TOURISM-- 3::

TAXI OPERATORS FOR WORLD CLASS TOURISM - A GATEWAY HOTEL INITIATIVE 

BY P S SUNDAR

Taxi drivers and tourist car operators in Coonoor joined hands with Taj group of hotels in a collective endeavour to take Nilgiri tourism to world class.

Representatives of such cab operators from different parts of this tourist town sat with us for a brain-storming session on improving the service to tourists, especially foreigners.  Based on the pooled ideas, we will work on a collective endeavour to take tourism services forward”, D Antony Gerald, Human Resources Manager of Taj group of hotels in Nilgiris, told me.

He gave useful tips to cab operators in dealing with guests, especially foreigners which included body language and respect to women and children.

“This was part of the ‘world tourism week’ projects.  We gave audio-visual presentation on Coonoor and Nilgiris and urged cab operators to be aware of value-added picnic spots for discerning visitors, hospitals, hotels, restaurants and, worship places to enhance their tourism experience”, Gateway Hotel General Manager Muralidharan noted.

“As we are collectively handling 20 lakh tourists annually, we have responsibility to provide a clean and attractive Nilgiris to visitors”, he added. 

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

BEVERAGE -- 3::

ORCHID’S ‘TEA POT’ OFFERS VARIETIES

BY P S SUNDAR

An instance of innovation comes in the form of serving hot and cold tea varieties in the Nilgiris, the Mecca of South Indian tea industry.   The ‘Tea Pot’ in Orchid Square Boutique Hotel, Coonoor, serves this purpose.

“The Nilgiris grows about 62,000 acres of tea bushes from 2,000 to 6,000 feet above mean sea level.  It is the country’s second largest tea producing region next to Assam.   The quality Nilgiris teas have fine flavour, with bright brisk liquor and smooth rounded mellow attraction.   The Nilgiri teas are famous all over the country and in many nations.  However, visitors are not able to enjoy a variety of Nilgiris tea when they are in the Nilgiris.   To fill the void, we have created the ‘Tea Pot’ segment”, Orchid Square Managing Director Sudarshan Motwani told me.

The hotel is situated at a vantage point on the way to Coonoor’s most popular picnic spots – Lamb’s Rock and Dolphin’s Nose.  So, it is possible for tourists to enjoy the facility of ‘Tea Pot’ without an extra effort to reach the place.

Among the Hot tea varieties available there are Masala Chai, Spicy Milk Chai, Cardamom Tea, Saffron Tea, Chocolate Mint Tea, fresh Orthodox black Orange Pekoe Leaf Tea and Orange Green Tea.

Among the Ice Tea variants are Apple and Honey Iced Tea, Citrus Mint Iced Tea, Peach Iced Tea and Ginger Iced Tea.

The Menu card given to the visitors provides details of the Nilgiris tea:  “The Nilgiris, or the Blue Mountains, are a stunningly beautiful range of hills that stretch down to the south-western tip of India.  The tea industry was established here in 1840 when Col John Ouchterloney came upon a sheet of virgin forest well-supplied with its own rivers and streams...”

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

FOOD -- 8::

PIZZA HOME DELIVERY STARTS IN COONOOR 

BY P S SUNDAR

Orchid Square Boutique Hotel in Coonoor located on the way to the town's most popular picnic spots of Lamb's Rock an Dolphin's Nose, has commenced its special department for Pizza. 

And, interestingly, this comes with free Home Delivery facility. 

Certainly, it is welcome news for exotic and fast-food lovers in this tourist town because it is rather difficult to spot joints offering quality tasty pizzas.

"We did trail for over three months to settle down on our own pizza production.  Yes, right from the pizza base, the cheese and the toppings everything is made by us", Orchid Managing Director Sudarshan Motwani told me. 

"On cheese alone, we experimented several times before deciding on the suitable quoting.   Consequently, what we offer is not yet another pizza but exclusive dish prepared respecting the feedback received following trails and choice of people", he disclosed. 

As of now,  Exotica, Lovers' Choice and Cheesy Macroni Pizza are the choice for vegetarians. 

Chicken Lovers' Pizza, Grilled Chicken Delight and Chicken Cheesy Macroni  are the options for non-vegetarians. 





"The response from guests has been encouraging.  We will strive to live up to the taste of the food variety seekers", Sudarshan said.  

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

HAPPENING - 4 ::

HOTEL INDUSTRY’S CRICKET TOURNEY

BY P S SUNDAR

To motivate employees of hotels in Nilgiris to be united in their mission to promote tourism in the district, the Nilgiri Hotel and Restaurant Association (NHRA) conducted cricket match among them.

