Service apartments, combining luxury and comfort, launched

Now, there's more for visitors to city
Travellers to Pune need no longer be cooped up in the confines of a hotel room and live out of a suitcase. Underscoring the city's arrival on the business and travel map are service apartments, that aim at providing corporate travellers in-transit executives and families who wish to stay for longer duration, the freedom, privacy and space of home, with the comforts and conveniences of a hotel.

A pioneering effort of Naiknavare Associates and the brainchild of Gauri Naiknavare , these service apartments, located in uptown Koregaon Park, offer the traveller a choice of apartments ranging from single/double/compact on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis (see box on tariff)
The apartments have tasteful interiors, contemporary furnishings with ample work space and dining area, and a functional kitchen. The bedroom is air-conditioned, while the living room has a television set. Each apartment is also equipped with a phone. The kitchen too has a refrigerator, gas connection, toaster and cutlery. For the health conscious guest, the apartment complex houses a swimming pool and gymnasium.

Daily house keeping, a laundry service, a complimentary breakfast everyday, and travel arrangements are some of the services provided for at no extra cost. A small pantry caters room service, while an 'on request' service for food from a variety of restaurants ensures a variegated fare.

Says Gauri, who has also done up the interiors, "We provide the best of both worlds - the hotel and the home. Moreover, for long-staying guest, hotel prove very expensive, apart from the lack of personal space."

Known hotel consultant Keky Khan who has provided his expertise on the project says, "Service apartments have been in existence for a long time around the world. I'm sure the service apartments in the city will be very popular among IT companies and other corporate alike"

One of the directors of Naiknavare Associates, Hemant Naiknavare , revealed the project and cost approximately Rs. 3 crore. The group is planning another service apartment in Kothrud, he said.

The Seasons Service Apartments are located at Trinity Court, Off South Main Road, Koregaon Park, Pune-411001. Telephone : 26140130/31/32

A World apart

The difference between the impersonal luxury of a hotel and the comfort and cosiness of a home is bridged by Seasons Service apartments, Trinity Court in Koregaon Park now available to the busy traveller who likes his basic comforts. This concept, introduced for the first time in Pune, has been launched by architect Gauri Naiknavare who is also involved with the architectural work of Naiknavare and Associates.

The idea is to provide corporate travellers, long-staying guests and families to the city alternative accommodation to the usual hotel. Walls that look homely instead of unfamiliar and rooms that are bright and big enough to cheer you up. Says Gauri, "we once had a marriage party staying here and eventually the bridegroom also moved in!"
There are a choice of apartments tastefully done up in inviting colours, wrought-iron furniture and ample space.

Each apartments also has a dining space and kitchen complete with basic crockery. A television, phone, air conditioner, refrigerator, gas connection, toaster even an electronic safe complete the list of essential items needed to make sure the traveller feels right at home.

One also gets a complimentary breakfast. "Guests are provided with sachets of basic beverages like tea and coffee. It is the closest you can get to home. Here, unlike in hotels, the guest can enjoy different cuisine as food from a variety of restaurants can be arranged for" says Gauri, who admits that the idea came from the fact that everytime they travelled abroad they preferred to stay in a service apartment.

The busy executive has recourse to a conference room and the internet, while the more relaxed visitor can avail of the swimming pool and gymnasium.

Other services include a laundry service, travel arrangements and car rental facilities.
"It is the best of both the worlds" says Gauri. Her husband, Hemant reveals that they have invested over 4 crores in the project and they expect an occupancy to be 75 percent.

Naturally, such tailor-made comfort comes with a price tag. A one-bedroom apartment costs Rs. 1,800 per day and Rs. 10,500 for a week, the two-bedroom apartments cost Rs 2,400 and Rs. 3000 a day depending on the size. Other packages vary.

The Seasons Service Apartments are at Trinity court, Off South Main Road, Koregaon Park. Tel No. : 26140130/31/32