2013-09-12

A new sun rises in Surajkund

A brand new signature in hospitality begets a brand new address in the National Capital Region with Vivanta by Taj – Surajkund

Nestled in the lap of forested and tranquil acres, the hotel offers a sanctum from the bustle of a megapolis

Faridabad, 12th September 2013: Vivanta by Taj – Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the latest addition to the Vivanta portfolio with Vivanta by Taj – Surajkund. (Earlier being operated and managed as The Claridges, Surajkund). Re-christened as Vivanta by Taj – Surajkund, the hotel is all set to embark on a new era of cool luxury nestled in the lap of a forested and tranquil neighborhood.

Speaking at the press conference, Mr. Raymond N Bickson, M.D. & C.E.O., Indian Hotels Company Limited said “We welcome the newest addition to our portfolio. This hotel will be the third Vivanta in the region after the recent launch of Vivanta by Taj – Gurgaon, NCR and our contemporary classic address Vivanta Ambassador. This is in line with a strategic plan to expand our presence in the National Capital Region and underlines the company’s objective of achieving growth through domestic dominance.”

Ms Deepa Misra Harris, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces said, “Vivanta by Taj – Surajkund will be seen in a new avatar as the perfect place for both business and leisure. With a 18500 sq ft. indulgent and much lauded Jiva Grande Spa, sun-kissed courtyards, gurgling aqua bodies, interesting installations, signature restaurants luxurious rooms and generous conferencing and banqueting spaces, Vivanta Surajkund promises the next sanctum.

“Dedicated to continuous innovation and the highest standards of hospitality, the Vivanta brand is growing at a rapid pace. With this hotel, the Vivanta portfolio is now 28 hotels. We look forward to welcoming our guests to a whole new Vivanta twist at Surajkund and am sure our guests will find this new experience exhilarating.” said Mr. Veer Vijay Singh, Chief Operating Officer, Vivanta by Taj Hotels & Resorts.

Vivanta by Taj – Surajkund, is 45 minutes by road from the international airport and from the central Delhi. It is perched amongst the ancient Aravallis, a short distance from the Tughlaqabad fort. With 287 plush rooms and suites, some terraced, vast conferencing spaces & banqueting facilities, a 16000 sq ft. indulgent and much lauded Jiva Grande Spa with a baoli entrance, sun kissed courtyards, gurgling aqua bodies, edge of the plate provincial cuisine, the hotel promises to be an oasis. The hotel is a “green and intelligent” building that combines minimalistic décor, meticulous refinements, creature comfort technology and installation spaces that breathe rustic chic, appealing to both corporate nomads and the leisure wanderlusts.

Each room has been designed to harmonize with the hotel’s contemporary, upscale ambience with state-of-the-art technology and discreet elegance which overarches the guest’s stay experience. Artistic in every aspect, with compelling views of Central Courtyard and infinity pool in most of the rooms, bamboo and African teak wood flooring, the rooms offer a choice between king or twin sized beds. The rooms overlooking the central courtyard have their own private balcony with bougainvillea plants, futons, lounge and chair seating and lanterns and lamp providing soft lighting.

Oasis, the all day dining with its breathtaking ambience offers a delightful selection of Italian, Chinese and Indian cuisine. Spread over 700 sq. meters, the restaurant overlooks a beautifully landscaped central courtyard with al-fresco seating and exciting water bodies showcasing an intricate interplay of water, light & music. Easy- the lounge bar, overlooking the central courtyard, offers the perfect concoction of heady beverages, Vivanta fuse cocktails and lounge music. An extensive selection of beverages and enticing snacks menu has something to please every palate, from the mundane to the exotic snacks. Paranda, the specialty Indian restaurant takes inspiration from a typical North Indian highway eatery and offers the five river cuisine.

The Art Lounge is truly the connoisseur’s corner. Located at the lobby level it exudes a distinctive aesthetic charm. Overlooking water features on one side and the charming blown glass artwork on the other, the Art Lounge is the perfect setting for a conversation over a coffee or tea.

