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Anjali Prayag

Bangalore , Aug. 27

IN the 1970s, it was quite a landmark in the city. The Grand Ashok, then known as Hotel Ashok, was one of the first five-star hotels in south India and like one employee puts it, "held the beacon for Bangalore for a long time."

In the 1980s, a cluster of new hotels raided the city and Hotel Ashok, already struggling with various problems, could not hold the flag any longer.

Two years ago, it became a part of The Bharat Hotels, which owns seven other properties across the country. Remarks Mr Aditya Mata, Resident Manager, The Grand Ashok, "The building is the same, but the software has changed." Workers are putting finishing touches to 90 of the planned 183 rooms. Keeping in tune with its name, the hotel's interiors will follow a Buddhist theme.

Says Ms Shruti Areng Chakraverti, Manager Sales and Marketing, The Grand Ashok, "The sculptures, the paintings and the murals will be reminiscent of the meditative era." Other plans on the anvil are laying a jogging track and a fun pub. These are the cosmetic changes. Talking about the `software,' Mr Mata explains that the hotel would be targeting the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) segment. "Bangalore has been hosting global conventions for long and the hotel has catered to this need, but now we want to augment it further."

In a bid to pamper the female corporate traveller, the hotel is planning to dedicate a whole floor for female executives. "They need privacy and we'll make sure we'll deliver it," Mr Mata says.

Though the hotel has bid farewell to its old guard comprising about 340 employees, the new group has retained its management team. And according to Mr Mata, the team's "delivery was very good, only the method they used was archaic." He adds, "They now understand that their style has to change and we have taken up a lot of innovative sales and marketing initiatives." Currently, the hotel has 100 employees and recruitment will happen in a phased manner, states Mr Mata.

That the hotel is not on a fast track of changes is very apparent. For the Indian cricket team stayed at the hotel for the last two weeks, "And we didn't go to town about it because we want to build our equity gradually."

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