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Wednesday, September 2, 2015

St. Regis Hotels & Resorts makes South Asia debut with the St. Regis Mumbai

Starwood’s Ultra-Luxury brand introduces its signature Butler Service

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced the opening of the highly anticipated St. Regis Mumbai. In partnership with Pallazzio Hotels & Leisure Limited, the hotel marks the entry of the St. Regis brand in India and South Asia. With this debut, the luxury brand has tripled its global footprint in the past decade to 35 hotels in the most coveted destinations around the world, a release stated. 

“The introduction of St. Regis to India marks a significant milestone for the brand’s expansion in South Asia, and Mumbai displays a robust demand for high-end hospitality from this increasingly affluent region,” said Dilip Puri, Managing Director India and Regional Vice President South Asia, Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

 “We are uniquely positioned to cater to the needs of a new generation of luxury travellers, offering an enriching experience informed by the brand's legacy.” “We look forward to a long-term collaboration with Starwood Hotels & Resorts,”commented Atul Ruia, Managing Director Phoenix Mills Ltd & Director Pallazzio Hotels & Leisure Ltd. “Through its unparalleled service, The St. Regis Mumbai provides an uncompromising experience to its guests – the global business travellers, connoisseurs of the good life, and aficionados of art and culture.” 

“Mumbai is emerging as a world-class travel destination, presenting the perfect setting for the St Regis brand,” added Amit Bhosale, Executive Director, ABIL Hospitality Pvt Ltd. & Director, Pallazzio Hotels & Leisure Ltd. “We feel that it’s a great opportunity to introduce the legendary brand’s bespoke services and programs to the well-heeled travelers of today and tomorrow.” 

The St Regis Mumbai is located in Lower Parel, the city’s premium commercial, residential and entertainment district. The hotel provides easy access to the commercial centers including the Bandra Kurla Complex and Nariman Point, as well as to the airport. The hotel’s design captures an urban aristocratic style, complemented by warm tones and specially commissioned art work which lends an elegant and stylish touch to the guest rooms and public spaces. 

Residing in India’s tallest hotel tower, The St. Regis Mumbai offers panoramic views of the bustling metropolis. The hotel includes 386 well-appointed guest rooms including 27 suites and, for extended stays, the property’s 33 residential suites feature a spacious living room, fully equipped kitchen and the option of one or two bedrooms. 

Following in the tradition of the St. Regis brand's legendary New York hotel, The St. Regis Mumbai features the famed hallmarks including St Regis Butler Service. Butlers provide round-the-clock anticipatory, yet unobtrusive service and customize each guest's stay according to their specific tastes and preferences. 

The St. Regis Mumbai houses nine elegant restaurants, bars and nightlife destinations. The afternoon tea ritual comes to life in the lobby which has a drawing room ambience. With the addition of local flavours and Indian estate teas, guests enjoy a distinct interpretation of the classic afternoon pastime. Inspired by the iconic King Cole Bar at The St. Regis New York which was the birthplace of the original Bloody Mary, The St Regis Bar serves its own signature version of the iconic cocktail which embodies the bold spirit of the city by embracing spices like cinnamon and coriander to create a soulful Indian version of the classic. 

Seven Kitchens with its natural light, vast interiors, international cuisine and popular Sunday Brunch, is perfect for gatherings with friends and family, whereas The Sahib Room & Kipling Bar, inspired by the colonial era, is renowned for its robust Indian delicacies and flavours. 

By the Mekong takes guests on a gastronomic journey through China, Thailand and Vietnam, and Yuuka turns the finest Japanese ingredients into modern, culinary masterpieces. Li Bai offers exciting nightlife entertainment with live jazz performances and Exo,  said to be the city’s highest nightclub, offers signature cocktails in a refined setting. Guests can enjoy unparalleled vistas of the city at Asilo, the hotel’s signature rooftop bar. The St. Regis Mumbai’s luxury spa features 9 treatment rooms within tranquil surroundings. The hotel additionally offers a fitness center, a 25-meter outdoor pool with panoramic views and a professional salon. 

