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)