Though, Bhiwadi is known for low and middle income housing, the next real estate boom town after Gurgaon, however, with the launch of Tree House Residences – an all luxury apartments by Ashiana it has slowly entered the map of luxe housing destination. The sample flat of first such luxury project is ready and shown to selected audiences on March 2, 2014 during Ashiana Housing’s know your neighbour initiative, according to a company statement.
‘Tree House Residencies’ in Bhiwadi for those who desire to live a statement-making lifestyle but cannot afford one in Delhi and Gurgaon. The apartments are for those who believe in living with the state-of-art facilities. It is an exclusive, niche, stylish project with top-notch amenities for the modern buyer who aspires for a quality life.
The project consists of thirty six extravagance apartments. Total of nine stories in four towers spread in the area of one acre land; each apartment is designed to provide grand life style, maximum comfort and convenience. These are high-end apartments with a choice of thirty-four 4BHK apartments in the area of 3255 square feet and two 5BHK apartments in the area of 3755 square feet. It guarantees excellence in the living archetype with a wide range of facilities like, in-house gymnasium, children’s playing area, community hall and much more. They have ensured that everyday living is a pleasure at Tree House Residences with the membership of well-equipped facilities at Treehouse hotel, spa and club.
Among others, Tree House Residency customers will have access to the club, with facilities such as swimming pool, spa, food courts, gym, sports bar, restaurants, tennis court, business centre, For safety, it will have high-level security with fire sprinklers and fire hydrants.
Vishal Gupta, Managing Director of Ashiana Housing says: “We share a very special bond with the place Bhiwadi. Our every project in Bhiwadi seeks to bring about a constructive transformation in the lives of millions and build a world into the land of serene coexistence for every resident. The Tree House Residences will fill in the gap prevailing in luxury segment between Gurgaon and Bhiwadi”.
Property Talk India
Premier Inn, UK’s biggest hotel chain launches new property at Khaadi in Pune
Premier Inn, UK’s biggest hotel chain, announced the launch of its new property at Kharadi, Pune.
This is Premier Inn’s third property in India after New Delhi and Bangalore, according to a company statement. This edition marks the debut of Premier Inn hotels in western India catering to the vibrant city’s mid-market segment.
Speaking on the occasion, Aly Shariff, Managing Director, Premier Inn India said: “The launch of Premier Inn, Pune is a very proud moment for us and is essential to the brand’s growth strategy of catering to the demands of the new age smart traveller. There is immense growth and development potential in a burgeoning market like Pune. We look forward to welcoming guests to the Premier Inn experience”.
“Premier Inn, Pune presents a refreshingly new face of hospitality to the evolving metropolis, Pune. Located in the heart of the IT corridor, the propertyhas been designed to our global Premier Inn standards, offering consistent, world class service to both leisure and business travelers seeking hassle-free and contemporary experiences. As with our other properties, our product and services have been appropriately adapted to the Indian and local market tastes. Our mission is to be trusted for a good night’s sleep and great value food and drink to transform the hotel market by uniquely combining high quality with total commitment to guest satisfaction, at an affordable price” .
Shwetank Singh, Regional Vice President, Premier Inn, South Asia said: “Premier Inn, Pune, Kharadi will cater to its guests with 109 rooms including 4 serviced apartments. The hotel offers an array of services including LINX, our all-day dining restaurant, 87, our lounge bar and Tangles, our vibrant and tantalizing Noodle/Asian eatery. We are also ‘Proud to Serve’Costa Coffee in all our outlets. Additionally, the hotel boasts amenities which include flexible meetings and conferencing facilities, free Wi-Fi access, the famous Hypnos branded beds, tea and coffee making facilities, mini-bar, flat screen TV’s and much more.With highly competitive rates, and international brand standards, the hotel offers outstanding value for money and quality”.
The relative underdevelopment of budget hotel sector in India coupled with the pace of economic growth has created an opportunity for Premier Inn India Pvt Ltd. to create a pan-Indian business, which has ambitious plans for setting up hotels under the Premier Inn brand. We opened our first Premier Inn hotel in Whitefield Bangalore, India in 2009 and within a few months of operations; the hotel won the HVS HICSA Award for ‘The Best New Budget Hotel 2009/10’. A second Premier Inn of 143 keys is situated in Shalimar Bagh, New Delhi and opened in June 2011.