With over 3900 square meters of event space, including the alfresco Terrace Garden, a dedicated entrance and reception foyer, The St. Regis Mumbai reportedly, offers the perfect setting for glamorous, large scale events. A dedicated bridal area with a separate bridal salon makes the Ballroom the ideal venue for wedding ceremonies and receptions.
Source:(Hospitalitybizindia.com)

Chef Sanjev Kapoor creates dessert using 100k gold on PM’s trip to UAE

According to a report in The Economic Times by Masoom Gupte, on Prime Minister Modi’s recent trip to UAE, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor was handed the mandate to whip up a few exotic dishes. Taking inspiration from the golden interiors of the hotel that Modi was staying at, The Emirates Palace Hotel, Kapoor created the dessert, a 100-karat gold amarkhand. Kapoor zeroed in on shrikhand, a milk-based dessert, and added his own spin to it. He added the soft mango candy, coated with a gold leaf. There was a garnish of gold dust and flakes. The blanched pistachios covered with gold dust served as tiny gold pebbles. Made of four 24-karat gold elements, the dessert had a total of 96 – karat gold on the plate, said Sanjeev Kapoor. (Source : The Economic Times)

Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Sula’s Dindori Reserve Shiraz features in Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Wines of the Year

Sula Vineyards Dindori Reserve Shiraz 2011 has featured on the top 100 list of wines by the wine magazine, WineEnthusiast. The magazine’s expert tasting panel reviewed over 17,500 wines from across the world, taking into consideration factors such as price, style, region, etc. before narrowing down the top 100 wines of the year. The Dindori Reserve Shiraz 2011, racking up 93 points, was described to be an inky violet-red wine with the nose of cassis, blackberry and bell pepper and was also the editors pick. The Wine ranked 25 in the top 100 list.

Sula Vineyards discovered Dindori as a wine making region that is today regarded as having the best terroir for red wine in India. TheDindori Reserve Shiraz was Sula’s first reserve wine. This is yet another achievement for Sula and Indian wines. 

In response to achieving this international recognition, Rajeev Samant, Founder & CEO, Sula Vineyards said, “A proud moment for us as this is the first time an Indian wine has made it to this prestigious list and that too at No. 25! A great compliment to our tireless vineyard and winemaking teams, this just shows that the world is sitting up and taking notice of Indian wines.”

Source: http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/

Chef Jamie Oliver to open his signature restaurants in Delhi NCR soon

Jamie Oliver, renowned international chef and campaigner for good food, will bring his two restaurant brands – Jamie’s Italian and Jamie’s Pizzeria into India soon. While Jamie's Italian will open in Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, Jamie’s Pizzeria will open in Ambience Mall Gurgaon. Both restaurants will open within the next few months. 

A partnership between Jamie Oliver and his Italian mentor, Chef Gennaro Contaldo, Jamie’s Italian has won thousands of fans all over the world for its tasty and affordable food, friendly service and buzzing atmosphere. The menu is based on dishes from beautiful bowls of fresh pasta that’s made on-site every day to mouthwatering grills and indulgent desserts. Jamie's Pizzeria by Jamie Oliver is a fun and affordable pizzeria. The restaurant will offer handmade, great value, artisanal pizzas topped with fresh ingredients and packed with big flavours. The dough will be freshly made on-site every day and will be cooked to order in front of guests.

 Explaining the approach to his restaurants, Jamie said, "Since I was a teenager, I've been totally besotted by the love, passion and verve for food, family and life itself that just about all the Italian people have, no matter where they're from or how rich or poor they may be. And that's what I'm passionate about – good food for everyone, no matter what". Commenting on Indian foray, he said, “I can't tell you how excited I am to be bringing Jamie's Italian and Jamie's Pizzeria to India. Delhi is a vibrant, colourful, buzzing city with an already incredible food scene, so to be opening two restaurants there is a huge honour. Right now we're recruiting for two brilliant new teams who will become part of our ever-growing family. When we open the doors of both restaurants, they'll be serving up some really beautiful, simple, great-value Italian food, all made with the very best-quality ingredients we can get our hands on.” 

