ITC launches Goa resorts under 'Luxury Collection'

Luxury hotel operator ITC has absorbed over 50% of the employees who were part of the erstwhile Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa at Cansaulim. The cigarettes-to-hotels conglomerate had acquired the 252-room resort for Rs 541 crore from asset-owning firm Blue Coast Hotels through an auction held by the Industrial Finance Corporation of India (IFCI) in 2015.

Nakul Anand, executive director, ITC, said that the leadership team of ITC Hotels has been at hand to support the existing team of managers and associates to ensure business continuity and seamless transition. "We wanted every member of the (Park Hyatt Goa) hotel's operations team to stay and continue the association with us. We are glad that over 50%, that is 175 employees out of the 300 have decided to continue and are on ITC payroll since we took control of the resort," said Anand.

ITC had taken control of Park Hyatt Goa, earlier in mid-September and has been prepping it for a re-launch under its own banner. The company management has been in negotiations with global hospitality major Marriott-Starwood to bring it under the latter's The Luxury Collection portfolio.

"Post successful negotiations, the property has been launched under the banner ITC Grand Goa, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa and has started operations as we speak," said Anand, adding that the Goa property is ITC's thirteenth luxury hotel in India.

Earlier this year, the transaction for this spa resort was upheld by the Supreme Court in its March 19 judgement, as a result of which Blue Coast had to vacate the 45-acre beach-side property on September 18, 2018. The sprawling property has undergone minor renovations over the past few weeks to comply with ITC's sustainability practices.

With the business season kick-starting November and going on till early January 2019, ITC Hotels's management is banking heavily on its loyalty programme, own distribution as well as The Luxury Collection association to attract guests. The villas have been priced more or less at the same levels as it was under the Park Hyatt management. According to the resort's website, the lowest average price per night for a single occupancy is Rs 14,400 for a garden view room going up to Rs 54,900 for a sea view suite with a plunge pool.

In terms of food and beverage options, the beach-side village-styled resort now features six signature dining options, bespoke experiences curated in indoor and outdoor meeting and banquet spaces. Among the restaurant brands are Kebabs & Kurries (traditional Indian styles of cooking), Tempero (Portuguese: Seasoning), Ottimo Cucina Italiana (pan-Italian cuisine), Pavilion at the Village Square (all day dining featuring Indian and inventive international cuisines), The Royal Afghan (a seaside barbecue and grill outlet) and Farol. This apart, it also has features a spa called Kaya Kalp - The Royal Spa, offering Indian wellness principles to its guests.

ITC is among India's leading luxury hotel chain operators with a collection of over 100 hotels in over 70 destinations. It operates hotels under four brands - luxury ITC Hotels, WelcomHotel in the five-star segment, Fortune in the mid-market to upscale segment and WelcomHeritage under the heritage leisure segment.