Premier Inn is the UK’s biggest hotel chain with more than 650 hotels and 52,000 rooms across UK, Ireland, UK, Ireland, South Asia, Arabian Gulf and Asia Pacific.In the financial year which ended Feb 2013, Premier Inn UK sales rose 13.1 percent on the previous year and ended at £ 853.8 million. The Revenue per available room (REVPAR) performance grew by 3.1 percent on like for like basis.
Premier Inn’s mission is to be trusted for great value and a good night’s sleep wherever its guests want to be; to transform the hotel market by uniquely combining high quality bedrooms with total commitment to guest satisfaction at an affordable price and to continue to be the UK’s number one hotel network, whilst growing into attractive international markets.
Premier Inn stands for business of scale, convenience and quality. More than 75 percent of the UK population lives within five miles of a Premier Inn with at least one hotel within five minutes of every UK airport. Guests benefit from everything they want for a good night’s sleep. The hotels are well maintained thanks to a rolling refurbishment programme that sees every room refurbished at least once every eighteen months.
Kingdom of Dreams provide a memorable evening to salute India on 65th Republic Day
Kingdom of Dreams, the ultimate leisure and entertainment destination celebrated the nation’s 65th Republic Day with pomp and grandeur. Exciting dance performances on folk music by cultural groups from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Leh Ladakh and musical acts by famous fusion band Pratigya and rock band Fuzz Culture marked the celebrations, according to a media statement.
To add to the enjoyment, the evening also witnessed entertaining performances on popular bollywood songs and contemporary fusion music. DJ Manish turned the festive mood on by spinning the disk at IIFA Buzz Café at Culture Gully.
In addition to dance and music a variety of India’s exotic desserts from different regions and states added a truly incredible Indian experience to the evening. Quaint food carts served dishes, freshly rustled up for the ultimate gastronomic experience.
It was a remarkable end to the Republic Day celebrations with friends and family at Kingdom of Dreams with all the special offerings under one roof.
Kingdom of Dreams is a unique initiative by Great India Nautanki Company, a joint venture between Wizcraft International Entertainment, India’s foremost Entertainment and Communication Company and Apra Group of Companies. This ambitious concept offers theme-based entertainment experiences of exceptional standards and promotes Indian culture to Indians and visitors from across the globe.
Spread across acres of land, Kingdom of Dreams has three distinct entertainment zones – Culture Gully, Nautanki Mahal, and Showshaa Theatre- each offering a unique proposition.
· Culture Gully, a unique Indian boulevard of exotic food, art and culture
· Nautanki Mahal, India’s first dynamic state of the art 4D theatre designed and conceptualized to offer breath-taking & magical experiences.
· Showshaa Theatre will present a kaleidoscope of fabulous colorful drama marquee spotlighting ancient Indian Epics and Mythology, mock wedding shows and the great Indian talent circus. Entertainment has never been quite the same since Kingdom of Dreams has thrown open its gates to a magical and mystical arena.
Here are some exquite images of the celebration.
Sanjay Puri: Only Indian Architect to win 33 international awards
Achieved a lot globally, yet remains a very private and understated South Bombayite. With his classic sensibilities, he is an avid traveller, known more in Milan or Italy than within his own turf. That is Sanjay Puri, the world renowned architect for you.
Brand in himself
Sanjay is a brand in himself and he is the only Indian Architect to will 33 coveted international awards. In fact, he is the only person in the world to have won three awards at MIPIM in March 2013.
The MIPIM is the equivalent of the Cannes in the field of architecture and design. Sanjay’s project, ‘DCaves’ in Hyderabad has won ‘The Most Sustainable Hotel in the World’ at the A+ Awards in New York last year as well.
Sanjay Puri and Associates, his firm is known not just for interesting designs, but also for contextual architecture. For instance, 72 screens in Jaipur takes its inspiration from the old traditional ‘jali’ screens of the architectural heritage of the region sheats the building on all sides further reducing the heat gain and rendering the building very energy efficient.
Also, the Courtyard House in Rajasthan is relatively large house, due to the client requirements, is designed in response to the desert climate of its location and is built sustainably with natural ventilation being facilitated throughout the house and minimised heat gain to increase its energy efficiency.
