Offbeat amenities at 5 Mumbai business hotels

Hotels around the world are making efforts to attract business travelers.

At Aloft hotels in the United States and Citizen M in Europe, guests can register at staffed kiosks, not unlike the e-ticket dispensers at airports. The Peninsula Beverly Hills lets guests order food and drink from a mobile menu while traveling from the airport to the hotel.

Which begs the question, what are Mumbai hotels doing to distinguish themselves?

1. iPod Touch controls at Suba International

At Suba International, all 72 rooms come with an iPod Touch that’s been loaded to serve as the room’s control panel.

The lighting (of both the room and bathroom), air conditioning, television and Internet can be controlled via its touch screen.

The iPod also turns into a peephole if you want to see who’s at the door. Alas, for now you still have to get up to open it. But by October, the iPod will be able to unlock the door. And by November, you’ll be able to order in-room, and check-out with your iPod Touch.

The hotel spent about Rs 150,000 per room on the technology. Obviously, they’ve ensured you can’t walk away with it. As soon as you step out of the room, an alarm sounds off at the hotel’s tech center and lobby.

Suba International, Plot 211, Chakala, Sahar Road, opposite cigarette factory, Andheri (E); +91 (0)22 67076707; www.hotelsubainternational.com

2. Nano drives at Royal Palms

Pint-sized Tata Nano cars in red, silver and blue may no longer evoke curiosity on Mumbai roads, but inside a five-star hotel they certainly do.

The Royal Palms in Goregaon, an expansive property, uses India's "people's car" to ferry guests from the main gate to the reception, as well as around the property.

We're told intrigued guests have often requested test drives within the hotel.

The 39 Nanos (costing around Rs 1.25 lakh each) get better mileage than the Indcas and Santros cars being used earlier, says Dilawar Nensey, joint managing director of Royal Palms India.

Royal Palms Hotel, Aarey Mill Compound, Goregaon (E); +91 (0)22 2879 5000; www.royalpalmsindia.com

3. Express in-room massages at Svenska

Mumbai isn’t very kind to business travelers. After a day out commuting, even a cookie-cutter hotel room -- along with a drink or three -- seems rather appealing.

Now throw a massage into this mix. But the spa is five floors down, you think. And requires an appointment.

The Shiekh brothers -- Zia and Wasim -- who run the Svenska chain of boutique business hotels, realized they needed to take care of this pain in the neck.

Svenska throws in a daily in-room massage for all its guests.

“We suggest a 20-minute foot massage for salespeople or 30-minute head and neck massages for boardroom-bound executives,” said Zia Shiekh.

Available between 4 and 9 p.m., the service is often provided by blind masseurs. 

Svenska, F 73/74, Oberoi Complex, off Link Road, Andheri (W), Mumbai. +91 (0)22 4431 0000; www.svenskahotels.com

4. Maharashtrian thali at ITC Maratha

There comes a moment in all travelers' lives when they look at the in-room dining menu and want to throw it out of the window.

To add some spice to its in-room dining, the ITC Maratha has sneaked in a set Maharashtrian thali.

There were two reasons for this simple but highly appreciated innovation.

Indian travelers will always crave home food, while international ones often inquire about Maharashtrian cuisine but might not have the stomach for a local place.

The thali menu changes seasonally. The vegetarian option currently includes godi dal (sweet lentil soup), bharleli vangi (stuffed brinjal), mogachi usar (moong curry), masala bhaat (spicy rice), shrikhand (creamy sweet) and puri.

The non-vegetarian thali will either have a Bombil fry (a local fried fish), a kolambi curry (prawn curry) or kombdi hirva masala (chicken in green masala).

ITC Maratha, Sahar; +91 (0)22 2830 3030; www.itchotels.in

Vegetarian thali: Rs 1,295; Non-vegetarian thali: Rs 1,395

5. Lobby Xbox at Novotel

It’s amusing seeing a man in a dark blue business suit eye a gaming console. More so when it’s inside a hotel lobby.

The Novotel in Juhu, along side its lobby-esque couches and carpets, features a Microsoft Xbox 360.

In between conferences or while sitting it out waiting for a client, Blackberry- wielding men and women can often be seen veering towards the mounted console.

Novotel, Balraj Sahani Marg, Juhu Beach; +91 (0)22 6693 4444; www.novotel.com