Spotlight

Kolkata’s first 'value' boutique hotel

Joy Roy Choudhury - Kolkata

London has 'Sanderson' on Oxford Street, while Manhattan has 'Morgans Hotel'. These are famous boutique hotels, which have cut a niche for themselves through customised services and products. If not on that scale, Kolkata too will soon have a boutique hotel on Free School Street. 'Housez 43' as it will be called will be the city's first value boutique hotel for mid segment," says S. H. Rahaman, one of the brains behind the hotel. He quit his job with a leading hotel chain to set up 'Housez 43' along with two other former hoteliers, Rajendra Mehrotra and Tridib Ghosh.

Speaking exclusively to Express Hospitality, on what prompted them to set up a boutique hotel, Rahaman says, "Today guests expect much more than just convenience and comfort. They are looking for different and fresh experiences in terms of product look and feel, personalised and friendly service with attention to detail. All these were kept in mind while planning for Housez 43."

Housez 43 with 28 tastefully designed rooms offers a boutique experience to the guests at affordable rates. With room rent varying between US$ 60-80, Housez 43 is eyeing the European tourists visiting the city and the growing numbers of business travellers. The hotel will give the international guests a 'European value-hotel feel' they are accustomed to back home as well as provides wireless Internet connectivity to business travellers. Slated for launch this month, Housez 43 is located in a 125-year old building on Mirza Ghalib Street, formerly Free School Street in the central part of the city, which has been taken on 'long-term lease' from the owners, and thoroughly renovated and restyled for the purpose.

"Each room has a personality, theme and colour schemes of its own, the rooms are simple and elegant and provide all the basics which a discerning traveller expects. The rooms offer a perfect blend of style and attention to details," he adds.

Besides, round-the-clock personalised butler service, the hotel is fully equipped to cater to the requirements of the business travellers. A buffet hall, a hookah lounge, two conference rooms and facility for terrace parties complete the boutique 'bouquet'.

The trio has also roped in BK Dhar, a former Executive Chef with The Park to start 'Turkish Corner', a Mediterranean fast-food takeaway joint adjacent to the boutique hotel. "Besides, the authentic Turkish delicacies, we will also offer Continental dishes and Bengali cuisine to give foreigners a taste of local culture," says Rahaman. After conquering Kolkata, the management of Housez 43 has plans to take the value boutique hotel chain concept to other parts of the Eastern Region. "Places like Ranchi and Siliguri are on our radar," informs Rahaman.

"Our vision is to contribute in our own little way to the promotion of tourism in the eastern and north eastern region, especially in Bengal," he says. With this objective in mind, he has launched 'Connect World Travels Ltd.,' a travel management company offering travel-related solutions to the corporate world. 'Housez 43' is a project of the Connect World Travels Ltd, which in turn is a part of the Mumbai based Pearl Group.