A  renowned chef and a campaigner of good food, Jamie has sold 37 million books to date, made over 30 television shows and has 63 restaurants in 11 countries. Over 1.5 million people have signed his 2015 Food Revolution Day petition.

Taj Mumbai’s star chef Hemant Oberoi to launch signature restaurant in Mumbai

  • Hemant Oberoi, the man behind the food at some of the Taj Group's renowned restaurants is all set to launch his dream project- a signature restaurant in Mumbai. Currently grand executive chef at the Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai and corporate chef for the Taj luxury division,  Oberoi is set to retire in a few weeks after serving 41 years with the Tata-owned group.

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  • "Hopefully, the restaurant will happen soon. I have not yet given it any shape, but I know it will have fresh produce and no fixed menu. Every day will be different and I would like to serve what I feel like cooking that day. The cuisine would most likely be global and fusion. Both my sons would join me as I believe the legacy must be carried on," Oberoi.

  • Oberoi has played a key role in setting up some of the Taj's most valued restaurant brands —Varq, Masala Kraft, Wasabi and, of course, Zodiac Grill.
Source: http://www.indiahospitalityreview.com/

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

List of Movies based on Hotels

11.Gran Hotel (2011 TV Series)
  1905. Julio, a young man, arrives at the Grand Hotel, an idyllic place in the middle of the countryside... (60 mins.)
Stars: Adriana Ozores, Amaia Salamanca, Yon González, Eloy Azorín




12.At the Hotel (2006 TV Series)
Director: Ken Finkleman
Stars: Natalie Lisinska, Benz Antoine, Martha Henry, Diego Klattenhoff




13.Das Adlon. Eine Familiensaga (2013 Mini-Series)
  (270 mins.)
Stars: Josefine Preuß, Heino Ferch, Marie Bäumer, Wotan Wilke Möhring




14.Fawlty Towers (1975 TV Series)
Hotel owner Basil Fawlty's incompetence, short fuse, and arrogance form a combination that ensures accidents and trouble are never far away. (30 mins.)
Stars: John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth




15.Las Vegas (2003 TV Series)
Welcome to the Montecito Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, where you can do anything you want... but Ed Deline and his crack surveillance team will be watching. Just remember, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas... (60 mins.)
Stars: Josh Duhamel, James Caan, James Lesure, Vanessa Marcil




16.The Bellboy (1960)
In Miami Beach, the mute bellboy Stanley works at the luxurious Fontainebleau Hotel. In spite of being a serviceable and friendly employee, the clumsy Stanley gets successively into trouble with his mistakes. (72 mins.)
Director: Jerry Lewis
Stars: Jerry Lewis, Alex Gerry, Bob Clayton, Sonnie Sands





17.Blame It on the Bellboy (1992)
Messrs Lawton (a hit-man), Horton (expecting some middle-aged dating agency nooky) and Orton (checking... (78 mins.)
Director: Mark Herman
Stars: Bronson Pinchot, Dudley Moore, Bryan Brown, Richard Griffiths




18.Blonde Crazy (1931)
Adventures of a cocky con man and his glamorous accomplice.(79 mins.)
Director: Roy Del Ruth
Stars: James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Louis Calhern, Noel Francis




19.Plaza Suite (1971)
Three separate stories concerning relationship issues are presented, each largely taking place in suite 719 of the Plaza Hotel in New York City... (114 mins.)
Director: Arthur Hiller
Stars: Walter Matthau, Maureen Stapleton, Barbara Harris, Lee Grant




20.California Suite (1978)
Misadventures of four groups of guests at the Beverly Hills Hotel. (103 mins.)
Director: Herbert Ross
Stars: Jane Fonda, Alan Alda, Maggie Smith, Michael Caine




21.Chelsea on the Rocks (2008 Documentary)
 Chelsea on the Rocks celebrates the personalities and artistic voices that have emerged from the legendary residence... (89 mins.)
Director: Abel Ferrara
Stars: Ira Cohen, Gerald Busby, Stanley Bard, Quentin Crisp




22.Hotel Berlin (1945)
Near the end of WW II, a member of the German underground (Martin Richter) escapes from the Gestapo and takes shelter at Hotel Berlin... (98 mins.)
Director: Peter Godfrey
Stars: Faye Emerson, Helmut Dantine, Raymond Massey, Andrea King




