It’s a slice of the old world, garnished with modern amenities that’s pepping up the platter of the global travellers. The Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2011 readers’ survey, conducted by the noted travel magazine, Travel + Leisure, has rated The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, as the best hotel in Asia. Two other properties by the same group, The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur, and The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra have been ranked third and fourth. The survey also ranks these three amongst the fifteen best hotels in the world.
Four Taj Hotels — Taj Lake Palace Udaipur, Rambagh Palace Jaipur, Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai and Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi have also made it to the list. The Imperial New Delhi, is yet another hotel that’s ranked at No 2 in the category of ‘Top City Hotels in India’. “It’s the people’s verdict that matters so we constantly strive to make their experience better,” says Vijay Wanchoo, GM, The Imperial New Delhi.
The Travel + Leisure rankings are based on reader’s evaluation of the hotel’s rooms and facilities, service, restaurants and food. Travel gurus say that achievements of Indian hotels like these, will go a long way in establishing India as the best travel destination globally. Subhash Goel, chairman, STIC travel says, “The awards are great news for everyone involved in the tourism trade.
Properties like these are destinations in themselves. They offer everything to make your travel experiential.” Rajeev Nangia, associate director, TRAC Representations, a travel marketing firm, says that fusion products that mix the old and the new become a hit these days. “We will see a rise in the number of modern palatial hotels that couple tradition with ultra modern facilities,” he says.
Properties like these are destinations in themselves. They offer everything to make your travel experiential.” Rajeev Nangia, associate director, TRAC Representations, a travel marketing firm, says that fusion products that mix the old and the new become a hit these days. “We will see a rise in the number of modern palatial hotels that couple tradition with ultra modern facilities,” he says.
Vikram Oberoi, COO, The Oberoi group, says the winning formula is the genuine care for guests that comes straight from the heart. “It creates memories for our guests that they nurture.” Narrating one such instance, he shares, “A guest staying with us placed a Ganesha statue on her bedside table. When she returned to the hotel in the evening, she noticed that the housekeeping staff had laid a folded fabric under the statue, put flowers and also lighted some incense sticks. Delighted, she said that it was something she had never experienced before.”