Notable projects
Few of his most prominent projects include the Chrome Hotel in Kolkata, DCaves Hotel in Hyderabad, H Hotel Lucknow, The Courtyard House in Rajasthan and more. Sanjay was also in the news lately for the Bombay Arts Society, which was launched in October last year.
Globally, the firm’s biggest and most noteworthy projects include the Chapel at Murcia in Spain and Teresa 153 in Montenegro. Sanjay, not known in many social circles in India has been featured in over 200 international publications.
Story behind the Enigma
It is not every day that one gets to be in the presence of sheer creative genius, which is nothing short of inspiring. One such personality is Sanjay Puri, who has silently but surely been working his way to become the leader in architecture and design in the country.
In an exclusive interview with Jayashankar Menon, the globally renowned Architect sheds more light on his education, growing up and rising to international fame. Excerpts:
JM: Can you talk about your education and the eventual beginning of your tryst with Architecture?
SP: After finishing my graduation from Mayo College, I went on to pursue my dream of becoming an Architect and studied from the illustrious Academy of Architecture, Mumbai. My tryst with Architecture began at an early age and my formal training in the subject which gave me the means to channel my creativity in a productive manner. Like all creative minds, I find inspiration everywhere. Of course my biggest inspiration and something that I turn turns to even today is ‘The Fountainhead’ by Ayn Rand. This novel that is one of the greatest books of our times revolves around the life of the protagonist, an Architect who is so driven that he would rather struggle than compromise on his artistic vision. This is the mantra that I follow till today and is the thing that sets me apart from other Architects.
JM: Can you talk about your earlier career?
SP: I began my career by working under the Master Architect of my time: Hafeez Contractor, who taught me a lot of what I know on the subject. Subsequently, I went on to establish my own firm and in 1992 Sanjay Puri Architects was born. From then on there was no looking back. Today I am at the forefront, leading my impressive team of more than 72 employees in several projects in India and around the world.
JM: Your avant-garde architectural style is truly unique and a true expression of your creativity. What is the essence of your design theory?
SP: The essence of my design theory is creating innovative design spaces that are contextual but at the same time sustainable. The main aim is to evoke an exhilarating experience while infusing functionality effectively.
JM: Today you are the leading architect in the country with a name in India as well as overseas. You are the only architect worldwide to win awards in three categories at the latest MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Awards in France. Besides this you have also bagged over 33 international awards and numerous national awards garnering fame for yourself and your firm. How can you still be simple and down to earth?
SP: By nature, I am quite a simple and straightforward man, and do not believe in unnecessary embellishments on buildings. I prefer to focus on the form of the structure and pay more attention to the way the building feels and not just how it looks. I also do not look like a man who will allow success to go to my head and has managed to remain humble and unassuming in spite of having appeared in over 200 international publications and being a speaker in architectural events in Italy, Spain, Singapore, Serbia, Mexico and The Netherlands.
JM: Please describe your work?
SP: My utmost preoccupation is to evolve innovative design solutions and incorporate the geography of the location in a positive way into the design. Most of my designs have an element or principle of traditional Indian architecture that I try to imbibe in them in my own way. While designing a space, the most important thing to remember is not to hold back, to let your creativity flow undeterred. This is something that is missing in the run of the mill buildings that we see cropping up everywhere nowadays. I try to ensure that every structure I design and create is vastly different and unique from the previous one, and avoid repetition at all costs.
JM: Can you talk about Sanjay Puri Architects?
SP: Founded in 1992, Sanjay Puri Architects (SPA) today is one of the most sought after architectural and design firms in India. With a team of over 72 employees, the firm is an unmatched powerhouse of design. SPA has an extensive design portfolio that includes architectural and interior design projects in fields like hospitality, commercial, retail, educational and entertainment facilities as well as large urban projects and town planning. Currently we are involved in designing over 100 projects in 40 cities across India as well as projects in Montenegro, Spain, UAE and Mauritius.
SPA have won 34 International awards including the Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture & Design’s International Architecture Awards 2012 & 2011, the World Architecture Festival Awards 2012, 2011 & 2010 , nine MIPIM Architectural Review Future Project Awards & 5 World Architecture Community Awards, UK and two Hospitality Design, New York Awards. We also have innumerable national awards to our credit.
