Located along the scenic East Coast Road of Tamil Nadu, overlooking the gorgeous Bay of Bengal, the Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa is spread over 10 acres of land with beautiful, landscaped gardens that open on to a beautiful beachside and I was fortunate enough to be invited to visit this gorgeous property recently.
The architecture and design in the resort eloquently represent beautiful blue waves, shimmering sands and vast greenery. Rich wood accents, soothing colour palettes, intricate tapestry and the inclusion of copper displayed throughout the property reflect local elements that capture the charm of the South Indian city-Chennai.
As I entered the hotel, I was accorded a warm welcome by the hotel’s team. The lobby is designed to replicate the famous South Indian Catamaran. I was mesmerized by the sight of the stunning copper installation of water buffaloes in the lobby which are symbolic to the city of Chennai.
The 125-room property is inspired by four S’s, namely, Sun, Sand, Sea and South India. With expansive views of the Sea dominating this smorgasboard of colour and textures, the element of the Sun is brought about in a subtle way with natural diffused lights and sun lit corridors.
Prominent elements of Sand can be found in the rooms and restaurants in the form of cement lamp stands and traditional, stone installations. The flair of the popular South Indian lifestyle can be seen through rich artwork, copper artifacts and intricate upholstery of beautiful, net weaved chairs.
“The opening of the Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa underlines our focus on enhancing and building the Marriott Resort portfolio within India. We will continue to cater to our ever-expanding customer base with sophiscated hotels that offer spectaular architecture, culturally significant art, great public spaces, unique dining concepts and thoughful amenities.
Chennai as a high potential market is witnessing a positive influx of business and leisure travellers alike, thus making this launch perfectly timed to meet the growing hospitality demands of the city,” said Neeraj Govil, Area Vice President, South Asia, Marriott International.
Shibil Malik is the General Manager of the newly opened premium resort on the East Coast Road of Chennai, Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa. With an experience of almost 18 years, in his current role, he heads the overall responsibility of launching and positioning the resort.
Shibil has an unwavering commitment to service excellence and he plans to ensure that the resort features amongst the best in the country. Shibil has held various positions in the company and has been associated with Marriott’s premium distinct and classic brands – The Westin & Sheraton.
Shibil is an avid golfer and a gourmet who loves to explore the world, indulge in global cuisines and keeps himself abreast with the latest food trends and concepts.
“The Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa is a stylish, modern hotel experience for guests, designed to provide the best in-house service and facilities for the business and leisure traveller. We are excited to offer our guests fresh concepts in service and food and beverage with personalized touches that aim to set new hospitality standards,” said Shibil Malik.
The hotel features 125 guest rooms, appointed with all of the Sheraton brand’s signature amenities and services including a premium sleep experience. The 125 guest rooms are divided across 7 categories- 59 Deluxe Rooms, 19 Crocodile Park View Rooms, 24 Sea View Rooms, 14 Sea View with Private Garden Rooms, 6 Executive Suite Rooms, 2 Bay Suite Rooms and a Presidential Suite.
The resort’s architecture expressively represents the calmness of the waves and the salty freshness of the beach. Stylish guest rooms, fitted with modern conveniences include private balconies that offer spectacular bay or garden views and a few rooms overlook the renowned Crocodile Park (Asia’s largest reptile park). It was a delight to wake up in the morning and witness stunning views from my room during my recent stay in this resort.
“Reef” – the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, features a selection of freshly prepared local and international cuisines. While dining at The Reef, I tried several local delicacies such as the Malabar prawn roll, appam with kozhi korma, karapudi dosa with mutta roast, ragi dosas, banana pancake with honey and filter coffee, etc.
‘Pintail Lounge’ is the in-house lounge bar, that holds an old-world charm with its rustic setting and deep, plush seating; serving an exclusive range of premium spirits, single malts and fine wines. Interesting drinks are complimented by Asian cuisine in this up market lounge. Bar Manager Kishore created an innovative mocktail called Gold Medalist and intoxicating cocktails for me at Pintail Lounge.
The lounge has a quaint medieval, old-world charm and rustic setting. Pintail is a bird that can be spotted in the vicinity, an inspiration for the name ‘Pintail Lounge’. The ‘Pelican Deck’ is inspired by the white migratory Pelican bird, which is commonly spotted in the vicinity adding to the beauty and charm of the location.
An open-air grill and barbecue dinner, Pelican Deck is best known for its European & Mediterranean flair of nose-to-tail eating beyond the prime parts. The menu includes a range of classic cocktails, signature and delectable grills and barbeques made live to order by expert chefs.
Shine Spa for Sheraton™ offers luxurious spa treatments, which rejuvenates the mind, body and soul. With five dedicated treatment rooms, including a steam and shower, along with an all-access also to salon space for beauty services, the spa is perfect to unwind and relax.
I spent a lot of time relaxing in the serene spa and came back feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa offers a range of indoor games like pool table, wall mounted chess and table tennis. In addition to this, the resort has other complimentary activities like dance sessions, archery on the lawns, baking and cooking sessions at live stations of the restaurant and mixology sessions at the lounge.
The Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa, with its stunning beach front location, spread across a massive 10 acres of land is just the perfect resort for a unique holiday in Chennai.
Address: 280 East Coast Road, Vadanamelli Village Next to Madras Crocodile Bank Trust, Tamil Nadu 603104, India
Phone: +91 44 3342 2222
Website: sheraton-grand-chennai-resort-and-spa
