Set up with an investment of Rs 170 crore, the recently opened JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa in Uttarakhand is positioning itself as a premier family destination and a high-end conferencing venue By Sudipta Dev
Nestled in the picturesque Garhwal Himalayan ranges, the hill station of Mussoorie, popularly known as the Queen of Hills, is the location of the first JW Marriott resort in India. The recently opened JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa covers an expansive six acres constructed area. The property is owned by the Competent Group of Companies, which also owns the surrounding 30 acres and plans to keep the area in its pristine natural surroundings, which would add to the exclusivity of the resort. The Competent Group of Companies has invested Rs 170 in the project, minus the cost of the land. “Building this project was not easy as we had never built such a magnificent property on the hills. JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa will bring back the lost glory of Mussoorie,” says Raj Chopra, chairman and managing director, Competent Group of Companies. Simon Cooper, president and managing director, Asia Pacific, Marriott International mentions, “People like Mr Chopra pursue a passion and create plans like this. In this small part of India his efforts will create a different future for a lot of people.”
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The resort is positioned as a premier family destination, not only in Uttarakhand but whole of north India. “In the first year we plan to get close to 50 per cent occupancy. Social media will be a strong focus for promoting the property,” says Chandrashekhar Joshi, general manager, JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa.
Located in Siya village in Tehri Garhwal, the property has in fact adopted the village. The villagers have also worked hard and helped in getting it up and running. A significant percentage of personnel working in the resort are from the local area and the state of Uttarakhand.
Picture perfect
The property covers an expansive area and has four wings. With 115 keys, the room categories include – deluxe, deluxe valley view, studio suites and executive suites. All the rooms have large balconies with sitting areas for the guests to soak in the beauty of the surrounding mountains.
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With five F&B outlets, JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa has the largest number of restaurants in Mussoorie. JW Cafe offers all day dining with an open interactive kitchen. Perch, the tea lounge has a large outdoor area where guests can enjoy the scenic views of the mountains over their favourite cup of tea and endless conversations. The Trout House Grill & Bar also has a large open air lounge area that overlooks the awe inspiring mountains. This lounge has been named after the local river trout. The highlight of the outdoor lounge is the large sculpture of a trumpet. It is in fact one of the most eye-catching areas of the hotel and has been featured in many promotional campaigns. Teppan, the Asian speciality restaurant, will start operations soon. The theme of the restaurant is Asian markets. It has a teppanyaki grill and will offer Thai, Japanese and Chinese specialities. Teppan also has a private dining room with seating option for eight guests. Wisteria Deck is the outdoor trattoria serving home-styled pastas and wood fried pizzas. “We have not gone overboard in terms of cover, to maintain the exclusivity and also variety. The response for F&B has been good with a lot of regulars coming down from Dehradun for Sunday brunch, including the Royal Enfield Bikers group who come for breakfast,” says Pratyush Anand, director of sales and marketing, JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa. By this year end, a high-end wine and cheese room will also be opened for guests.
Two 80-year-old walnut trees occupy a place of pride within the resort complex. The herbs for the kitchen are sourced from the large green house, which also houses plants that are local to the area. “There are plans to make a floral map for guests, which would be a one-stop reference for them,” mentions Anand.
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Extensive facilities
The resort has large banqueting facilities with 4,200 sq ft indoor space including the Grand Orchard Ballroom that covers 3,300 sq ft area and is the largest in the city. The resort is an ideal location for destination weddings, and has within a month of opening hosted a wedding with many more lined up. It is also a perfect location for high level meetings and conferences. There are three breakout rooms with pre-function areas. “For corporate guests we have partnered with the Himalayan Adventure Institute for offsite activities like rock climbing, rappelling, etc,” states Anand, pointing out that they have hosted a few small corporate groups since they began operations. The recreation zone includes the Den, which is an entertainment centre for all age groups. From billiards and pool tables to two-lane bowling alley, gaming consoles and board games, there is a lot to keep the guests engaged. There is an indoor heated pool swimming pool and kid’s splash pool, and a pool bar. Yoga classes, cooking sessions with chefs, and craft classes are the other activities.
The Cedar Spa by L’Occitane has five treatment rooms including two couple therapy rooms.