- ‘GVK Lounge’ is the first ever Luxury Lounge at any airport in the world, common for all Airlines
- Spread across 30,000 sq. ft. first / business class ‘GVK Lounge’ will showcase the rich Indian design and hospitality and a vibrant India setting new global standards
GVK Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport’s (CSIA) Terminal T2 opened its all new Luxury Lounge for its first / business class travellers today. The ‘GVK Lounge’ was inaugurated by Dr. GVK Reddy, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director, GVK. This is the first ever common Luxury Lounge in the country, unlike other global and Indian airports, which usually have different first/ business class lounges for different airlines. Spread across an area of 30,000 sq. ft. in two levels – Level 4 and 3, the GVK Lounge has a total capacity to accommodate 440 guests at any given point in time. It hosts some of the most innovative facilities and latest technologies in the form of Concierge Services, Smoking Zone, F&B, Bar, Luxury Spa, Shower Area, Relaxation Area, Library and a Business Centre, in keeping with MIAL’s ideology of encouraging product, service and design innovation to complement the overall ambience, design and architecture of the new terminal T2.
Speaking on the occasion,
Dr. GVK Reddy, Founder, Chairman and Managing Director, GVK said, "At GVK CSIA, it has been our continuous endeavour to enhance traveller delight, and the new GVK Lounge at T2 will successfully take this effort to new heights. The lounge reflects a kaleidoscopic vision of the dreams of India and the pulse of Mumbai, and is themed to give the travellers a blend of world class local ambiences at the airport. We are confident that the travellers will relish the service experience offered in the GVK Lounge. Airlines can now offer a unique and luxurious lounge experience to their discerning passengers and the “pay per use” concept means no upfront investments and lower operating costs for Airlines.”
CSIA has awarded the lounge concession to a partnership between Travel Food Services (TFS), the leading food and beverage operator in the travel sector, and Performa, a gategroup company and a worldwide leader in designing, managing and servicing of airport lounges. Commenting on the occasion,
Mr. Sunil Kapur, Chairman, TFS said, "We have worked closely with the team at GVK MIAL to embody the vision of the Airport into our lounge experience for travellers, and are confident our partnership with Performa will create a true benchmark. Airlines flying from the Airport will be able to offer their premium passengers an unmatched experience that will provide an inestimable value to their patrons. On entering the lounge, passengers will glimpse a combination of design that is of the highest international standard but still epitomises the spirit of Mumbai; experience superlative service & care from our highly trained professionals; a one of a kind gastronomic journey; and a basic philosophy of making the lounge experience a reflection of the authenticity, warmth and character of Mumbai.”
Mr. Beat Ehlers, Managing Director, Performa (gategroup’s lounge service brand) said, “We are elated to be working together with our partners GVK and TFS for bringing together the best of both worlds to create an unrivalled customer service experience for premium travellers through unique service, culinary excellence and an exceptional lounge concept based on personal interaction, warm and professional service and a solid understanding of the guest mind-set and product knowledge, delivering nothing but the best.”
Designed by India’s celebrated fashion designer
Sandeep Khosla and Mumbai’s highly acclaimed architect
Alfaz Miller, ABM, based on a concept by Softroom Architects, UK, the lounge section at Level 4 has a gold theme, while the silver theme flows through Level 3. Both the levels have been aesthetically designed with a range of variations seen in geometry, pattern and form. A sense of grandeur has been instilled in various elements starting from the texture with the use of colours and hues, and a layered approach with reflective surfaces adding to the tactile and visual appeal of spaces to establish the luxurious nature of the venue. The GVK Lounge also has strategic lighting display that draws inspiration from a rich palette of Indian light, filtered through the country’s nature, architectural environments and celebrations. Selective palettes of amber, red and gold, dusk and water garden have been interwoven to offer a top-notch world class feel to the entire lounge space.
The lounge is segregated in three different categories – First Class, Premium Class and Business Class. The experience at the exclusive First Class (FC) section at Level 4 of the lounge will be akin to a five star hotel with highly personalized service and care to details. The service concept is based on maximum comfort, providing exclusive and the highest level of attention without compromising privacy. FC travellers will enjoy top level amenities such as à la carte dining, and individual spa treatments, and further will be able to avail facilities including relaxation rooms, shower facilities, concierge services, etc. The kitchen crew, with a strong set of Indian and international talent, will transform the à la carte dining area into a gourmet restaurant upholding highest culinary standards. The FC section service personnel exclusively consist of highly trained, multi-lingual Senior Attachés with a background in the hospitality industry.
