Take Two

It has taken the JW Marriott group almost a decade to open their second luxury hotel in India,after one in Mumbai. The wooden gates of the luxury hotel,in Chandigarh’s Sector 35,were opened on Wednesday night. The launch had in attendance some of the hotel’s head honchos,including Don Cleary,chief financial officer,Asia Pacific,Marriott International and Rajeev Menon,area vice president,India,Malaysia,Maldives and Australia Marriott International. Also spotted were former Chandigarh Golf Club president Birinder Singh Gill,Hot Million group’s Amanbir Singh and fashion designer Poonam Sood.

While the evening began with the guests sampling cuisines at the hotel’s various dining areas,the lobby level,which houses the lounge,had guitarist Benoy Rai and Chole Bennett Pinel entertaining the guests. The highlight,however,was a live performances by singer Rodney Fernandes and his group,who sang popular Bollywood numbers at the Grand Ballroom. “It took us almost 10 years,but going forward,JW Marriott will be the second fastest growing brand in the market. There will be 10 JW Marriott hotels in India by 2015,” said Menon.