Views and Interviews

What were the reasons behind putting Charotar on the world map for hospitality and tourism?

As strange as it may seem, the first thing that came to mind was the need for a comfortable span of retirement for those living in western countries for years. I wanted to make retirement a comfortable experience for individuals and couples. Especially those who would like to enjoy their golden years in India in a cost-effective way.

Having planned the project as a multi-domain exercise, I also wanted to extend the benefits of health preservation and recreation opportunities to a fast-growing younger generation in Charotar. (The kind of facilities that simply did not exist in the region.)

Another personal mission was to promote growth in nearby rural areas and create jobs for young job seekers. To achieve this, I was also willing to set up training facilities in the areas of skill building and development.

But at the end of the day, our project was in the area of tourism and hospitality, aimed at Indian vacation seekers - to travel and explore the world through NEONZ vacation club memberships. I must add here that NEONZ Resort & Club is an RCI member and a Gold Crown property.

Do tell us more about the 5-star classification for the resort.

In India, hotels are rated by The Hotel & Restaurant Approval & Classification Committee (HRACC), working under the Ministry of Tourism. Hotel ratings or classifications are systems that rank hotels based on a wide range of qualifying parameters. The objective behind star ratings is to give potential guests or customers a useful industry marker on the standard of facilities and service they can expect at the hotel or resort.

The 5-Star rating is one such milestone in our achievements. At NEONZ we have always given our projects the best in terms of investments, time, talent, and support – to reach new heights and cross new milestones. I am proud to say that we have a sense of pride in whatever we do.

How complex was the process of evaluation?

The classification process is long-drawn and elaborate. The Ministry provides detailed guidelines that help hotels and resorts assess current facility levels and identify areas of upgradation to meet the standards outlined.

The process of evaluation also called for multiple visits from the evaluation team to see how things were falling into place. At each stage of their evaluation, we set our sights on the next step and worked towards getting there.

At Neonz, we have always set out to grow, stabilize and innovate – with the stated objective of improving quality standards for our guests. And when you’re poised for growth, you automatically take into account what needs to be done. The 5-star trajectory was always on our line of approach.

What feedback have you seen from customers and employees?

More than 3,000 of our guests have already reviewed and rated us online – recognizing our 5-Star status. Additionally, the official 5-Star stamp from HRACC does underline our credentials in the minds of our guests. As we say, a guest’s experience at the resort reflects what we have achieved – reading about our new status is one thing, but experiencing it is the real thing.

Our employees too have made significant contributions. Their pride in working for a 5-Star property certainly shows, as their faces beam with pride when they interact with the guests. I must say that the new status has helped to a large extent in improving their morale as well.

At the end of the day, it’s a very good feeling.

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Video Credits : Yagnik Mistry / Shoot done for Neonz Resort & Club

All images and links, courtesy of NEONZ Resort & Club