Kempinski unveils 480-room hotel and spa in Delhi, India
Europe’s oldest luxury hotel brand, Kempinski, has reinforced its commitment to India by launching its first independently managed hotel in the commercial district of Shadara in East Delhi – Kempinski Ambience Delhi.
The Buddhist spiritual leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, His Holiness the Dalai Lama blessed and inaugurated Kempinski Ambience Delhi by lighting the ceremonial lamp on 25 December 2012. The hotel is set to be an upscale landmark destination for business, entertainment and weddings in the region.
The hotel is contemporarily designed and features 480 rooms and suites in two towers, connected by a sky bridge. Each tower has a dedicated entrance, a lobby and a check-in desk. Kempinski Ambience Delhi features banqueting facilities of over 70,000 sq ft, including India’s largest pillar-less ballroom in a luxury hotel that can accommodate up to 6000 guests. Amongst the dining options are four specialty restaurants including Café Knosh (all-day dining restaurant), Dilli 32 (an Indian specialty restaurant), Mei Kun (an Asian restaurant) and Casaluna (an Italian restaurant).
In addition, the hotel has a scenic, glass-enclosed bar, the Cherry Bar, two business centres and recreational facilities including the spa with hammam and an ice fountain. There are also two fitness centres, a salon and two outdoor heated swimming pools. Surrounded by an affluent business community, entertainment destinations and prominent state-owned buildings, the complex is well connected via road and the metro rail to the airports and city centre.
In his blessing of the hotel, the Dalai Lama said, “Today’s world is deeply interconnected and progress of any region must be viewed from a perspective of oneness of humanity. I am touched by the massive effort and compassion that has gone into building such a magnanimous property in East Delhi, and the efforts the hotel is taking in community development, which will lead to betterment of this entire region. I met with several people from the hotel including the owners, the executive committee, the kitchen staff and security guards, and wish that they always remain filled with the same positive energy to serve and to spread joy. I wish to recognise the support extended to us by Kempinski Ambience Hotel.” He was at the hotel for his teachings on Shantideva’s “Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life”.
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Commenting on Kempinski’s vision to strengthen its foothold in India through this fully-managed property, Mr Reto Wittwer, President and CEO of Kempinski Hotels, said, “Across the world, Kempinski is known as a pioneer in several destinations, and our guests who are keen to discover the world through Kempinski come to seek authentic experiences of new destinations. Shahdara fits our vision perfectly, through its unique blend of a rustic Old Delhi charm coupled with an early embrace of the most sophisticated modern infrastructure technology. Asia, as a whole, is a very dynamic region. As we venture in the diverse and vital Indian subcontinent, we extend our global brand promise to our guests — no matter which hotel you visit, we ensure that the remarkable European Flair offers you a consistent Kempinski guest experience, while respecting and incorporating different cultures to imbue the uniqueness of each individual hotel.”
Mr Raj Singh Gehlot, Chairman and Managing Director of Ambience Group, which owns the hotel, said, “For more than 115 years, Kempinski Hotels have hosted the most renowned and powerful international celebrities and world leaders, and we are proud to have been chosen to open their first hotel in India.”