23.Maid in Manhattan (2002)
A senatorial candidate falls for a hotel maid, thinking she is a socialite when he sees her trying on a wealthy woman's dress.(105 mins.)
Director: Wayne Wang
Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes, Natasha Richardson, Stanley Tucci





24.The Night Porter (1974)
After a chance meeting at a hotel in 1957, a Holocaust survivor and the Nazi officer who tortured her resume their sadomasochistic relationship. (118 mins.)
Director: Liliana Cavani
Stars: Dirk Bogarde, Charlotte Rampling, Philippe Leroy, Gabriele Ferzetti




25.Hotel Rwanda (2004)
The true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who housed over a thousand Tutsi refugees during their struggle against the Hutu militia in Rwanda. (121 mins.)
Director: Terry George
Stars: Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Joaquin Phoenix, Xolani Mali




26.Pretty Woman (1990)
A man in a legal but hurtful business needs an escort for some social events, and hires a beautiful prostitute he meets... only to fall in love. (119 mins.)
Director: Garry Marshall
Stars: Richard Gere, Julia Roberts, Jason Alexander, Laura San Giacomo




27.Casino (1995)
Greed, deception, money, power, and murder occur between two mobster best friends and a trophy wife over a gambling empire. (178 mins.)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Stars: Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods




28.Tower Heist (2011)
When a group of hard-working guys find out they've fallen victim to their wealthy employer's Ponzi scheme, they conspire to rob his high-rise residence. (104 mins.)
Director: Brett Ratner
Stars: Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller, Casey Affleck, Alan Alda




29.Guest House Paradiso (1999)
Richie and Eddie are in charge of the worst hotel in the UK, Guest House Paradiso, neighbouring a nuclear power plant...(89 mins.)
Director: Adrian Edmondson
Stars: Rik Mayall, Adrian Edmondson, Bill Nighy, Kate Ashfield





30.Grand Hotel Excelsior (1982)
Taddeus is the manager of the Grand Hotel Excelsior. The Summer season begins in May and since then many odd persons frequent the hotel... (115 mins.)
Director: Castellano, Pipolo
Stars: Adriano Celentano, Enrico Montesano, Carlo Verdone, Diego Abatantuono




31.Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: At Bertram's Hotel (1987 TV Movie)
  During a stay at one of London's most elegant and venerable hotels Miss Marple uncovers a sinister undercurrent of corruption and murder beneath Bertram's stuffy veneer. (110 mins.)
Director: Mary McMurray
Stars: Joan Hickson, Caroline Blakiston, Helena Michell, James Cossins





32.Agatha Christie's Marple (2004 TV Series)
Episode: At Bertram's Hotel (2007)
Miss Marple spends a holiday in a luxurious London hotel. The sinister atmosphere, the odd disappearance of a clergyman and the murder of the commissionaire moves her on the trail of a clever criminal gang. (93 mins.)
Stars: Geraldine McEwan, Julia McKenzie, Stephen Churchett, Greg Bennett




33.Grandhotel (2006)
In this whimsical, rather fey movie in a setting that's both shabby (the city) and grand (the landscape)... (97 mins.)
Director: David OndrĂ­cek
Stars: Marek Taclík, Klára Issová, Jaroslav Plesl, Jaromír Dulava




34.Hotel Malibu (1994 TV Series)
  (60 mins.)
Stars: Joanna Cassidy, Cheryl Pollak, John Dye, Harry O'Reilly




35.The Rosebud Beach Hotel (1984)
After taking over a failing Miami hotel with her workaholic fiance, Elliot, Tracy thinks Monique Gabrielle has seduced her better half-to-be... (83 mins.)
Director: Harry Hurwitz
Stars: Colleen Camp, Peter Scolari, Christopher Lee, Fran Drescher




36.Hotel Cæsar (1998 TV Series)
Hotel Cæsar is a Norwegian soap opera that has been broadcast on TV 2 since 1998. The show consists of more than 2,700 episodes... (30 mins.)
Director: Thomas Kaiser
Stars: Anette Hoff, Kim Kolstad, Sossen Krohg, Tom Eddie Brudvik





