When it comes to organizing corporate conferences, social events or Destination Weddings, Novotel Kolkata offers bespoke experiences with a seamless blend of elegance and efficiency.
Swaati Chaudhury
It’s amazing when one gets to unravel new experiences and explore luxury destinations. Novotel Kolkata Hotel and Residences had been on my radar for a few years. When the opportunity for a luxurious staycation in the hotel arrived post Holi, I was thrilled and with heightened anticipation, I reached the hotel and checked into the deluxe suite after a rousing welcome. The luxury hospitality player stands tall as an iconic landmark in the New Town- Rajarhat area.
Spread over 3.5 acres of land area, the prominent hospitality set-up started off its journey in 2014 and is a mere 20-minute drive from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. Being close to the Information Technology sector of the city, the property rides on its locational advantage. With 340 well-appointed rooms and 47 serviced apartments, Novotel Kolkata is the largest inventory hotel from the house of Accor Group in the Eastern region of India. Accor Group is a renowned global hospitality giant. At Novotel Hotel, sophistication blends with convenience and there are a plethora of global travellers.
Novotel Kolkata offers four upscale dining options- The Square- best known as the coffee shop, Café Joy, Ministry of Kebabs (MOK)- the fine dining outlet and Speak Burger- takeaway counter. Add to these, there is Santé Bar. All the four outlets are on ground floor. Cafe Joy, the multi-cuisine food outlet with a relaxed ambience occupies an area of 3,000 sq. ft and churns out Continental, Indian and Asian delights.
The Square commands a huge area of over 10,075.01 sq.ft and lives up to the reputation of serving lavish buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. The cheery outlet hosts food fests every month. At the moment, the 167-seater establishment is showcasing its culinary brilliance by hosting themed brunch termed Tangra Trail on Sundays. Gourmet lovers can get to sample the delish Chinese cuisine that is famed in Tangra (the Chinese stronghold in Kolkata). I started off with Vegetarian Momos served with 12 amazing kinds of condiments including Khimchi, pickled vegetable, soya sauce, chilly sauce, tomato sauce, chilly vinegar sauce, Sriracha sauce (comprising a blend of tomato and chilly), pickled ginger, sweet chilly sauce, black bean, coriander soya chilly sauce and Schezwan sauce. The main course comprises Vegetarian Fried Rice savoured with lip-smacking Vegetarian Manchurian and Exotic Vegetable Tofu with butter garlic all churned out by chef Tinku Das.
I was eager to sample the delectable offerings laid on the buffet table that has four live stations- local delicacies, pasta, pizza and tandoor. One cannot leave the outlet without trying the mouth-watering Golgappas, Dahi Vada, Cheese Balls, Aloo Shimla Mirch with Matar Pulao. One can savour six types of Raitas like Pyaaz Raita, Boondi Raita, Apple Raita, Cucumber Raita and Curd Rice. The buffet table has an extensive list of desserts called Scoop Shop flaunting as many as 12 sweet bites like Kala Jamun, Semiya Payasam, Mango Custard, Milk Chocolate Hazelnut Pastry et al. The coffee shop remains open from 6.30 AM to 12 AM and the buffet lunch is pegged at Rs 1,999-plus taxes per person.
The luxury property has a picturesque swimming pool, spa and workout facilities. For those interested to rejuvenate their body, there is Meghavi Wellness Spa set up in 2022. The premium outlet sprawls over 2,500 sq.ft and is well-equipped with five massage rooms and two couple rooms. The family spa provides four kinds of warm massage treatments like Herbal Potli, Kansa Wand, warm bamboo and hot-stone massage. There are classic massages on offer including Thai massage, Balinese, Swedish and aromatherapy. The outlet has hour-based packages and a 10-hour package comes for Rs 20,000 that is valid for six months and can be shared among friends.
It’s been past one decade that the New Town area has undergone a plethora of changes. Akash Bansal, Director of Operations of the hotel informed, “Snuggled at a proximal distance from the airport and Information Technology hub, our property prides in its locational advantage. The total banquet area is 30,000 sq. ft and we have a huge banquet with an area of over 8,000 sq. ft done up with a pre-functional area. There is a terrace with an area spread over 18,000 sq. ft. We have a sizeable number of rooms on twin sharing basis. A significant portion of our revenue is generated from MICE travellers. Our serviced apartments are highly preferred by global travellers. Our MOK has been conferred with the “Best Newly Opened Food Outlet” by Travel and Leisure magazine in 2024.”
The ideal place to have dinner in the hotel is Ministry of Kebabs, the 76-seater outlet with a total area spread of 4,000 sq. ft brings the essence of traditional flavours with a contemporary twist. The dimly-lit outlet is spruced up with paper-crafted umbrellas hanging from its ceiling. There are five kinds of vegetarian and non-vegetarian kebabs served at MOK. Chef Tanveer Alam cooks up a storm and comes up with a trolley that displays an array of amazing kebabs on Tandoor, Tawa and Sigri. The Tandoor vegetarian kebabs are Paneer Achari Tikka (Punjabi delight) and Malai Brocolli from North Western Frontier Province. The kebabs rustled up on tawa are Vegetarian Shami Kebab (New Delhi speciality) and Nadru Galoti of Awadh while the Sigri kebab includes Seekh Kebab famed in New Delhi. The non-vegetarian kebabs that are crowd favourite are Koliwada Fish, Chicken Kalmi Kebab and Mutton Charminar, all are Awadhi delights.
