WHAT’S IT LIKE?

This is the 10th Trident Hotel to open in India after hotels in Mumbai (two), Gurgaon (Delhi), Chennai, Bhubaneshwar, Cochin, Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur.

It’s a sister brand to Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, but is not marketed as such, perhaps to avoid the feeling that being aimed principally at business travellers it might be second choice behind that well-known brand.

In fact, Trident Hyderabad is very much a five-star hotel from the moment you pull up to the gates and go through a vigorous security check on your car. The road then sweeps upwards from the main road to enter the hotel at the lobby level (actually the fifth floor of the hotel, since it is built on the side of a hill).

Pools of water frame the entrance, while inside, the lobby is a bright, clean and peaceful place with a high ceiling, modern and traditional art and lots of natural light. A sweeping staircase with modern chandelier leads down to the functions rooms and the fine-dining Indian restaurant.

The bell desk, reception and concierge are at right angles to you as you walk in, meaning you are greeted individually by the smartly-dressed staff and walked either to these desks, or shown to the Club Floor Lounge if staying on the top level.

WHERE IS IT?

In HITEC (Hyderabad Information Technology Engineering Consultancy City), some 35km from the international airport, and connected to it by the outer ring road (a toll road) which can be very quick, especially if you are coming in on an international flight which arrives or leaves in the early morning (such as British Airways).

ROOM FACILITIES

There are 323 rooms including 54 Trident Club Rooms and 30 suites. The rooms are on floors 10-21. Rooms either have a city view (“Rock Heights”) or park view. All have very good sound proofing with floor to ceiling thermally-insulated glass with sheer blinds or blackout blinds operated via a switch by the bedside table. Rooms have wooden floors, dark walnut furniture, chrome light fixtures and then splashes of colour such as the signature deep Trident red of the throw on the bed or modern art pieces.

The entry level deluxe rooms are huge – 41sqm, and have wired and wifi access, chargeable at 990 rupees per day, good size work desk and leather work chair, walk-in wardrobe mini bar, tea and coffee making facilities, iPod/iPad docking station, and glass walled bathrooms with a privacy blind.

All rooms feature a bath, separate shower, and amenities from Kama Ayurveda. Deluxe rooms are on floors 10-17 (below this are offices), with Premier rooms being the same size but on the 18th and 19th floors and Trident Club rooms on the 20th and 21st. The Club Lounge is on the top floor where you can get complimentary breakfast, one-way complimentary transfer to the airport, cocktail hour and complimentary tea and coffee and soft drinks throughout the day. Executive suites are 68sqm, deluxe suites 82sqm as are Trident Club Suites.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS

Amara is the all-day dining restaurant on the lobby level, with an open kitchen serving Mediterranean and Asian (including Indian) food. Tuscany is the Italian restaurant, while Kanak is the Indian speciality restaurant serving Hyderabadi specialities (spicy vegetarian food and delicious marinated meats) as well as regional dishes from around India. The restaurant also has a large tea (Chai) menu with over 20 options. Other outlets include the bar in the lobby (set back though, and not visible from the door or the main lobby) Ninety Six, and the Cigar Lounge with a wide range of Cuban Cigars.

BUSINESS AND MEETING FACILITIES

As well as a 24-hour business centre with four computers there are eight meeting rooms seating up to 12 people and the largest hotel ballroom (8000 square feet)  in the city that can cater for up to 400 for a banquet, 800 for a cocktail.

LEISURE FACILITIES

There is a large gym / fitness area with floor to ceiling windows so lots of natural light – so much so that in the morning you could easily need sunglasses on the running machines, though the area is very well air-conditioned. There is also a separate yoga room next door, also with lots of light. There is also a Trident spa with four treatment rooms and one suite, each of which has massage bed, steam shower and washroom, and is open 0800-2200. There is also a 27-metre open air swimming pool on the 10th floor terrace of the hotel.

VERDICT

A stunning hotel, which only a few months after opening was full of visiting workers from the surrounding high tech business of the area. Very good service, large rooms, lots of windows and natural light, and tight but discreet security. Hyderbad is over supplied with five star hotels, but the Trident deserves success.


FACT FILE

  • ROOMS 323 in total: 183 Deluxe, 56 Premier, 54 Trident Club, 9 Executive suites, 16 Deluxe suites, and five Trident Club suites
  • HIGHLIGHTS The design is modern without being irritating, the technology in the rooms works but also makes sense (you can easily turn the lights off at night, and the air conditioning works), and the staff are helpful and informed – when they said they would do something, they did do it, and they did it well
  • CONTACT Trident Hyderabad, HITEC City, nr Madhapur, Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh, +91 40 6623 2323; tridenthotels.com/Hyderabad/
  • PRICE internet rates started at 8975 rupees (£90) for a flexible midweek stay including taxes (which makes up 1,125 rupees of that price)

Tom Otley