HICSA 2007

Session Highlights

Luxury resorts as destinations

Though the first session at the second and the last day of HICSA 2007 revolved around luxury resorts as destinations, the atmosphere during the discussion was anything but relaxed, as panelists, which comprised hotel companies with luxury brands, debated as to the real meaning of luxury.

What makes a luxury resort more than a luxury resort and distinguishable from the rest? If it is made a product of the destination it is located in. Taj was way ahead of its time in this regard when it started converting heritage structures and palaces into hotels. This has made each of its properties unique, with a certain level of old-world charm and quaintness. Making this very clear was Ajoy Misra, in his presentations.

Moderating the session was Mary Gostelow who brought out the difficulties that tourists might have to undergo to reach such resorts. Since destination resorts are located in the thick of local culture, accessibility becomes an important consideration. For instance, reaching places like the Hayman Islands or even Pench National Park can be sometimes arduous. While Misra said that charter planes and private jets were a good option, some destinations might not have scheduled airlines. As Thomas Monahan rightly said, luxury travellers want to go to those places where backpackers are going today.

When asked whether international luxury brands stand at a risk to enter India, all agreed that infrastructure was a problem because guests paying top dollars for accommodation might not want to ride over bumpy roads for hours to get to their hotels. Luxury resorts are also offering niche products to attract the thin slice that is the luxury segment. Misra revealed that Taj was looking to tie up with Apollo Hospitals to offer medical packages.

Paul MacPherson claimed that his company was looking at developing its portfolio to include 57 luxury hotels and resorts by 2011, adding that some of them will be built keeping in the mind the trend of huge extended families taking luxurious vacations together. However, Christopher Wong denied that facilities like inter-room connectivity, high number of spa rooms and others to cater to a family group of 50 were in demand. "We will have facilities for smaller families but our hotels will not necessarily be built for such structures," he added.

Of course, a luxury hotel cannot be complete without a spa as McPherson added that it was a good way to market a property since "the yield per square metre is very high". One thinks of IHHR's Ananda, The Himalayas as a good example of a luxury resort as a destination and so its presence among the panelists was sorely missed.

Panelists summed up the 'wow' factors that will underline the future of luxury hotels. While Four Seasons was looking to introduce traditional Chinese medicine at its spas, McPherson felt that "getting it right without getting carried away" was the way to go. While Monahan added that the design and F&B would play a huge role in the future, Misra was of the opinion that giving customers an inner meaning and peace will go a long way.