Roop Pratap Singh Choudhary, Director, Hotel NoorMahal, Karnal, shares his view on the benefits of having a property that’s situated close to a metropolitan, yet steers clear of the hustle-bustle of a fast-paced city.
Tell us about the hospitality space in Karnal and how it has evolved over the years.
Tourism in this area is booming. Today, the tourism sector on the GT Road belt reflects the face of modern India. The National Capital Region (NCR) is positioned among some of the wealthiest and most economically developed regions in South Asia. Tourism in NCR is a vivid kaleidoscope of diverse landscapes, showcasing magnificent archaeology, while celebrating art and culture.
Karnal has a unique history. This land has witnessed historical battles, including the famous battles at Panipat, and has lent canvas for the epic battle of Mahabharata at Kurukshetra. Rich in history, monuments, heritage, flora and fauna, human resources and tourism, with a well-developed economy, national highways and state roads, NoorMahal is a journey worth experiencing.
What’s your take on competition?
To avoid any immediate competition, NoorMahal has been built on a monumental scale. It is a futuristic hotel which has a land bank to cater for its future requirements. Competition comes from nearby cities like Delhi, Gurugram, Jaipur, Agra and Chandigarh, which are situated at 100 kms or more. So, keeping in view its size and the investment level which has gone into the making of NoorMahal, we feel we should be enjoying this monopoly for the next 10-15 years.
What are your marketing strategies?
NoorMahal is very aggressive on marketing. We have tried to incorporate all tools of marketing being used presently by big hotel chains in NCR. Just to list a few, we have tied up for public relations with an agency in Delhi, we have stationed our sales team permanently in Delhi to cater for various OTAs and guest queries in and around the national capital, and we have also tied up with various corporates, wedding organisers, travel agents, etc.
What kind of challenges do you face and how do you overcome them?
We have tried to create a new brand name – NoorMahal – in the northern region, and have been quite successful in marketing and upselling the property in NCR in the last few years. Now we look forward to establishing this brand name in Chandigarh and Punjab, to sell the venue as the finest wedding destination in North India. Being in Karnal initially posed as a minor hiccup as people were unaware of the city. Also, tourism within the region was unheard of.
What kind of business are you expecting in the near future?
NoorMahal is doing good business. The hotel is nearly sold out for social functions, weddings, social events, and corporate off-sites up to March 31, 2019.