“Nine hotels participated.  In the Finals, Kluney Manor emerged winners and Fortune Resort Sullivan Court runners”, NHRA Secretary N Chandra Shekar told me.

“We will soon organise football tourney.  These exercises create togetherness among hotel industry staff helping in our collective mission to foster tourism”, he added.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com).

CAREER - 3:

HUNAR SE ROZGAR:

LIFE RE-DEFINED FOR RURAL SCHOOL DROP-OUTS

BY P S SUNDAR

It was life re-defined for 10 school-drop out boys from country’s different parts who benefited from ‘Hunar Se Rozgar’ (HSR) project of Union Tourism Ministry as the doors for employment in five-star hotels opened for them on July 25, 2015.

AMARJEET KUMAR (left) & MURALIDHARAN

“These boys have undergone professional training from the executives of Taj Gateway Hotel, Coonoor, and now hold Government of India’s certificate enabling them employable in any star hotel anywhere in the country.   We gave them free training, uniform, kitchen and learning kits.  We also gave them stipend of ` 1,500 for 36 days’ course for F & B service and housekeeping  and ` 2,000 for 40 days’ course for F & B production”, Amarjeet Kumar, Faculty of Institute of Hotel Management, (IHM), Chennai, an institution under Union Tourism Ministry, told me.  

“The minimum qualification is pass in eighth standard.  There is no other stipulation even those relating to social or economic classification”, he noted.

“You need to be congratulated on two counts – for choosing the promising hospitality industry as your career and for choosing Taj group hotels – Gateway, Coonoor, and Savoy, Ooty, for your training”, I told the candidates in my Chief Guest 

address after distributing the certificates.  

“Today is not the end of your training but the beginning of your career.  Armed with certificate issued by Government of India through IHM and the knowledge shared by the experts at Taj group, you have a new vista in your life that over-rides the reality that you haven’t been successful at formal school and college education.  What is now required is professional knowledge and basic communication skill.    You have become employable in any star hotel that will re-define your rural upbringing and make you a noticeable hospitality professional. You can face the industry’s challenge with confidence honing up your skills, treating ‘work as worship’ and discharging duties with determination and dedication”, I said to the applause of all.

I made the occasion solemn with the candidates expressing their gratitude to IHM and Taj group for showing them life – the way to fish, rather than giving them a fish.

Amarjeet pleased them by announcing that they are now eligible for six months of further free training in IHM, Chennai, totally funded by Government of India to help them gain professional competence.  Education, kits, uniform and food will be free.   “All HSR completed candidates will be eligible for this”, he declared.

“We will absorb those boys who show interest to work for Taj group as in the past.   The HSR programme in our hotel has been growing strength to strength year after year”, said Gateway General Manager Muralidharan thanking the co-operation extended by his team to train these candidates.

“This is the third batch of HSR and by now, 47 such candidates have been trained by the Taj Group in Nilgiris.  Most candidates belong to SC/ST category hailing from country’s interior villages”, added Antony Gerald, HR Manager, Taj Nilgiri group, who is instrumental in managing the HSR at Savoy Hotel, Ooty, and Gateway Hotel, Coonoor.

The candidates cut a cake to mark the occasion.

Heads of departments felicitated the candidates.

Learning and Development Manager Titus conducted the deliberations.

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

FOOD - 7 ::

ORCHID EMERGING AS ‘MOST PREFERRED' RESTAURANT

BY P S SUNDAR

The best aspect of Orchid Square Boutique Hotel in Coonoor on the way to the most popular picnic spots, Lamb’s Rock and Dolphin’s Nose, is its demonstrated determination to emerge as the ‘Most Preferred Food Serving Rendezvous in the Nilgiris’. 

“We are constantly working on this by introducing varieties with authentic culinary, including those which are unique in this district.   We gain our confidence by the repeat patronage of guests and the encouraging feedback from visitors from all over the world.   For about 45 days since mid-June this year, we had the privilege of catering to celebrities shooting ‘Kapur and Sons’ Hindi film here.   Officers and families of Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, hailing from various parts of the country, regularly visit us for personal dining and celebration parties.   These are in addition to the tourists and Nilgiri residents”, Sudarshan Motwani, Orchid Managing Director, told me.

“At our ‘Aroma treat’ multi-cuisine restaurant, we have introduced two exotic specialties which attract Indian and foreign guests – Mexican and Italian – to complement the already popular Chinese, Thai and continental delicacies”, he disclosed.