The Premium Class (PC) section travellers will benefit from fast access to an exclusive lounge environment on level 4, the same level as the FC lounge. A generous seating set-up of 170 seats guarantees privacy and personalized service with care to details. The opulent buffet area, which is connected to a live Tandoori kitchen, will entice the PC guest with a selection of finest dishes, fresh fruit juices from the juice bar, a whiskey lounge and much more. PC guests will have preferential access to a number of additional service offerings such as a foot massage, or access to the relaxation area, smokers lounge, etc. Highly trained attachés with a background in the premium hotel industry will ensure a personalized service at the highest level where appropriate.
Travellers in the Business Class (BC) section will benefit from a generous seating area with 270 seats on level 3; this will offer the guests more privacy than in most other comparable BC lounges present internationally. The buffet area will offer a range of fresh Oriental, Asian and International dishes. Furthermore, this section will offer a number of additional services such as foot massages, a smokers lounge, barista service, etc. Highly trained attachés with a background in the premium hotel industry will ensure a professional service at all times.
On this occasion,
Mr G V Sanjay Reddy, MD of MIAL said, “The GVK Lounge is another effort by GVK to set new global benchmarks in the airport business. The concept of the common luxury lounge and the design and aesthetics sets new standards in airport lounges in the world. We hope the premium passengers will enjoy this experience”.
Through this lounge, GVK MIAL aims to realize its vision of creating a design theme that will give travellers a distinct ‘Sense of Place’ and a clear awareness of being in Mumbai. The entire lounge design and space boasts of distinguishing interiors reflecting the Indian ethos as well as an amazing sense of peace and relaxation. The exquisite Jali screens, stylish furniture, stunning, contemporary chandeliers and the signature glass peacock installation are all skilfully designed and beautifully hand crafted showcasing the best of India.
Notes to editors: GVK MIAL: GVK Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd (MIAL) is a Public Private Partnership joint venture between GVK-led consortium and Airports Authority of India (AAI). GVK MIAL was awarded the mandate for operating and modernizing Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai (CSIA). Through this transformational initiative, GVK MIAL aims to make CSIA one of the world’s best airports that consistently delight customers besides being the pride of Mumbai. The new integrated Terminal 2 at CSIA enhances the airport’s capacity to service 40 million passengers and one million tons of cargo annually. The new ‘Terminal 2’ resonates cultural richness & legacy of India through a seamless amalgamation of architecture, design and the largest programme for art in public space spanning across the terminal. It also represents the new, contemporary & modern India through its enabling business ecosystem as well as efficient functioning made possible by state-of-the-art facilities and advanced technological systems adopted.
About Travel Food Services: Travel Food Services Limited (TFS) is India's leading dedicated F&B concessionaire in the travel infrastructure segment. It is one of the largest airport F&B Concessionaires in India, catering to over 50 million customers, with major operations at both Mumbai Airport, and Delhi Airport . TFS has operations at other smaller airports in India and has also expanded internationally in Muscat and Salalah Airports in Oman. The company has created a superlative portfolio of some of the best brands to cater to discerning passengers at travel locations including proprietary brands Dilli Streat, Terminal F, Cafeccino, Idli.com, Curry Kitchen, Noodle Wok, , Swich as well as global favorites such as KFC, Domino's Pizza, Haagen-Dazs, Ultra Bar, and Cafe Coffee Day, to name a few. TFS has been founded by Mr. Sunil Kapur, the visionary business leader and founding promoter of Blue Foods - one of India’s largest F&B retail companies. Mr. Kapur is also highly acknowledged for the creation of iconic restaurant brands such as Copper Chimney, Spaghetti Kitchen, Gelato Italiano, Blue Sea, Noodle Bar, Bombay Blue and a host of others, having led individual brand expansions across the length and breadth of the country l. Drawing upon his extensive experience in the F&B industry, Travel Food Services is committed to transforming the F&B landscape within large scale travel infrastructure projects across the entire region.
www.travelfoodservices.com About Performa: Performa is a part of Gategroup which is the leading independent global provider of onboard services to companies that serve people on the move. Gategroup comprises the following brands: deSter, eGate Solutions, Gate Aviation, Gate Gourmet, Gate Safe, Harmony, Performa, potmstudios, Pourshins and Supplair. The Group’s world-class capabilities are focused in catering and hospitality; provisioning and logistics; and onboard solutions. Our customers include top airlines around the world that rely on our expertise and solutions tailored to their guests, service offerings and the geographic regions in which they operate. Shares of Zurich based gategroup are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange under the symbol GATE.
www.gategroup.com Photo Caption:
GVK Lounge at CSIA T2 - The first ever Luxury Lounge at any airport in the world, common for all Airlines – 1 GVK Lounge at CSIA T2 - The first ever Luxury Lounge at any airport in the world, common for all Airlines – 2 
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