The Jiva Grande at Vivanta by Taj – Surajkund, NCR, is the sanctum sanctorum in a sense and provides a timeless wellness concept spread across 18,500 sq. ft. The Spa promises a retreat for the seekers of urban rejuvenation. The exquisite Jiva Grande Spa spans across two floors and consists of nine treatment rooms, a spacious luxury spa suite, beauty stations, wet area facilities, a relaxation area, fitness centre with yoga studio and a large outdoor pool. The signature spaces include the stunning baoli entrance inspired by the Surajkund Baoli (reservoir), and dedicated steam and sauna facilities with ice fountains.

Inspired by the ancient Indian Baoli in design and concept, the Jiva Grande provides a sanctuary of tranquility where dedicated therapists combine timeless wellness concepts with modern therapeutic wisdom, to set a new benchmark in holistic treatments and therapy. The Jiva philosophy and signature therapies embrace the essence of the ancient Indian healing ethos, delivering a sense of peace & harmony. Bespoke heat & water experiences ease the body and relieve tension. The steam room with its starlit ceiling offers an enchanting meditative experience. The sauna detoxifies you and a splash from the ice fountain provides a sharp, arctic refresh. Tranquil corridors lead to the private spa suites ensuring that your revival is complete in the true sense of being. The Jiva Grande at Surajkund is all set to offer some first of its kind experiences for the stressed-out traveller as well as the sleep deprived individual with its unique signature programs.

With each Vivanta hotel signature experiences are presented which are rooted in local destination and a strong sense of place. These Vivanta Motifs are a representation of the Vivanta philosophy of hospitality with an imaginative twist.

Vivanta Surajkund would be unveiling exciting motifs in the coming few weeks that underline the brand’s penchant for pleasantly surprising you. During the course of a stay, guests could soak in the private luxury of a thematic Bridal suite curated by one of the country’s “hautest” nouveau designers, enjoy the Jiva Bliss suite and the Jiva Indulgence room which take the Jiva Grande Spa experience right into privacy of the room, celebrate a ‘Renewal of Vows’ experience or cherish the barefoot dining experience by the pool or enjoy fascinating vignettes of local culture and heritage with the Vivanta trails with Tallis or the Vivanta Folk Studio & Artisan program

Destination Faridabad

Faridabad is the largest city in the north Indian state of Haryana, in Faridabad district. The district shares its boundaries with the National Capital and Union Territory of Delhi to its north, Gurgaon district to the west and Uttar Pradesh to its east and south. It is well connected to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.

Discover Vivanta

Work hard and play hard. Relax and energize. Ideate and confer. Evolve and transform. Revel in a spirit that presents the normal with an unexpected twist. Stylish and sophisticated, Vivanta by Taj delivers premium hotel experiences with imagination, energy and efficiency. Currently comprised of 28 hotels and resorts in India and the Indian Ocean region, Vivanta by Taj is represented across key metropolitan capitals as well as popular holiday destinations like Goa, Kerala, Rajasthan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. Vivanta by Taj offers an imaginative, vivacious and stylish take on ‘cool luxury’. With innovative cuisine, energetic spaces, unique motifs, the smart use of technology and experiences that seek to constantly engage, invigorate and relax, it appeals to the cosmopolitan world-traveler immersed in a sensory lifestyle.

Stay connected to Vivanta by Taj Hotels & Resorts.

