BACKGROUND
Formerly known as Radisson SAS, Radisson Blu is Radisson Hotels’ upscale hotel brand. It is operated by the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, that holds a portfolio of 73 hotels in the country. Radisson Blu is Guwahati’s first five-star property (and was the only one at the time of reviewing in March).
WHAT’S IT LIKE?
Situated in the heart of the foothills of the Shillong plateau, the very modern Radisson Blu adds a touch of concrete to the untainted natural beauty around it. A pillared gateway with large fountains welcome you to its high-ceilinged lobby. The striking aluminium-coloured modern art structure in the centre symbolises the contemporary design language adopted by the property. Red and black chandeliers above the reception complement the maroon lounge chairs and the partially marbled flooring. A sunken courtyard surrounded by tables holding water makes for a cosy ambience for casual meetings.
WHERE IS IT?
Conveniently located on the National Highway 37, Radisson Blu is about 15km from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, 11km from the Brahmaputra River and about 7km from Kamakhya Temple. The hotel is away from Guwahati’s bustle and traffic but still easily accessible to popular business and tourist areas.
ROOM FACILITIES
The warm balance of green, grey and brown added a sense of tranquillity to the space of my Standard room. A large French window overlooking mountains, adjacent to a fairly large work-desk and lounge chair, created an idyllic work ambience. A mounted LED television (Samsung, 42-inch), tea/coffee machine, three bottles of complimentary mineral water, central air-conditioning, ironing-board, walk-in wardrobe and Viv toiletries were provided. The range of power-points at the work-desk for HDMI chords, audio/video and USB was quite noteworthy and made for convenient charging of my multiple devices. Room types are Standard room (33 sqm), Superior room (33 sqm), Business class room (35 sqm), Studio suite (50 sqm), Executive suite (77 sqm) and Deluxe suite (99 sqm).
RESTAURANTS AND BARS
Cafe B-You is the hotel’s all-day diner that offers on-the-go dishes for business travellers shuttling between meetings. NestAsia, Radisson Blu’s pan-Asian restaurant is quite popular amongst the denizens of Guwahati. I quite enjoyed the masor tenga, an Assamese fish-dish from their vast in-room dining menu. The Business Class Lounge can be accessed by guests staying at the Business class room and above. Reign, the hotel’s bar is known for its hand-crafted cocktails and wine-list.
BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES
The meeting rooms sprawl across 4,180 sqm of the hotel and offer the largest pillar-less ballroom space in the city. The largest hall Xobha (743 sqm) and Aador (171 sqm) can be divided into three sections (each) with sound-proof partitions. The hotel’s business centre accommodates 12. An outdoor banquet area (2,787 sqm) and pool-side lawn(464 sqm) can be hired for large-scaled events. Radisson Blu’s meeting encompass secretarial services, wifi and projectors.
LEISURE FACILITES
The hotel offers a 24hour concierge along with a travel-desk for inquisitive travellers. A fitness centre, a pool and spa are situated on the same level. Radisson Blu also offers facilities for the disabled, baby-sitting assistance and foreign currency exchange services.
VERDICT
A quiet, business-friendly hotel, Radisson Blu offers the best of luxury and convenience to the corporate traveller
FACT FILE
PRICE: Prices for a mid-week stay in December started from ₹7,500 per night for a Standard room.
CONTACT: Radisson Blu Guwahati, National Highway 37, Gotanagar, Guwahati, Assam 781033; tel: +91 361 7100100; radissonblu.com
Akanksha Maker
