grilled chamomile, garlic, olive, chicken breast in red wine & cherry tomato

      Lasooni sukka gosht with roasted badam

      Crust red chili & basil grilled prawn in olives

      Lal mirch ka tangdi Kebab

      Alleppey fish curry

      Karaikudi naatu kozhi saru {Country Chicken}

 

 

 

VEGETABLE DISH

      Bok choy & tofu in fried garlic sauce

      Stuffed brie cheese in hills beetroot croquets

      Baked broccoli with fine herbs crust

      Ajwain palak kofta

      Subz Kolhapuri

      Sweet potato stuffed in mirchi in brown onion gravy.

      Fresh local aavarai melagu masala

      Moongfalli hara pyaz aloo

      Kathirikai mushroom chettinad

      Bhindi kurkuri

      Dal lasooni methi

      Smoked dal makhani

PULAO

      Atish E Anar pulao

      Burnt garlic fried rice

      Vegetable & spinach chili Noodle

      Steamed rice

      Curd Rice

      Millet curd rice

DESSERTS

      Orange crème brulee

      Yule Log

      Ginger pudding

      Lemon cheese cake - Sugar Free

      Block bridge chocolate walnut truffle gateaux

      Cointreau peach cream catalana

      White chocolate strawberry tart

      Belgium caramelized apple butter scotch cake

      Holiday stolen bread

      Apple pie

      Christmas Cake

      Rasmalai

      Ada Pradhaman

      Fruits display

      Vanilla ice cream

      Butterscotch ice cream.

 

 

(Response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gamil.com)