Some of the firm’s most notable projects include the Chrome Hotel in Kolkata, D Caves Hotel Hyderabad, D Hotel Lucknow, 72 Screens Jaipur, The Courtyard house Rajasthan and Bombay Arts society. Internationally the firm’s biggest and most noteworthy projects are the Chapel at Murcia Spain and Teresa 153 in Montenegro.
Pradipta Biswas: Immense passion in favour of Hotel Industry
Pradipta Narayan Biswas has his strengths as an organised, thoughtful and analytical go getter, a team player, leader with effective communication and presentation style, an eye for detail and an immense passion in favour of the Hotel Industry. Biswas is the General Manager, Hotel Operations has over 19 years experience of Operations, revenue maximisation sales and marketing, at Orchid Mumbai, Novotel Hyderabad, Grand Hyatt Delhi, Intercontinental Mumbai Sahar, ITC Hotels, Leela Kempenski, Park Plaza Royal Palms Mumbai, online exposure as VP Sales Travel Guru now (Travelocity Company) Regional outbound and concept selling of the Grand Hyatt Delhi ITC Hotels.
As Project team head of The Orchid Mumbai, he played a key role in opening of the New Wing of 120 rooms taking complete handover from Projects and bringing the hotel to an operational level. At The Grand Intercontinental Mumbai and at Park Plaza Royal Palms Mumbai, Pradipta Biswas was involved in various market analyses, task listings, manual preparations, product comparisons, departmental operating procedures, launch plans and marketing and branding campaigns. Along with allocation of various marketing budgets for hoarding and advertisements in Print media Pradipta has done the entire gamut of multi-tasking in varied job capacities, in the Hospitality Industry.
Another experience that held him in good stead in the Industry was at Intercontinental Hotels, where Pradipta took up the challenge of revenue management training. Through MICE, his experience as well as in depth knowledge of Unit and Regional Sales was well appreciated. Positioning of the Park Plaza Royal Palms Mumbai (2005) spearheading Advertising, Marketing, packaging and promotional activities were the mainstay that led to a firm foundation of a wider scope of Pradipta’s job role.
From Director Sales and Marketing at Park Plaza Royal Palms Mumbai Biswas was promoted as Executive Assistant Manager based on growth reflected in business and was overall in charge. For day to day operation of the hotel he reported directly to the Chairman of the company. He has also been awarded the Hospitality Leader of the Year award at his stint at Orchid, by the stars of the Industry Award.
Specialties
Hotel operations , Cost Control measures, maintaining a healthy bottom-line for the hotel, Brand Building, Front Office, Revenue Management, Spa, Housekeeping, Security Profiling, Pricing, Position Sales Formatting, Revenue Analysis, Strategising, Cost Control, Startup Projects Soft Skills Training, Promotions, Loyalty Programmes and Third Party Alliances.
Pradipta Narayan Biswas passed out from Presidency College-Hotel Management Bangalore BHM, Hotel Management in 1994 -97. He is 38 years old, and married. In his current role he is responsible for overall Hotel Operations at The Galaxy Hotel, Shopping and Spa with a critical role in positioning the hotel as a high end boutique hotel, with varied mix of Food and Beverage options.
Real Estate Regulation Bill to create a positive change towards organised approach to real estate in India
The Real Estate Regulation and Development Bill, can be seen as a positive change towards a more organized and transparent approach to real estate in India. But with elections coming up, the fate of the Bill and its current form faces an uncertain future, says Sunder P, CEO and Co Founder of HomeShikari.com. In a free-wheeling interview, Sunder provides the Real Estate forecast in 2014. Excerpts:
JM: What were the key external factors impacting the residential real estate market in 2013?
SP: The year 2013 saw a lot of key external factors affecting the residential real estate market. RBI guidelines, revisions on FDI, the draft Real Estate Regulation and Development Bill and a volatile economy are among a few.
JM: Will the proposed Real Estate Regulation Bill create any positive impact on the Real Estate horizon in India?
SP: The Real Estate Regulation and Development Bill, can be seen as a positive change towards a more organised and transparent approach to real estate in India. But with elections coming up, the fate of the Bill and its current form faces an uncertain future.
JM: Has the RBI guidelines on funding created a negative impact on builder cash flows?
