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"First six months of 2014 have been positive for hotel"
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Monday, 23 February, 2015, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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fiogf49gjkf0d  Sofitel is a hotel group with worldwide presence. It combines elegance and the art of hospitality with the best of local culture in each country.
In tune with this tradition, Sofitel’s hotel at BKC in Mumbai offers all this and more. Biswajit Chakraborty, GM, Sofitel Mumbai BKC, in an email interaction with Libin Chacko Kurian elaborates further. Excerpts:
What makes Sofitel Mumbai BKC different?
The first six months of 2014 have been very positive for the hotel. We have seen enhanced occupancy levels over last year and our food and beverage outlets have evolved to introduce a number of novel concepts for the international luxury connoisseur.
Sofitel Mumbai BKC ensures that guest experiences are always fresh and upbeat, and provides a consistent standard of luxury hospitality. In keeping with this, we have made changes to a few of our outlets this season. Artisan, originally an Épicerie, Pâtisserie, Chocolaterie, now dons the avatar of a Jazz & Blues lounge every evening, with live music and a stylish setting. In the financial hub of the city, the new avatar of Artisan at the Sofitel Mumbai BKC has it all. Entailed with its colour changing LED lights and live jazz and blues music, it soothes the stressful mind as soon as one enters. True to its name, Artisan witnesses a host of entertainers from a saxophonist and guitarist beginning as early as 7 pm. The artistically designed community table in the centre of the outlet concocts the perfect mix for peaceful conversations making Artisan the watering hole of the financial district.
The hotel has varied food and beverage outlets each with an inspiration. The signature restaurant of Sofitel Mumbai BKC, Jyran – Tandoor Dining & Lounge, features the luscious cuisine from the north-west frontiers of India. We have recently launched ‘Jyran Balanced’ – an innovative concept in exquisite gourmet cuisine, specially designed for the modern corporate professional’s desire for experiences combining delectable cuisine and a healthy lifestyle with a quick 45-minute lunch.
Vegetarian cuisine is gaining popularity and Sofitel Mumbai BKC takes pride in its all vegetarian fine dining outlet – Tuskers – inspired by the most regal of vegan creatures – the humble elephant. Created for the vegetarian diners, the outlet is the only one in a 5-star setting. Tuskers serves authentic Gujarati, Marwari, Rajasthani and Jain cuisine, prepared by our very own ‘Maharaj’ (master Indian chef) Jankidas Vaishnav in a stand-alone kitchen to offer the most pure of vegetarian cuisines.
Le Bar Diamantaire – the Lobby Lounge sports a majestic floor-to-ceiling Wine Tower with a collection of select international wines and an intimate seating space enhanced by two unique elevated pods that are installed to provide for private rendezvous.
At Pondichéry Café – our all-day dining restaurant, a number of international chefs have been flown down from different parts of the world including a Vietnamese chef to give guests a taste of Vietnam, a German charcuterie chef for crafting sumptuous sausages, cold-cuts and charcuterie delicacies, French chef for introducing guests to the flavours of France, a Thai chef for authentic Thai cuisine and recently, a Sri Lankan chef for guests to experience delicacies from the spice island.
Given today’s hectic 24-hour lifestyle, So SPA – the hotel’s signature spa, has introduced 24x7 service for its discerning guests to experience our rejuvenating treatments anytime, at their convenience. Sprawling over 6,000 square feet with 6 treatment rooms, exclusive couple’s spa area with a private Jacuzzi and other amenities, Sofitel Mumbai BKC’s 24-hour So SPA offers Pre Jet Lag treatments specially targeting late night and early morning travellers. Stimulating circulation, the treatment reduces swelling and eases muscle tension, leaving one feeling refreshed.
What we can expect new from the hotel?
The plan over the next few months will be to enhance the services with regards to style, comfort and recreation; positioning Sofitel Mumbai BKC as a hotel that constantly reinvents itself, providing innovative high-quality products and services for the benefit of its guests. Sofitel Mumbai BKC is determined to bring several path-breaking ideas and concepts to the table that will undoubtedly be revolutionary in its effect, guiding the hotel into its next phase in India. A new plan that we have recently launched includes a concept called ‘Artisan Retail,’ where a few key food and beverage products of the hotel will be retailed including pickles, jams, breads, mustards, homemade masalas, cheese charcuterie, macarons, chocolates and more. These products are created in-house and we have noticed a surge in demand for the same amongst our guests to take them home.
Another novel concept and keeping with Accor’s Planet 21 commitments towards responsible and sustainable development, Sofitel Mumbai BKC has planted kitchen garden outside Pondichéry Café where vegetables and herbs such as cherry tomatoes, oregano, eggplant, basil and several varieties of edible flowers like lavender and chrysanthemum will be grown.
These herbs and vegetables are grown organically without the usage of any pesticide or herbicide. With our very own kitchen herb garden, we ensure that all dishes are prepared with a fresh supply of aromatic herbs to naturally flavour the food. The kitchen garden is open to guests who would like to spend some time in the open space amidst the greenery.
What makes Sofitel a 'hub of culture' than a luxury hotel?
Sofitel Mumbai BKC has a steady stream of visitors and guests from several international markets such as Singapore, Thailand, France, the UAE, UK, Middle-East, and USA. Sofitel Luxury Hotels worldwide are renowned for offering a genuine experience of elegant French luxury and the best of local culture, which is symbolised by the powerful and unique logo – the Sofitel Link. Sofitel Mumbai BKC reflects a mélange of two cultures – India and France, and artfully represents this link through a unique blend of French 'art de vivre' and warm Indian hospitality in a signature art nouveau style. Through Sofitel's three key brand pillars – Gastronomy & Wine, Design & Innovation and Culture & Events – the hotel celebrates the feeling of togetherness, stimulates all the five senses of a guest.
In the past few months, the hotel has seen a host of events including an international all-girl band from the UK – Tootsie Rollers who rendered a passionate performance of old classics with a contemporary twist on Valentine’s Day, as well as the mentalist from Germany - Nicolai Friedrich, who took guests by storm with his magical tricks.
What are events all about, what is the purpose behind organising them?
Culture & Events being an important brand pillar, the hotel will continue to organise events related to food and beverage, culture and design. The hotel with its innovative banqueting facilities and dedicated InspiredMeetings team combines the latest conference technology with a passion for excellence, dedicated to making every event an unforgettable success.
Sofitel’s meetings concept is designed on a simple but effective philosophy – “Inspired by you. Staged by us.” From an experienced meeting planner to a dedicated chef, every detail is tailor-made to perfection. The dedicated 2nd floor of InspiredMeetings has eight meeting rooms including a Grand Salon Ballroom that is designed to allow a wide range of event styles. A full-service business centre and an interactive loft kitchen offering innovative cocktails and coffee breaks, encompass the offerings on this floor.
Our newly launched outdoor venue – Hriday, is 30,000 square feet of sheer space in the heart of Mumbai. Thoughtfully christened as Hriday, denoting ‘heart’ in Sanskrit, this venue has been specially designed for large scale events, grand automobile launches and fairytale weddings under the stars and open skies.
Sofitel Mumbai BKC lives by the motto – “life is magnifique.” Sofitel Mumbai BKC, being a large boutique hotel, promises to offer guests an opportunity to experience luxury at its best. Right from the time a guest checks in, Sofitel Mumbai BKC promises to plate up the most exquisite details that are sure to make one’s stay memorable.
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