Ista luxury business hotel in Bangalore opens doors

PRESS RELEASE
July 7, 2006

IHHR Hospitality Private Limited has announced the launch of Ista - its new brand of business hotels. The first Ista is located in the heart of the central business district of Bangalore. The hotel promises to be one of the few premier hotels in city whose offering fulfils both the personal and business needs of a corporate traveler.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Gautam Khanna, Chairman, IHHR Hospitality Private Limited said, "Ista, Bangalore is a first of its kind business hotel in India as it focuses on everything that a business traveller would need. This is reflected not just in the design details of the hotel but all the amenities and facilities that Ista offers. We have taken care to ensure every detail.”

The hotel has 143 rooms and suites – each of them an elegant statement of style and comfort. The rooms have tea and coffee making facility, electronic safes, a walk in closet with ample space for luggage and a well stocked minibar. For in room entertainment there is a LCD TV with space for a DVD player. Each room is equipped with a two line direct dial phone with high speed broad band connectivity to meet the needs of the business traveler. Remote Control Units at the bedside give a guest the convenience of controlling all the lights & air conditioning, with added features of a world time clock, an alarm and controls for ‘Privacy’ and ‘Make my room’. The bathrooms have windows for natural light with views of the city. A glass wall shower cubicle that offers guest their choice of shower settings - for an invigorating start or a relaxing end to a busy day.

Ista has two restaurants Zaman and Lido and a bar Liquid, each of which possesses its own distinctive character. Zaman is a fine dining restaurant showcasing North Indian Awadhi cuisine. With an interactive kitchen and a private dining room the restaurant also offers spectacular views of the city and the Ulsoor Lake. Lido is a contemporary all day dining restaurant that offers a perfect blend of cuisine and aesthetics. Bangalore’s fabulous weather allows Lido to offer indoor as well as fresco dining. Liquid – the al fresco lounge and bar. A live band, an eclectic selection of snacks and some sensational cocktails make this a great place to unwind at the end of a long day of business.

The Health Club and Fitness Centre located on the 4th floor are equipped with state of the art imported equipment. A climate controlled swimming pool and a heated outdoor Jacuzzi with aesthetic landscaping is ideal for relaxing a tired body and mind.

For the business needs of its guests Ista has a round the clock Executive Centre. Its facilities include a board room, meeting room, work stations and secretarial services.

Istana, the conference and banquet facility is located on the 3rd floor. It is a multi functional facility and can be used to conduct business meetings, seminars and conferences as well as private events. Istana is equipped with the latest audio-visual equipment.

The lobby, Executive Centre and conference facility is equipped with Wi-Fi access. All the rooms offer broadband connectivity.

“With Ananda in the Himalayas, we pioneered the concept of destination spas in India and built it into a successful global brand. We are proud of the fact that our customers and third party reports have regularly rated Ananda in the Himalayas as the best destination spa in the world. We want to repeat that success with Ista by building world's best hotels for business travelers” said Mr. Gautam Khanna.

G:Corp owns and is developing the 1st and 2nd floor of Ista measuring 40,000 sq ft into an up-market shopping arcade. IHHR Hospitality is also associated with G:Corp on the Pune and Amritsar properties wherein the hotel and the mall compliment each other.

IHHR Hospitality will open 5 more Ista business hotels over the next three years, all located in primary business cities including Hyderabad, Pune and Ahmedabad. IHHR Hospitality is also due to open its second destination Spa resort, Shanti Ananda Maurice, in Mauritius in December 2006.

About IHHR Hospitality Private Limited: Founded in 1998, IHHR Hospitality Private Limited owns and manages destination spas, luxury spa resorts and business hotels. Ananda – in the Himalayas, India’s premier destination spa is the country’s flagship property.

Ista Bangalore is one of the premier luxury business hotels in Bangalore. Suited in the heart of Bangalore’s CBD, Ista offers a panoramic view of the verdant city. Owned and managed by IHHR Hospitality Private Ltd, Ista promises to be an ideal destination for business travellers. The hotel has 143 modern and contemporary rooms as well as suites that are spacious and tastefully designed.