Luxury hospitality chain Leela Hotels and Resorts has announced the signing of two new properties in the South Indian state of Kerala.
The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts has announced the signing of The Leela Kovalam, a Raviz Hotel and The Leela Ashtamudi, a Raviz Hotel in Kerala. Interestingly, the former was a Leela property until a few years ago.
The Leela Kovalam, A Raviz Hotel
Spread across a 60-acre canvas of greenery, The Leela Kovalam, a Raviz Hotel is India’s only clifftop beach resort offering scintillating views of the Kovalam shoreline and a pristine beachfront. A 20 minute-drive from Thiruvananthapuram Airport, half an hour from the railway station and merely a minute away from its own hotel Helipad, the resort provides a private passage to the Arabian Sea allowing travellers to soak in the tropical sun and encounter the deep azure waters.
A seamless blend of modern technology and traditional grandeur, the soothing décor of each of the 184 rooms and suites whispers warm aesthetics with each room opening out to a breath-taking view of either the sea or the lush green gardens. The resort also houses 4 suites at the Kovalam Palace, which was once the summer retreat of the Travancore royal family.
The Leela Kovalam, a Raviz Hotel, offers a host of dining experiences that range from all-day dining at The Terrace that serves Asian, European, Indian, and authentic Kerala specialties, to The Café where one can lounge in utmost comfort, to The Tides that serves the best seafood in town to The Sky Bar, an open-air live tapas kitchen serving signature cocktails and The Bar an ideal place to unwind.
Facilities at the hotel include a gymnasium, swimming pool and a spa that offers enriching ayurveda treatments. The resort boasts 000 square feet Grand Ballroom and sprawling outdoor venues besides a 16,000 square feet beach.
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The Leela Ashtamudi, A Raviz Hotel
An authentic backwater resort, The Leela Ashtamudi, a Raviz Hotel reflects traditional Nālukettu architecture capturing glimpses of Kerala’s heritage. With Trivandrum International Airport about 71 kilometres away, the hotel is situated at Thevally, 10 minutes away from the historic Kollam town and just 15 minutes from the Kollam beach.
With 93 rooms, the resort is home to a bevy of accommodation that ranges from a heritage wing that offers a collection of rooms and suites with a contemporary ambiance, to two quaint villas that overlook the lake and are complemented with traditional décor from the village and two cottages that were inspired from 300-year-old ancient heritage structure called ‘Mana’ – a home of Brahmins and a 200-year-old style cottage transposed from Eerattupetta. the resort also offers houseboats, also known as Kettuvallams that evoke the true heritage of local Kerala.
For a rich culinary escapade, there are four unique options – Keraleeyam, a multi-cuisine restaurant, Portico Café, serving comfort food, Ranthal, the floating restaurant, and Zirkon, the aqua-themed bar. From a stately convention centre to inspiring meeting rooms, the resort offers extensive choice and flexibility for bespoke events as well as iconic celebrations. The hotel also features a holistic world-class spa, a state-of-the-art gymnasium, and an outdoor pool.
Anuraag Bhatnagar, Chief Operating Officer, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, said:
We are delighted to reintroduce The Leela brand into Kerala as we welcome The Leela Kovalam, a Raviz Hotel back into our fold and introduce The Leela Ashtamudi, a Raviz Hotel, a hidden gem into our portfolio. The two resorts complement each other and define two very distinctive and unique experiences that showcase the best of Kerala. This expansion is in lockstep with the growing demand from the discerning global leisure traveller to experience meaningful and transformative journeys that are an authentic expression of a region’s beauty, heritage, cuisine and culture.
Ganesh Ravi Pillai, Vice Chairman, RP Group, said:
I am excited to partner with The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts to reintroduce The Leela brand in its new avatar to Kerala. Great projects are rarely built in isolation; and great ecosystems more so. The coming together of Raviz and Leela will create a synergy that can propel the State to the centre stage of the global tourism network. The partnership of the two great brands in the luxury travel and wellness sectors can be a force for good; not just for the State but for the entire southern region. Together, we can reimagine and transform the tourism sector in the region.
In 2021, The Leela opened 3 hotels, The Leela Palace Jaipur, The Leela Gandhinagar and The Leela Bhartiya City Bengaluru adding 799 keys. Venturing into the southern waters, The Leela has embraced the coastal state with authenticity to explore moments of tranquillity and provide unforgettable experiences and stays to their guests to savour the true culture, art, wellness experiences and flavours of Kerala. The group states that the signing of these two hotels in Kerala “is a testament to the company’s strategy to grow in gateway cities and key leisure and resort destinations across the country”.
Meanwhile, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts recently unveiled signature fragrance ‘Tishya by the Leela’.
Featured image of The Leela Kovalam, a Raviz Hotel by The Leela
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