Is your Hotel open for operations? How much occupancy have you experienced since the opening?
The hotel is now fully operational with all guest rooms and suites available for guest stays; an all-day dining indulgence at our dining outlets – Citrus Junction; all day meeting outlet – Mokhsa Lounge; along with various wellness and leisure activities. Our state-of-the-art meeting and celebration spaces with multi-functional facilities are open to host events and gatherings of all sizes. We are also excited to soon open our Indian specialty restaurant – Diya. Our start in this quarter has been excellent and we have received an extremely warm response from our guests during their stay as well as non-residents while visiting us for a dining experience.
What kind of concerns are you facing from the customers who are engaging with you for bookings?
Given the present Covid scenario, guests are primarily concerned about safety and hygiene. In our efforts to ensure that we offer not only the most memorable stays but also the safest, we have implemented enhanced safety and hygiene protocols under ‘Suraksha by The Leela’ – our comprehensive safety program. All our associates are vaccinated, and our hotel is also Platinum certified by Bureau Veritas. This is our holistic approach to ensure guest safety in our care.
Has your Hotel (Individual or Chain) come out with a special package to attract more traffic?
Yes, with the opening of our hotel, we launched a special offer – Gateway to Gandhinagar. This inaugural exclusive package offers a stay experience at our hotel with complimentary dining services and a host of other benefits, at a special price.
Since your property primarily caters to the MICE industry, are you disappointed with the time of opening? When do you see the Hotel industry (read MICE) in India going back to normalcy? How much time, in your opinion, will things take to settle down?
The Leela Gandhinagar blends state-of-the-art facilities with traditional Indian hospitality and is ideal for all categories of guests, other than MICE. Be it families, leisure travellers, or the solo business traveller, the hotel ticks all the boxes. It offers a relaxing and idyllic stay making it ideal for family staycations and a perfect choice for leisure travellers. With its world-class meeting and conference options, The Leela Gandhinagar also meets the requirements of business travellers. The Leela Gandhinagar together with Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre Managed by The Leela is set to offer a distinctive and convenient solution for this segment.
At the same time, we are also very strong on social MICE, which is weddings and events, and have already done three large events. We are waiting for corporate MICE to pick up which hopefully should happen in the next few months.
Are you seeing some movement in the weddings market in your region?
Weddings are a big segment for us and will always be. We have the largest banquet hall in the city that can accommodate 900 people in the ballroom. We have lots of small event areas, including indoor and outdoor venues. We also have a 15-acre lawn. Weddings will be a huge segment for us, and we have already done three big weddings. Our food, service, programming, and choice of venues have been truly appreciated.
How are the F&B outlets performing at the property? Can you share some insight on the same?
Our Food and Beverage outlets are doing extremely well. The guests have been sharing great reviews for the menu, ambience as well as our hospitality. We have also just launched the Sunday brunch at Citrus Junction. We are very delighted for this world cuisine restaurant with live kitchen to receive such appreciation. The Moksha lounge is doing very well too and has emerged as a meeting point of sorts in Gandhinagar.
Is there any more information that you would like to share with us?
The Leela Gandhinagar has been thoughtfully planned and designed to make it the quintessential stopover for the sophisticated global traveller. The Leela Gandhinagar blends modern splendour with the vibrant traditions of Gujarat and is committed to providing guests with unforgettable stays.