SP: The change in RBI guidelines on the 20:80 funding has had a serious impact on builder cash flows. Most builders have highly leveraged balance sheets and the slowdown in demand has led to a serious pile up of inventory in most cities.
JM: What are the other deterrents for overseas investors in shying away to foray into Indian market?
SP: Transparency issues and associated risks with the residential real estate market too act as a deterrent for foreign investors. The REIT market for commercial real estate is just beginning to see some action. In the current scenario, organised bulge bracket investors see commercial real estate more favourably than the residential market.
JM: According to you, which category will see the highest demand in the outlying and newer areas of the city?
SP: The budget homes category will witness the highest demand in the outlying and newer areas of the city, especially because there is a good deal of price flexibility that developers display. The locational preferences are based on factors of affordability, followed by urban and social infrastructure to support living. Yet, within each of these sectors, price is still seen as the largest pain point amongst buyers. The investment market will therefore see less traction than the end-user market.
JM: Do you think the foreign investments into the commercial sector are likely to increase any time soon?
SP: Yes, foreign investments into the commercial sector are likely to increase with the formation of REITs. Commercial office spaces with long term lease agreements are going to attract more such investments. Growth is expected to be muted until a new Government is formed at the Centre after elections. Cities with large pile up of inventory like Mumbai, NCR and Chennai are likely to witness a slow down. Some pockets within NCR like Greater Noida may do well. Bangalore, by far is expected to outperform all other markets in 2014. Pune is expected to do reasonably well. Hyderabad has witnessed lackluster performance in 2013 due to the political uncertainty over Telengana row, but may see some renewed buying as things become clearer and since the market has almost bottomed out.
JM: How about the luxury and super premium segments?
SP: In the luxury and super premium segments where buyers are not D-I-Y is where middlemen (the professional firms) can play a role in assessing the needs and finding a good fitment. It may also work with the speculative investor class.
JM: What according to you is the cardinal problem in the Indian Real Estate arena?
SP: The key problem in the Indian real estate segment is the lack of accurate information to make an informed choice. The middlemen while having relatively better information are also handicapped. The only information that they probably have better access to, is availability. The rest is a matter of reverse bidding and price discovery, which middlemen do more efficiently than end users.
Avari Dubai Hotel welcomes to Dubai Shopping Festival
The Dubai Shopping Festival 2014 is just around the corner, the internationally acclaimed festival is one of the best shopping experiences in the world. The Avari Dubai Hotel, a lifestyle destination beyond comparison introduces its exciting Family Shopper’s Package for all avid shoppers planning to visit Dubai during the festival, according to a company statement.
Experience the Dubai Shopping Festival like never before and stay at the Avari Dubai Hotel that is known for its fascinating blend of customs and traditions of the Middle East with international facilities of a cosmopolitan lifestyle. In addition to the shopping and prizes, hundreds of events and activities await visitors. From international concerts, musicals and shows, to sports, outdoor, and fashion events, Dubai Shopping Festival caters to every age segment.
While enjoying a stress free and exciting shopping experience, the Avari Dubai Hotel welcomes you for a comfortable stay to avail of fantastic discounts with its Family Shopper’s Package. Spoilt with options, customers can enjoy an array of premium services and amenities including exciting discounts on food and beverage orders, discounts on certain excursions, complimentary shuttle to Jumeira/Mamzar Beach and major shopping centres. The package also includes complimentary buffet breakfast for your entire stay. All this and more starting from just AED 1234* for single/double occupancy for minimum stay of three nights. And for an additional AED 150* (* Subject to 10 percent service charge and ten percet municipality fees) per night, one can upgrade themselves to Avari Business Class floor for even more benefits and facilities. This package is valid from January 2 to February 2, 2014.
The Avari Dubai; a hotel known for its distinctively charming environment, is an ideal choice for that perfect Holiday during the Dubai Shopping Festival. Combine the best Holiday with over the top shopping experience at The Avari Dubai Hotel. Located at the traditional neighborhood of Riqqa, adjacent to the famed Dubai Clock Tower, the Avari Dubai Hotel is a 5 minute walk away from the Dubai Metro and Al Riqqa food street. The Hotel has its own ways of making this vacation even more special with Free Airport transfers, a personal welcome and cocktail on arrival, free WIFI and irresistible offers on food and beverages at the Olive Tree restaurant and Cinnamon cafe within the hotel. For hassle free reservations contact: +971 4295 6666 or email to reservations1@avaridubai.ae Webite : avari.com.
