In a short period of time, Vivanta Kathmandu, Jhamsikhel’s newest hotel, has earned a reputation for delivering world class service.

In the middle of the bustling city in Jhamsikhel, stands the 100-room Vivanta Kathmandu, a four-star property managed by Taj Hotels, a luxury hotel chain of India. A joint venture of CG Hospitality, the hospitality business wing of the Chaudhary Group and NE Group, this is the second hotel in Nepal under Taj brand after Meghauli Serai Taj Safari Lodge situated at the Chitwan National park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Taj is a brand owned by Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL). Though Vivanta opened in October, it started operating fully from January 2019.

Like other hotel properties managed by Taj, Hotel Vivanta carries the legacy of Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, founder of the Tata Group. The Indian business conglomerate opened its first hotel the Taj Mahal Palace in Bombay in 1903.

Fond of travelling, Jamsetji was once stopped from entering a renowned hotel in Europe just because he was an Indian. He imagined a hotel that is luxurious as well as lavish and where everybody could enter without any restriction. As a result of this incident, he built the hotel Taj. The company is now the largest Indian hotel chain with more than 100 properties in its chain located in different places of the world.Vivanta Kathmandu is a contemporary hotel that offers business and leisure travellers a world class experience in the most buzzing precinct in Kathmandu Valley. Fresh as the mountain breeze and humming with excitement, Vivanta Kathmandu is the perfect mixture of traditional Nepali hospitality and swish Vivanta charm.

“As its name suggests, the hotel tries to represent an enthusiastic, vibrant and dynamic environment”, says Ishwora Pachhai, Public Relations Officer of Vivanta Kathmandu.

Amenities
The property was formerly an apartment complex. As a result its design and structure did not represent a hotel. Despite this, the hotel has been able to attract a number of people. The apartment, later converted into a hotel, has 110 spacious rooms and suites with panoramic views. Sophisticated and luxurious Deluxe rooms, Premium rooms, Superior rooms and Executive Suite give customers a warm welcome with breathtaking views. Ceiling-to-floor curtained glass walls offer panoramic views of Kathmandu with the Himalayas looming majestically in the distance. Likewise, the suite has a plush living room and a luxurious bathroom with most premium amenities.

All rooms have a mini-bar, upholstered headboard walls, floor rugs, rain showers and a 43 inch LCD television while the rooms also look out onto spectacular cityscapes. The electronic door lock system is not only safe, but also makes it hassle free.

The additional features of the rooms comprise fresh air ventilators. The exhaustion fan in the bathroom takes away bad odours and brings fresh air from outside. The air conditioner then maintains the temperature of the air in the room.

All the interior designing of the hotel has been done by in house designers of Taj hotel. Thus, the brand name is in every corner and wall of the hotel and they are decorated accordingly. Along with the luxurious rooms, the hotel also has banquet and conference halls which also allow for business meetings.

Health clubs that include a spa, saloon, gym, steam, and sauna is a specialty of Taj. The spa, in the hotel is the official spa chain of Taj where the standard service of Taj spa can be experienced by hotel customers. Kathmandu’s only rooftop heated infinity swimming pool is another key attraction.

A variety of cuisines are served at the restaurants of Hotel Vivanta. “We serve multi cuisine at our restaurants such as Indian, Japanese, Thai, Newari, and spirited cocktails”, Pachhai says. She further informs that these cuisines can be experienced in their restaurants Mynt, Akari and Koko. Mynt is an all day restaurant where guests can taste Indian and Continental cuisine. Guests can choose to experience the all day fare as per their choice of setting – indoors as well as outdoors. “Some of the chefs are from Taj itself, so as to bring the original taste of Taj. This also makes our hotel special”, Pachhai informs.

Pachhai claims that Akari and Koko are two of their unique selling propositions (USPs). Akari is a restaurant and Koko is a bar. Akari serves freshest sushi, fragrant Thai curries and a central bar that is always vibrant while Koko serves up inventive and delightfully named cocktails and mocktails.

Akari restaurant is decorated to showcase Japanese culture. The metal Bonsai tree in the centre of Akari restaurant shows that the décor has been inspired by Japanese manga culture. Along with a Pan-Asian menu, there is also a central bar in Akari.

In Japanese, Akari means light and the restaurant reflects this in the way it uses light to decorate the room. A corner of the Akari restaurant has been made into a private dining area, for a cozy setting arrangement, large enough for a family of 12.

Likewise, Vivanta offers a variety of freshly baked cookies, breads, croissants, cakes and chocolates through their bakery named Swirl.

Services  
Aiming to provide world class hospitality, Hotel Vivanta welcomes every guest with tika and a Nepali shawl ‘Khada’. This culture of welcoming guests makes the place feel homely. “Tajness is reflected through our services”, says Pachhai. “The way we give service to our guests is different than others. That’s why we are different from others. Furthermore the positive feedback from them also proves our services”, she adds. She informs that the guests happily give feedback saying that they have experienced the same kind of hospitality and services in other Taj hotels.

The magnificent view of mountains from the gym at the tenth floor of the hotel connects guests with nature during their workout. Equipped with modern equipment, the guests can experience world class service in the hotel.

Customers
With a total of 132 staff, customers are always at ease. “For us, every guest is equal. We welcome all guests; those who arrive at our restaurant, the health club or who arrive to stay here”, says Pachhai. They currently have more premium and VVIP bookings, both domestic and foreign.

Marketing
In a very short period of time, Vivanta Kathmandu has been able to make a name for itself. “Not only from Kathmandu do we get enquiries, we are also getting enquiries from outside the valley. So, it is a good experience that we are being recognised by all the guests”, says Pachhai.

The hotel, like many others, is also focusing more on digital marketing. “We are currently doing promotions through Facebook, Instagram, online media and print media advertisement”, she says. Likewise, the hotels promotes different programmes and packages such as Saturday brunch, happy hours, buy one get one offers, and sundowners. Recently, they organised a Dim Sum and Soups Festival.

Packages like Explore Kathmandu are also organised by the hotel. “We organise tours such as visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites, wandering into the Garden of Dreams, and a day-long hike to Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park to explore the impeccable beauty of nature etc. We also pack a sumptuous lunch that you can enjoy in the lap of nature”, says Pachhai.

Also a visit to Chitwan National Park and an overnight stay at the swish Taj Meghauli Serai lodge lets guests get in touch with the wild side including a breakfast overlooking bathing elephants in the Rapti River.