The Grand Chola Palace Hotel Opens in Chennai, India

Sep 30, 2012

The ITC Grand Chola Hotel in Chennai, India, officially opened last month. The 600-guestroom property is among the largest in India and is also LEED Platinum certified. The hotel’s design was inspired by the Chola Dynasty, and the property reflects the cultural traditions of the region.

During a visit earlier this year, I was able to experience the property before its completion and was impressed by its amenities and high-end technology features. Each room has an iPad that is capable of controlling everything from the window blinds to ordering room service and operating the television.

Room categories at the hotel start at the Executive Club level, with 405 square feet of space. There are 295 rooms in this category that include a complimentary fruit platter, use of the fitness center and more.

The property also features 31 Eva rooms, a category unique to ITC and designed for women traveling alone. The Eva rooms are similar in size to the Executive Club rooms but designed to meet the needs of female guests, with female butlers, female security, enhanced security monitoring, complimentary laundry service and a private women-only lounge.

The 132 Towers rooms are more spacious than the Executive Club rooms and also offer an exclusive entrance, butler service and access to the Towers Lounge. ITC One rooms, of which there are 48, are not yet open but will feature ITC’s Pure Room concept within an allergen-free setting as well as additional amenities, including an exclusive entrance, butler service and lounge access.

Suites at the hotel are stylish and comfortable. The Chola Suites offer similar amenities to those in the ITC One and Towers rooms, but also offer a massage chair, a fax machine and complimentary access to the business center, spa and lounge.

The hotel’s signature suites include the Karikalan Presidential Suite and the Raja Raja Chola Grand Presidential Suite. The Karikalan Suite includes 2,870 square feet of space, express check-in and in-room breakfast among other amenities. The Grand Presidential Suite is ideal for visiting heads of state and features more than 4,000 square feet of space with an array of high-end security features.

There are 10 food and beverage outlets on the property, including ITC’s signature dining experience, Peshawri, honoring Northwest Indian dining traditions. The hotel also has ITC’s signature Kaya Kalp spa. The 21,000-square-foot facility is one of the largest in the state.

Meetings are predicted to be a key driver of business for the property. The hotel has 100,000 square feet of banquet and convention space, including a 30,000-square-foot, pillar-less ballroom, suitable for large events.