New Trident Mumbai hotel focuses squarely on the business traveller

The new Trident hotel in Bandra Kurla recently opened as a sophisticated business and accommodation venue. We take a look around

By Udita Jhunjhunwala 8 January, 2010

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Brand power: The Trident, Bandra Kurla, with 436 guestrooms, including 77 Trident club rooms and 24 suites, was 80 percent full on its second day of business.

The main driveway could easily be mistaken for a corporate headquarters.

The lobby by day, where Dimpy Menon's sculptures provide a pleasing distraction.

Restaurant and bar 022, named after Mumbai's telephone code, is in keeping with the hotel's business vibe.

In less than a month of their opening, the 022 bar section has become one of the best places to have a working lunch in the suburbs.

The deluxe suites make a modern design statement with their red overtures.

The premier suite living room appears to be modelled on an ultra modern city apartment.

The bathrooms aren't all like this. This is the presidential suite washroom, the rest are smaller. Much smaller.

The lobby is sunny by day with a warm yellow glow at night.

The pool is the sort that makes you feel guilty you aren't doing laps instead of drinking at the bar.

The Trident, Bandra Kurla is situated in the heart of the new financial and commercial district of North Mumbai, 20 minutes from the airport.

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You could almost miss the Trident Mumbai’s newest property in the commercial Bandra-Kurla Complex of North Mumbai, mistaking it for the premises of a bank or IT company headquarters. The sandstone-colored façade and the pale interiors are missing the warmth, luxury and leisure of The Oberoi Group's Trident at Nariman Point at the other end of town. But then the Trident’s location (20 minutes from the airports) defines its focus on the business traveller.

Take the swimming pool for instance. Those wishing for a resort or leisure holiday are unlikely to be too enamored of the view from the infinity pool -- shanties on a distant hillside, the construction site of the U.S. Consulate on the right and the Dhirubhai Ambani International School on the left.

The 436 room hotel has a variety of options ranging from Deluxe to Premier Suites (priced between Rs 15,000 to Rs 50,000 including breakfast, excluding taxes) which are kitted out with all the mandatory five-star amenities including an iPod docking station, wifi, an LCD television and DVD player, electronic safe and electronically controlled blackout blinds to deal with the inconvenient jet lag that often accompanies you on business trips.

Say you're rooming with a colleague, shy guests need not worry -- the glass-walled bathroom comes fitted with electronically controlled roller blinds for privacy. The compact nature of the bathrooms will ensure you do not spend too long pampering yourself with the bath amenities from Crabtree & Evelyn.

The places to hang out are the naturally lit, all-day dining restaurant 022 (named after Mumbai's telephone code) which is already proving to be a popular lunch destination with executives from the neighborhood. While the sushi leaves something to be desired, the wine tasting room is a nice addition. It’s only a matter of time before the Sunday brunch figures on the Mumbai-ites weekend itinerary. The USP of Botticino, the Italian specialty restaurant, is the two-floor high enoteca and a grappa display. In fact the use of Italian botticino marble is one of the predominant design elements of the Trident, BKC. Besides these, there is Indian restaurant Maya and a patisserie and delicatessen.

Don't miss the sculptures by artist Dimpy Menon dotted around the premises and nicknamed by the staff, 'The Conversation', 'A Lazy Sunday Afternoon', 'A Fine Balance'. The carved grill from the lobby level to the first floor takes inspiration from the Taj Mahal in Agra and adds a touch of elegance to remind you that you're in five-star India.

In a separate zone are housed the conference and banqueting facilities, a spa and fitness centre.

The hotel caters for its business clientele with state of the art amenities available in six meeting rooms, four boardrooms and a business center. The library with a collection of leather-bound reference and coffee table books is a classy touch as is the attached terrace which is sure to be popular with stressed out smokers. The multi-purpose conference and banqueting facilities cover 930 sq m and can accommodate up to 550 people.

After all this intense and efficient negotiating and networking, one needs a bit of R&R.

While the Trident Bandra Kurla lacks a standalone bar or a shopping zone (besides one gift shop in the lobby), the spa (for resident guests only) is certainly a calming space. Dressed in muted colors with a patch of landscaped courtyard outside the therapy rooms, the spa has single and double therapy rooms and an inviting variety of massages and beauty treatments. Look out for the Hot Lava Shell massage and the couples massage.

If, on your stay in Mumbai you are looking for charm, character and a flavor of the city, the Trident Bandra Kurla may not be for you. But if you have business partners in the suburbs and convenience and commerce are your calling cards then look no further than the new Trident Mumbai.

Trident, Bandra Kurla, C-56, G Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai 400 098; tel. +91 (0) 22 6672 7777 or toll free 1800 11 2122; www.tridenthotels.com

The Oberoi Group, founded in 1934, operates 28 hotels and three cruise liners in five countries under the luxury 'Oberoi' and five-star 'Trident' brands.

Udita is an entertainment and lifestyle writer and author based in Mumbai.

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New Trident Mumbai hotel focuses squarely on the business traveller

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