Once Kebabs are savoured, herbal tea is offered made of 16 herbs including a special herb, Himalayan Mountain Rose that aids in digestion. Then move on to the main course that has three kinds of bread- Khameeri Roti, Ulte Tawa ka Paratha and Roomali Roti served with Black dal. The Awadhi Biryani with mixed Raita is a veritable delight. For those with a sweet tooth, there are four comfortable desserts – Gulab Jamun, Phirni, Jalebi and Rabri. The culinary journey at MOK is memorable on its own.
MOK serves dinner from 7 PM to 11PM and Sunday Brunch from 12.30 PM to 4 PM. The dining charges are Rs 1,699-plus taxes for vegetarians and a non-vegetarian platter costs Rs 1,899-plus taxes.
Breakfast at The Square will surely elevate one’s culinary experience. There are three live stations –South Indian, Egg Station and Paratha section. There are a number of options for the health-conscious like low-fat yoghurt and dairy-free yoghurt. The bakery section is quite elaborate and Pastry Chef, S K Jahid has magic in his hands and can whip up images of individuals in chocolate frames. Breakfast is priced at Rs 999 for an individual exclusive of taxes.
According to Rajneesh Kumar, General Manager, Novotel Kolkata Hotel and Residences, “Our five-star property is more than just a luxury hotel. It is a dynamic destination that promises a seamless blend of comfort, versatility and a profound connection with the local culture. We cater to both business and leisure travellers with a refined balance of elegance and functionality. We are committed to offering exceptional guest experience that goes beyond accommodation making us a preferred choice in the city’s hospitality scene. One of the most remarkable features of our property is the extensive banqueting and event spaces. Our recently renovated Eiffel Ballroom with a range of indoor and outdoor breakout venues provides a high degree of flexibility for hosting personal events and grand-scale events. Our hospitality group has established itself as a premier culinary destination with its four dining outlets. We focus in providing authentic and innovative culinary experiences.”
Spurred on by a mission- Think Global, Act Local, Rajneesh Kumar has recently joined spearheading the luxury hospitality player and comes with two decades of experience in the hospitality industry. He had a stint in the Taj Group of Hotels and remained for 17 long years in the Marriott. He has opened as many as seven Marriott Hotels and Resorts across the country. In the post-pandemic era, he had launched Courtyard by Marriott Aravali Resort, Gurugram in 2022. He has traversed more than 10 global destinations.
So what truly steals the spotlight for the hospitality player? “It is our personalized approach and our one-of-a-kind property is a destination where business meets leisure, tradition meets innovation and travellers are made to feel at home,” said Rajneesh Kumar.
One of the significant milestones of the hotel has been its evolution into a premier food and beverage destination in the city. Rajneesh Kumar further said, “We have not only enhanced our culinary offerings but there has been a significant surge in footfall and revenue owing to curated dining experiences, unique promotions and robust digital presence. We have also consolidated our position as a preferred choice for weddings and events. The year gone by has been transformative marked by strategic repositioning, operational excellence and a strong brand presence in the hospitality scenario of the East.”
The luxury player has devised an array of strategies to tempt both global and domestic travellers. Rajneesh Kumar added, “Our focus is to strengthen our position as an ideal destination for both global and domestic tourists. We are creating one-of-a-kind experiential offerings like City Explorers’ Package that comes with guided heritage tours of the city. There is Wellness and Rejuvenation Stays that comprises yoga sessions and spa therapies. Our culinary experiences are pepped up with chef-curated menu, interactive dining concepts and food festivals including both global and Indian dishes. We intend to position Novotel as a vibrant destination replete with seamless comfort, cultural immersion and unforgettable experience. Our property is one of the most significant destinations for MICE travellers. We provide state-of-the-art technology, seamless Wi-Fi, dedicated event planning support and customized catering options. Keeping with our sustainability practices, we concentrate on eco-conscious MICE offerings and integrate sustainable practices in our event services.”
Driving revenue growth and operational excellence is at the core of the hospitality group’s strategy. Moving ahead, the hospitality set-up has ambitious plans for its guests. Rajneesh Kumar further added, “The journey ahead is promising and there’s lots to move ahead. We are constantly striving for excellence. We plan to expand our brand presence through digital marketing and strategic collaborations. We look forward to elevate guest experience from arrival to departure. At the same time, we hope to exhibit the culture, cuisine and the traditions of Bengal that will drive the local economy. One of the ways to connect with the culture of the land is through food and the city is famed for its cuisine and culture. We are thinking of introducing homemade local breakfast at The Square. We are into offering Bengali delights in rooms. Over the past four years, we have been celebrating Durga Puja in our hotel premises by setting up Durga Bari pandal. It is our commitment to sustainability, boosting local culture, cuisine and elevating guest experience that will take our property to new heights.”
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