DRMumbai: Two Roads Hospitality-owned boutique hotel brand Alila with two chic properties in India, Alila Diwa Goa and Alila Fort Bishangarh, Jaipur, is set to expand with two more resorts soon in North Goa and Kerala.
Alila Diwa Goa, opened in 2009, has 100 rooms and eight suites and Alila Fort Bishangarh opened in Rajasthan in 2017 is a 59-key all-suite hotel
“Apart from the two projects which have moved to the design phase, we are negotiating three more projects at the moment,” informs Steve Jeisman, Group Director, Alila Experience, in an exclusive interview with Destination Reporter.
“The India market is huge and growing so fast. Our brand presence in India has helped us in Indonesia where we have four hotels to grow the patronage from Indian outbound travellers visiting Bali. Indian guests are great to have as they spend well on non-room revenue like F&B and Spa.”
Alila is owned by Two Roads Hospitality, formed by the coming together of Destination Hotels and Commune Hotels + Resorts in 2016.
Alila means ‘surprise’ in Sanskrit, which suitably describes the refreshing character of their properties in Asia, the Middle East and Western United States.
To stay at any of Alila’s hotels and resorts is to embark on a destination experience. Be it in recreating the flavours of the local cuisine, enhancing one’s well-being through ancient healing arts or the thrill of adventure sports.
The hallmark of Alila is the combination of innovative design and crafted luxury in unique locations, set apart by an unprecedented level of personalised hospitality, private spaces and bespoke journeys.
Alila Diwa Goa, which opened in 2009, has 100 rooms and eight suites. The Diwa Club by Alila has been designed as a resort within a resort, and boasts its own lap pool with an open-air Jacuzzi and private all-day dining Bistro.
Situated amidst lush paddy plantations, Alila Diwa Goa is a 5-star luxury resort in South Goa along Gonsua Beach in Majorda, just 20 minutes from Dabolim International Airport. The Ball Room can accommodate 300 pax in theatre style and the outdoor lawns 600, ideal for weddings and MICE.
Perched magnificently upon a granite hill, the bold, striking architecture of Alila Fort Bishangarh appears seamlessly sculpted from the surrounding rustic terrain, overlooking 360-degree views of the impressive Rajasthani landscape.
Opened in 2017, the 59-key all-suite hotel, an hour away from Jaipur International Airport, has received numerous awards including Conde Nast Traveller’s Best New Hotels in India 2017 and Hospitality Design Awards USA 2018 for Best Restoration Project Around the Globe.
Perhaps the only warrior fort that has been converted into a heritage resort, Alila Fort Bishangarh is a unique example of the Jaipur Gharana architecture influenced by both the Mughals and the British. The two-meter thick ancient walls around the fort have openings for firearms and turrets (known as burjs) as battlements.
“It took us over seven years to create this Alila Experience since the fort was a UNESCO® protected site. But that’s what we are good at. We are now creating a property in a bamboo forest and another one in a sacred temple area with a Buddha relic.”
For that much-needed rest and rejuvenation, look no further than Spa Alila, a permanent fixture at any Alila resort offering bespoke programs based on body constitution and genetic makeup.
Here, guests can pamper themselves with Asian and Ayurvedic treatments as part of relaxing and healing regimes that are sure to refresh the mind and senses. The spa facilities also include an infinity pool, yoga studio offering a range of exercises, yoga and meditation sessions, a fitness centre and a salon.
“We are developing four Alila properties worldwide currently,” says Jeisman. “We have very strong brand protection to ensure the guest experience is uniform and never compromised. We are a ‘cool’ brand with lot of creativity. And we don’t have a cookie-cutter approach. So each Alila hotel has a distinct character and we customise to customer needs. It’s about making somebody’s day.”
New Alila properties are under development at Jakarta (Indonesia), Wuzhen (China), Koggala (Sri Lanka) and Koh Russey (Cambodia). “It’s all about the location, environment, ambience and its understated elegance,” adds Jeisman. “We are very bespoke. Even for a couple, the partners can have different preferences and we tailor the experience and holiday for each individual. Just be, that’s the kind of hotels and holidays we offer.”
The Personal Preference Menu (PPM) where guests can decide their mini bar, choose from six types of pillows or the mode of transport – all within the quoted price – is another highlight worth mentioning. When it comes to the promise of offering self-styled holidays, Alila walks the talk.