Huraine Patwe

Account Executive

Edelman India Private Limited

903, One Indiabulls Centre, Tower 2-B, 9th Floor, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai 400 013, India

T: +91 22 6151 3369 | F: +91 22 4353 0264 | M: +91 99307 97991 | E: huraine.patwe@edelman.com

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BJ PENN AND FRANKIE EDGAR SIGN ON AS COACHES OF THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER®; SET SIGHTS ON TRILOGY MATCH-UP

Former UFC champions to coach middleweight (185 lbs.) and light heavyweight (205 lbs.) fighters on the next edition of the series airing on Sony Six

Mumbai, India – Faced with the challenge of outdoing its current historic, adrenaline-charged season of The Ultimate Fighter®, the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®) today confirmed that the next season of its long-running reality series will feature former champions “The Prodigy” BJ Penn and Frankie “The Answer” Edgar as coaches. The storied foes will coach a cast of middleweight (185 lbs.) and light heavyweight (205 lbs.) fighters in their quest to win the title of Ultimate Fighter and a six-figure contract with the UFC.

“BJ Penn is moving down to 145 lbs. to coach The Ultimate Fighter against Frankie Edgar”, said UFC President Dana White. “BJ really hates the fact that he lost to Frankie Edgar. It’s something that’s been burning deep inside of him for three years now. So he’s moving down to 145 lbs. to not only avenge those defeats, but to try and become the first fighter in UFC history to win titles in three different weight classes”.

Widely considered as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history, Penn (16-9-2 in MMA) is one of only two men to win UFC world titles in two separate divisions. The former welterweight and lightweight champion has defeated a Who’s Who of MMA, including UFC champions Matt Hughes, Matt Serra and Sean Sherk. His reign over the UFC’s 155lbs. division was ended in 2010’s Upset of the Year, when he was outpointed by Frankie Edgar. “The Prodigy” not only returns to the UFC but also The Ultimate Fighter, after coaching season five back in 2007.

After defeating Penn in two fights, Edgar (15-4-1) established a reputation for lightweight excellence. “The Answer” defended the lightweight championship in a pair of all-time classic battles with Gray Maynard before losing the title on a controversial decision to Benson Henderson. Edgar then dropped to featherweight, where many believe he will join Penn as a two-division world champion.

The series begins filming in mid-October in Las Vegas.

Catch all new episodes of this season of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Rousey vs. Team Tate, Thursday’s at 09:00 pm IST on Sony Six

About the Ultimate Fighting Championship®

Universally recognized for its action-packed, can’t-miss events that have sold out some of the biggest arenas and stadiums across the globe, the UFC® is the world’s premier mixed martial arts (MMA) organization. Owned and operated by Zuffa, LLC, headquartered in Las Vegas and with offices in London, Toronto and Beijing, UFC produces more than 30 live events annually and is the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. In 2012, the UFC burst into the mainstream with a landmark seven-year broadcast agreement with FOX Sports Media Group. The agreement includes four live events broadcast on the FOX network annually, with additional fight cards and thousands of hours of programming broadcast on FOX properties FX and FUEL TV. This also includes the longest-running sports reality show on television, The Ultimate Fighter®, on FOX Sports 1.

In addition to its reach on FOX, UFC programming is broadcast in over 145 countries, to nearly 800 million TV households worldwide, in 28 different languages. UFC content is also distributed commercially in the United States to bars and restaurants through Joe Hand Promotions, in English throughout Canada via Premium Sports Broadcasting Inc. and Australia via Main Event and in French throughout Quebec via Interbox. The UFC also connects with tens of millions of fans through its website, UFC.com, as well as social media sites Facebook and Twitter. UFC President Dana White is considered one of the most accessible and followed executives in sports, with nearly 2.4 million followers on Twitter. Ancillary UFC businesses include best-selling DVDs and video games, UFC FIT®, an in-home fitness and nutrition program, an internationally distributed magazine, UFC.TV offering live event broadcasts and video on demand around the world, a new franchise in development with EA, UFC GYM®, UFC Fight Club affinity program, UFC Fan Expo® festivals, branded apparel and trading cards.

CONTACT:

Abhishek Vora

FleishmanHillard | 7th Floor, Mudra House | Opp. Grand Hyatt, Santacruz (East) | Mumbai – 400 055 | India

O +91-22-3308-0486 | M +91-9004669760 | F +91-22-3308-0307

E abhishek.vora@fleishman.com

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