Top tourist destination
Dubai has emerged as a top tourist destination for travelers across the globe. With one of the most supreme location in Dubai, the 4-star Deluxe, full service, Avari Dubai redefines the leisure and business hotel category and proves to be a lifestyle destination beyond comparison. The 07 storey building with 178 newly renovated rooms and suites is a unique and prestigious destination which has been designed to cater for every possible need, a business or leisure traveler may have. The Avari Dubai is an international, 4-star deluxe Hotel, with 5-star facilities! The Avari group is also known for its luxury apartments, The Avari Al Barsha Apartments.
Hotel Sahara Star bags Hotelier India Awards 2013
Team Sahara Star is known for excelling at their service even while in its project stagehave added yet another feather to the hotel’s cap. Shri Umesh Pratap Singh, who is the Deputy General Manager at the property, won the Best Project Manager award at the honored Hotelier India Awards for his efforts in overseeing the renovation of the hotel. The Awards which are considered to be the Oscars of the Hospitality industry took place at the Westin Gurgaon on 14th December 2013.
The Hotelier India Awards are instated to recognize the true essence of hospitality. It rewards those often- unrecognized individuals who make the country’s hotels some of the very best in the world. The Hotelier India Awards celebrates excellence and the winners are the real heroes who the difference. The Hotelier India Awards is a celebration of the emergence and boom of the hospitality industry in India! Project Manager is the key person in the initial stages of hotel construction who ensures that the architect and the brand’s vision is translated from paper to bricks and mortar. Responsible for adhering to quality standards, budgets and cost control as well as timelines.
On the accolade, Vivek Kumar, CEO Hotel Sahara Star & Aamby Valley City said, “We are very proud to have such an ambitious and diligent manager as Mr.Umesh Singh with us and it fills me with immense pride to win this award for a project which is Sahara India’s first foray into hospitality. This inspires us to strive harder in delivering the perfect fusion of hospitality and entertainment.”
Hotel Sahara Star has always been committed to excellence in the hospitality sector and their zeal is sure to bring them more such accolades in the future.
Having incorporated the world’s largest pillar less dome, only private dining room in a marine aquarium and the country’s most advanced presidential board room; they are now set to deliver India’s biggest event hall and a building dome facade which will represent Mumbai’s new landmark.
About Hotel Sahara Star –
Sahara Star, the flagship hotel of Sahara India Pariwar, is poised to be one of India’s most sought-after 5 star hotel near Mumbai domestic airport. It has well-appointed 223 attractive rooms including 13 luxurious suites which are complimented by “9 specialty” restaurants which add to the beauty of the hotel. Sahara Star is a luxury class hotel with its picturesque tropical lagoon that looks up to the world’s largest pillar less clear-to-sky dome and the three compound-curved, custom-designed glass elevators with panoramic views. True entertainment infused with rich Indian Hospitality.
Be it seminars, workshops, conferences or grand celebrations, Sahara Star’s banquet is an ideal choice. At Hotel Sahara Star, we aim to host the finest meetings and banquets with magnificent venues for your events and celebrations. We offer you a choice of numerous meeting rooms, state-of-the-art audio-visual facility and much more. The hotel also offers three levels of parking that can easily accommodate over 750 cars add to the convenience of the visitors.
The hotel has serene ambience for both business and leisure travelers offering the pure luxury of enjoying the beauty of the India’s largest marine aquarium providing home to many wonders of marine life.
About Hotel Sahara Star –
Sahara Star, the flagship hotel of Sahara India Pariwar, is poised to be one of India’s most sought-after 5 star hotel near Mumbai domestic airport. It has well-appointed 223 attractive rooms including 13 luxurious suites which are complimented by “9 specialty” restaurants which add to the beauty of the hotel. Sahara Star is a luxury class hotel with its picturesque tropical lagoon that looks up to the world’s largest pillar less clear-to-sky dome and the three compound-curved, custom-designed glass elevators with panoramic views. True entertainment infused with rich Indian Hospitality.
