The Residency Group of Hotels

The Residency Group of Hotels is a hotel chain in India, with luxury, business, and boutique hotels across the region. The group's parent company is the Chennai-based Appaswamy Real Estates Ltd., which was founded in 1959. The group forayed into the hospitality sector in 1991 and currently operates six hotels in four locations with over 500 rooms.[1] Ravi Appasamy acts as Managing Director with Rohit Ravi as Director. B. Gopinath handles all the hotels as Chief Operating Officer of The Residency Group.

The Residency Group of Hotels
IndustryHospitality
Number of locations
6
Area served
South India
Key people
ParentAppaswamy Real Estates Ltd.
Websitehttps://www.theresidency.com/

The Residency Group of Hotels’ six properties are located in Chennai, Coimbatore, Puducherry and Karur. Each hotel is centrally located. The distinguishing factor of the chain is its food and beverage operations, with its themed restaurants and bars. The Towers properties are the group’s 5-star luxury deluxe properties.

List of Hotels
Property Star Rating No. of Rooms
The Residency Towers Chennai 5 star 176
The Residency Chennai 4 star 112
The Residency Towers Coimbatore 5 star 135
The Residency Towers Puducherry 5 star 75
The Richmond Puducherry 3 star 14
The Residency Karur 3 star 49

Brand Ethos

As one of the earliest South Indian hotel chains,[2] the brand has gone through a revival and rebranding to appeal to the new-age customer. Their investment in modern technology, intensive training and manpower has led this revival.[3]

The Residency Group of Hotels has also shared its new brand positioning – ‘Hospitality with Heart’. The brand ethos is Caring, Anticipating, Inspiring and Evolving.[4]

This rebranding was geared towards becoming more premium and guest-centric, and the change in Coimbatore from Hotel Residency to The Residency Towers signalled this shift towards a more premium experience.[5] Their plans for expansion in Madurai and Mysore at prime locations are part of this effort. The new Puducherry luxury hotel has 71 rooms and suites and two state-of-the-art food & beverage outlets apart from leisure and banquet facilities.[6]

Post COVID-19 Safety Protocol

The Residency Group introduced heightened safety protocol at all their hotels during the COVID-19 pandemic. A ‘hygiene butler’ was appointed at each location as a one-point contact to customers asking for more details on sanitation measures taken up by the group.[7]

Their ‘Hospitality with Heart’ greeting is also a contactless alternative to the classic handshake. The right hand is placed diagonally across the chest on top of the heart as a way to welcome guests.

In an interview with F&H Magazine in May 2020, COO B. Gopinath revealed other measures the group has taken to keep their spaces safe. Digital ID cards for check-in, thermal screening at the entrance, reduced seating at restaurants, and increased safety during airport pickups are just some of the measures the group has put in place.[8]

With the restrictions on dining out, they introduced online gourmet delivery. This service aims to bring culinary experiences from their luxury and premium hotels to the customer’s doorstep.[9] All food is prepared under strict safety conditions. Select delicacies are delivered to customers from several Residency outlets. Through this service, customers can enjoy their restaurant favourites in the safety of their homes.

Social Initiatives

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, The Residency Towers Chennai joined hands with other hotels in the city to feed stray dogs left starving during the lockdown.[10] The hotel contributed 10-15 kilograms of fresh-cooked food daily towards this initiative, feeding close to 120 dogs a day.

Awards

The group was recognised for their eco practices and sustainability initiatives in 2019 at the GreenOtel Awards, a National Award by Root Cause Media that strives to engage the hospitality industry towards green consciousness. They took home the following awards:

  • The Residency Chennai - Silver (Medium Format Hotel Category)
  • The Residency Towers Coimbatore - Silver (Large Format Hotel Category)

Their restaurants have also been recognised with prestigious awards.[11] Chin Chin, at The Residency Chennai has been presented the Best Chinese Award multiple times by the Times Food Guide.[12]

Residency Resorts Malé Private Ltd.

Residency Resorts Malé Private Ltd. was formed to open a super luxury resort on the Vommuli Island in Maldives in 2016 – The St. Regis Vommuli Resort, Maldives. The resort has 47 sea-facing cottages on the waters of Dhaal Atoll in Vommuli.[13] Managed under the St.Regis name by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., Ravi Appasamy, Managing Director of Residency Resorts Malé Private Limited, says that this property marries the bespoke service of the St. Regis brand with the ‘barefoot luxury’ mentality of the Maldives.[14]

References
  1. "Residency Group to set up hotels in Madurai, Mysore". The Economic Times. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  2. Kandavel, Sangeetha (15 October 2015). "Residency Hotels to get a makeover". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  3. "The Residency Hotels introduces New Brand Identity". BW Hotelier. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  4. "The Residency bags GreenOtel Awards". www.magzter.com. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  5. "Residency Group to set up hotels in Madurai, Mysore". The Economic Times. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  6. Bureau, Our. "Residency hotel on an image makeover". @businessline. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  7. "Hotel industry mulls pay cuts, reducing manpower to tide over lockdown woes". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  8. "Food & Health Magazine - Get your Digital Subscription". Magzter. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  9. "MakeMyTrip enters Swiggy, Zomato's space with a foray into food delivery". afaqs!. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  10. "Chennai hotels dish out food for strays". The Times of India. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  11. "Times Food Guide Awards '15 - Chennai: Winners". photogallery.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  12. "Times Food Guide Awards '17 - Chennai: Winners". photogallery.indiatimes.com. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  13. 100010509524078 (22 October 2016). "Residency Group enters Maldives with 6-star resort". dtNext.in. Retrieved 19 August 2020.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  14. "St. Regis Vommuli Resort to Open 2016 in the Maldives". www.hotelnewsresource.com. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
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