37.Hotel Polan und seine Gäste (1982 TV Series)
 (343 mins.)
Stars: Elzbieta Starostecka, Dieter Montag, Hans-Joachim Frank, Kalina Jedrusik




38.Zaklete rewiry (1975)
(94 mins.)
Director: Janusz Majewski
Stars: Marek Kondrat, Roman Wilhelmi, Roman Skamene, CestmĂ­r Randa




39.La locandiera (1980)
(109 mins.)
Director: Paolo Cavara
Stars: Claudia Mori, Adriano Celentano, Paolo Villaggio, Marco Messeri




40.Hotelier (2001 TV Series)
Director: Yong-woo Chung
Stars: Hwa-jeong Choi, Yong-jun Bae, Jin-hie Han, Jun-ho Heo





41.Le concierge (1973)
(100 mins.)
Director: Jean Girault
Stars: Michel Galabru, Bernard Le Coq, Maureen Kerwin, Jean Carmet
Add to Watchlist

LIST OF MOVIES BASED ON HOTELS




1.Four Rooms (1995) 6.7/10 
Four interlocking tales that take place in a fading hotel on New Year's Eve. (98 mins.)
Director: Allison Anders, Alexandre Rockwell
Stars: Tim Roth, Amanda De Cadenet, David Proval, Jennifer Beals



2. Hotel (1967 6.6/10 
This is the story of the clock-like movements of a giant, big city New Orleans hotel. The ambitious yet loyal manager...(124 mins.)
Director: Richard Quine
Stars: Rod Taylor, Catherine Spaak, Karl Malden, Melvyn Douglas



3. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) 8.1/10 
The adventures of Gustave H, a legendary concierge at a famous hotel from the fictional Republic of Zubrowka between the first and second World Wars, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his most trusted friend. (99 mins.)
Director: Wes Anderson
Stars: Ralph Fiennes, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody



4.The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) 7.3/10 
British retirees travel to India to take up residence in what they believe is a newly restored hotel. Less luxurious than advertised, the Marigold Hotel nevertheless slowly begins to charm in unexpected ways. (124 mins.)
Director: John Madden
Stars: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson



5. Grand Hotel (1932) 7.6/10 
A group of very different individuals staying at a luxurious hotel in Berlin deal with each of their respective dramas. (112 mins.)
Director: Edmund Goulding
Stars: Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, Wallace Beery




6. For Love or Money (1993) 6.1/10 
Doug is a young man who works all day as a concierge at a luxurious hotel, saving money to make his own business... (96 mins.)
Director: Barry Sonnenfeld
Stars: Michael J. Fox, Gabrielle Anwar, Anthony Higgins, Michael Tucker



7. Hotel Babylon (2006 TV Series) 7.6/10 
At a posh urban hotel, the love lives and whims of its wealthy guests are attended to by hard-working staff who have their own troubles with love. (60 mins.)
Stars: Dexter Fletcher, Martin Marquez, Michael Obiora, Pascoe Willis




8. Hotel (1983 TV Series) 6.6/10 
The elegant St. Gregory Hotel in San Francisco is the setting for a string of distinct plots, usually romantic... (60 mins.)
Stars: James Brolin, Connie Sellecca, Nathan Cook, Shari Belafonte




9. Endgame (2011 TV Series) 7.7/10 
Endgame is an original drama series centering on brilliant chess master, Arkady Balagan. Traumatized by the murder of his fiancée... (60 mins.)
Stars: Shawn Doyle, Patrick Gallagher, Katharine Isabelle, Carmen Aguirre


10.The Grand (1997 TV Series) 7.5/10 
At the end of World War I, the Bannerman family re-opens the Grand Hotel after a lengthy closure and a costly re-furbishing...(60 mins.)
Stars: Paul Warriner, Rebecca Callard, Susan Hampshire, Tim Healy

What is a mulled wine? How we can prepare this at home?

  Mulled wine is a warm beverage typically made with red wine that is spiced and heated. It's especially popular during the colder month...