Be it seminars, workshops, conferences or grand celebrations, Sahara Star’s banquet is an ideal choice. At Hotel Sahara Star, we aim to host the finest meetings and banquets with magnificent venues for your events and celebrations. We offer you a choice of numerous meeting rooms, state-of-the-art audio-visual facility and much more. The hotel also offers three levels of parking that can easily accommodate over 750 cars add to the convenience of the visitors.
The hotel has serene ambience for both business and leisure travelers offering the pure luxury of enjoying the beauty of the India’s largest marine aquarium providing home to many wonders of marine life.
Taj Hotels, Chennai to play official hosts to ‘Worlds’ 2014
The Taj Group of Hotels in Chennai is proud to host the 2014 edition of the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC). This annual debating event, held in the ‘British Parliamentary’ competitive debate format, is also referred to as ‘Worlds’ and the winners of the competition acknowledged as the ‘World Champions’, according to a company statement. 
In this edition of the Championship, teams from 62 countries will be battling it out for the top honours from December 28, 2013 to January 3, 2014. All participants will be staying at Taj Coromandel, Taj Club House and Vivanta by Taj-Connemara, and the hotels have been preparing enthusiastically for this. All efforts are being taken to ensure that the participants enjoy their stay and have a memorable experience, right from the time of their arrival, being greeted in the quintessential Taj style. Students from the World’s best universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, MIT, Stanford, Monash, Sydney and dozens of other world-class universities will participate in this event; being crowned ‘World Champion’ is one of the most prestigious titles a student can attain. In its 33-year history, the World Universities Debating Championship comes to India for the first time. The tournament is the world’s largest debating tournament, and the largest annual international student event in the world. The inaugural Championship was hosted by the Glasgow University Union in January 1981 with 43 teams from 7 nations competing. Since then it has dramatically expanded to an event that hosts over 400 teams (each composed of two individual students) representing over 250 universities of 70 different nations. This spectacular event closes with a grand Valedictory Dinner on January 3, 2014 at Taj Coromandel where the team of Chefs led by Chef Alok Anand, Executive Chef, Taj Coromandel will present bespoke menus for the gathering of over 1000 people, including dignitaries and the participants. The hotel’s restaurants have proven to be the dining destinations of choice for fine-dining connoisseurs of the city, offering a contemporary culinary portfolio that includes unparalleled and authentic Italian, Chinese and South Indian specialty cuisine.
Established in 1901, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is one of Asia’s largest and finest group of hotels, comprising 105 hotels in 64 locations across India with an additional 17 international hotels in the Maldives, Malaysia, Australia, UK, USA, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Africa and the Middle East. From world-renowned landmarks to modern business hotels, idyllic beach resorts to authentic Grand Palaces, each Taj hotel offers an unrivalled fusion of warm Indian hospitality, world-class service and modern luxury. For over a century, The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, the iconic flagship has set a benchmark for fine living with exquisite refinement, inventiveness and warmth. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is part of the Tata Group, India’s premier business house.
Value and Budget Housing Corporation (VBHC) Hosts Christmas Carnival in Bangalore today
Value and Budget Housing Corporation (VBHC) is bringing in the festive season by organising a grand Christmas Carnival at their flagship project in Chandapura Anekal near electronic city, on December 22, 2013. Venue: VBHC Vaibhava, (near Electronic City), Property No. 51, Chandapura Anekal Main Road, Opposite Gobardhan Granite, Bangalore – 562106. The carinval that has started at 4.00 PM will last by 10.30 pm. Guests are having opportunity to avail of several special promotional offers at the event which include:
v Special discount on spot booking
v Group gift offers
v No loan processing fees for Spot Bookings
v 5 Gram Gold coin for Spot Bookings
v Rs 25,000 to referral customers on Spot Bookings
v Wedding and Graduation Apartment presents for your children, nieces, nephews, etc.
v Guided site tours from 4-7 pm for all interested customers, entry free.
Along with the special promotional offers, numerous fun activities have been planned for the all the carnival goers. These include:
v Merry go round
v Face painting
v Inflatable playground
v Tug of war
v Ring the Bottle
v Tata Nano Tour
v DJ Party
v Santa Claus
v Free Gifts
v Games and Prizes
v Dinner, Snacks and Refreshments
The News Hour India by Kenath Jayashankar Menon 