1. Can you give us a brief on your hospitality journey with the group?
Owing to the many new and exciting developments within the company, my journey at Espire Hospitality Group has been quite inspirational. I joined the group with a vision to carry forward our Founder Chairman’s belief of providing heartfelt hospitality and with the mission of making Espire Hospitality Group, a stronger brand.
The hospitality landscape has transformed in last two years and it has given us an opportunity to not only grow our existing portfolio but to launch a new brand ‘ZANA – Luxury Escapes’ in the luxury boutique resort segment.
I am very satisfied with what we have achieved so far and with our unwavering belief in delivering nothing but the finest, we look forward to making Espire Hospitality Group a leading home-grown hospitality brand in the coming years.
2. What was the concept behind Espire Hospitality Group entering in the current hospitality market? How different is it from the rest of the hotels in Udaipur?
Our inspiration behind developing a distinctive luxury boutique resort brand ‘ZANA – Luxury Escapes’ are the evolving travellers who are looking out for meaningful and extraordinary experiences. In the recent past, the travellers’ inclination towards boutique luxury resorts and experiential getaways in domestic leisure destinations has increased and will continue to rise. However, at present, there are very limited options available for the guests to choose from. We have taken a pertinent step to add a luxury boutique resort brand ‘ZANA – Luxury Escapes’, to the hospitality landscape of India.
What sets ‘ZANA Lake Resort, Udaipur’ apart from the other resorts in Udaipur is the exclusive location, highly distinctive service philosophy referred as ‘ZANA Way’ and unique experiences. We have created concepts that are very new to the Indian hospitality landscape. The brand concept has been planned after extensive research on what the Indian market currently has to offer and how can we develop a distinctive luxury experience that will set us apart from even the other brands that have developed in this space, in the last few years. We are certain that the ‘ZANA’ experience would give our guests many stories to tell and reasons to return.
3. What are the unique experiences that the hotel provides to its guests?
Each stay at ‘ZANA Lake Resort, Udaipur’ is an amalgamation of intimate service, heartfelt hospitality, and handpicked experiences. Our guests can indulge in an array of unique experiences such as ‘Village Walk’ to engage with the locals and discover the culture of Rajasthan, ‘Movie Under the Stars’ in the extensive lawn overlooking the lake, ‘Liquor and Liqueur Tasting Sessions’ for interactive and meaningful evenings, and ‘Wildlife Safari’ which is a jeep safari in Kumbhalgarh. We also offer unique experiential dining concepts and alfresco set-ups, with live music to create memories that last.
4. Are there any design specifications of the hotel that reflect the city’s culture and heritage of the city?
For ‘ZANA – Luxury Escapes’, we have conceptualised a design philosophy that is extremely crisp and modern. We have kept a magnified focus on building things differently, compared to what other hotels and resorts in India are offering. Our first resort, ‘ZANA Lake Resort, Udaipur’ is designed in neo-gothic style, with extremely unique style design elements. Be it the guestroom interiors, team member uniforms, or our service equipment, we have created a crisp, distinctive luxury experience for our guests.
5. Can you give us some F&B insights into the hotel?
Dining at ‘ZANA Lake Resort, Udaipur’ combines sensorial pleasures with a conscious culinary philosophy. Our all-day multi-cuisine diner ‘Mayfair’ features non-embellished breezy interiors juxtaposed against tastefully placed foliage, comfortable neoclassical furniture, and floor-to-ceiling windows that open up to calming views of the lake. It is a place to sit back and relish an unmatched menu that is nourishing yet delectable. The outdoor dining spaces, on the other hand, are simply picture-perfect and best suited for magical dining experiences.
6. Where and when does the hotel plan to expand its next ZANA lake resort?
In line with our expansion plans, we will be opening our next resort in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan, very close to our existing resort Six Senses Fort Barwara. The enchanting forest resort spread across six acres of lush land is planned to open in December 2022. This ultimate retreat located close to the Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve will feature a tasteful amalgamation of traditional architecture and modern aesthetic.
7. What are your future expansion plans for the group?
We are a growing and evolving hospitality group that aspires to have a strong presence across India. With a robust pipeline currently in place, we envision having 20 hotels across brands by 2023.
In our current phase of expansion, we continue to focus on leisure destinations like Goa, Udaipur, Dharamshala, Ranthambore, Shimla, Rishikesh, Mathura, Pushkar, and more. We are also planning to expand our footprints in business destinations like Delhi NCR, Mumbai, and Bangalore.