The Mexican delicacies include Nachos and Tacos, both vegetarian and chicken.  Spicy Mayo and Salsa Sauce make them Mexican in letter and spirit!   The Salad Platter is rich and with combinations like Greek, Hawaiian and Russian and some come with chicken mixing.  I counted 10 varieties of Salads at Orchid Menu!

The Italian Speciality comprises Pasta and Pizza.  Pastas come with vegetables, mushroom cream or chicken.   Pizzas spread with vegetables, indigenous and exotica, or chicken, grilled or dressed.

In the evenings, Sizzlers make great attractions.   Vegetable, mushroom, paneer, prawn, fish and chicken are some varieties for sizzling hot sizzlers.

On the Indian counter, the latest addition is the ‘Dosa Fusion’. While plain and masala dosa do engage the traditional food lovers, for the adventurous, there are some two dozen fusion presentations.  Vegetarian in them include Chinese spring, paneer Schezwan, paneer Makhanwala, mushroom cheese,  palak and Chinese masala.   Non vegetarian varities in them include chilli chicken, garlic chicken, murgh masala and mutton kheema.    


Idli and Wada varieties add to the Indian delicacies.   But, the Indian menu is elaborate and wide-spread to cover North and South vegetarian and non-vegetarian varieties, including the Jain variant.   

 For that matter, even in the Chinese spread, a Jain variant is offered.  And, the Chinese compliment is equally exhaustive.

Among other highlights are Royal Falooda with ice-cream and over a dozen varities of desserts including Malpua Rabdi, mango-sticky coconut Thai Rice and ice-cream with Chinese taste!

“Importantly, we take care for guests’ safety.  We source ingredients from authentic suppliers to add authenticity to the menu.  And, we use the expensive olive oil to ensure that the food is healthy.  So, variety mixed with authenticity and healthy are the fundamentals driving us to make us ‘Most Preferred Food Serving Rendezvous’ here”, Sudarshan observed. 

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com)

PROFILE - 2 ::

KUMAR IS KEEN ON UPLIFTING F & B AT COIMBATORE VIVANTA

BY P S SUNDAR

If Vivanta Surya Coimbatore by Taj is hailed to be the preferred culinary rendezvous for the city-dwellers and visitors, that gives the General Manager B C Kumar a level of satisfaction equivalent to professional excellence as his thrust is on uplifting Food and Beverage to complement the global standards of stay at the hotel.

“Already, we have improved the chef-strength to provide variety including regional and home-style cooking.  Be it buffet for regular meals or for select events or ala carta style, our endeavour is to keep the taste buds satisfied with quality and safe food”, he told me.

He manages quite a few food serving areas in the hotel.    The ‘Latitude’ is an all-time multi-cuisine restaurant. The ‘Red Pearl’ woos guests with the best possible Chinese servings.   The ‘Smoke in Water’ is a terrace-based adventurous avenue with spa support.   Food is also served at pool-side.   Banquets and celebrations demand his expertise on the lawns.  And, there is ‘Tease’ bar.   All these, in addition to room service.

Consequently, he manages variety through innovation. The ‘Street Food of India’ is such an innovation; details on this appear in a separate article in this blog.  “We are making this customer-centric.   So, there is variety every time the event is on”, he said.

The Badaga cuisine and Ramasseri Idli are other examples of innovation.  Separate articles appear on these in this blog.

And, for traditional wedding meal, he has introduced plantain-leaf service.

Hailing from the tourist-centric Nilgiris district, Kumar handles these with ease and excellence.    He has come to Coimbatore Vivanta after a rich experience that began at Taj Savoy Hotel in Ooty in 1985.  From there, he moved over on periodical transfers to Taj Residency, Bangalore, Fernhill Hotel, Ooty, Taj Garden Retreat, Coonoor, Taj West End, Bangalore, Taj Coromandel, Chennai, Taj Krishna, Hyderabad, and Taj Fisherman’s Cove, Chennai.   Yes, he had worked in various capacities from front office through operations to be the General Manager before becoming the second GM at the recently opened Coimbatore Vivanta.   And, in every place that he worked, Kumar has a proven track of achievement and challenge-management.

Now, he heads a huge hotel with 180 rooms which creates a task to show high occupancy rate every day!   “This is the largest hotel inside the Coimbatore city limits as it is located in the heart of the city”, Kumar told me.

He heads a team of 13 HODs and 315 employees at various levels.  

(response can also be sent to: pssundar.coonoor@gmail.com).