Ista Hotels today announced the launch of its 4th hotel in India and first in Maharashtra, in Pune. Part of IHHR Hospitality Private Limited, a young chain of five star luxury hotels and owners-promoters of ‘Ananda in the Himalayas’, India’s first and only Destination spa, Ista Pune follows its award winning hotels at Bangalore, Hyderabad and Amritsar. The group has invested approximately Rs. 750 crores till date.
Adjacent to the famous Aga Khan Palace and 10 minutes drive from the airport, Ista Pune is part of the young group that has brought new-age business luxury hotels to India. With 209 elegantly appointed rooms, including 12 spacious suites, some with private gardens, two restaurants and a trendy lounge bar, the hotel caters to the young corporate executive and leisure traveller alike.
“Pune is an integral part of our expansion plan and we are pleased to open hotel Ista in the city. Since the launch of Ista hotels five years ago, we have focused on creating exceptional guest experiences. This has proved to be a critical differentiator for us in the market, one that we look forward to bringing to our Pune debut.” said Mr. Ashok Khanna, Managing Director IHHR Hospitality Private Limited.
Mr. Nikhil Kapur, General Manager, hotel Ista, Pune said on the occasion, “Ista hotels have a distinctive style that caters to the global travellers across board, from corporate executives to leisure travellers. We understand their need for comfort and service. The youthful and buzzing city of Pune will definitely appreciate the new benchmark in hospitality. With contemporary architecture and elegant interiors to individualized service and inventive culinary concepts, the hotel promises the inimitable experience that only the new-age hotel chain like Ista can offer.”
Living
The hotel features 209 of Ista’s signature, elegantly appointed rooms. All the guest rooms are situated from the 2nd to the 7th floor of the hotel to ensure privacy and panoramic views of the city. Guest rooms and suites include 16 Ista Club rooms, 4 Deluxe, 4 Luxury and 4 Garden suites. There is easy access to the Club Lounge for guests in Ista club rooms and suites on the 11th floor. The club lounge is open to the guests for meals and snacks as well as for drinks and other treats for the rest of the day.
The rooms have tea and coffee making facility, electronic safes, a walk in closet with ample space for luggage and a well stocked mini-bar. For in-room entertainment there is a LCD TV with space for a DVD player. Each room is equipped with a two line direct dial phone with high speed broad band connectivity to meet the needs of the business traveler. Remote Control Units at the bedside give a guest the convenience of controlling all the lights & air conditioning, with added features of a world time clock, an alarm and controls for ‘Privacy’ and ‘Make my room’. The bathrooms have windows for natural light with views of the city. A glass wall shower cubicle offers guest their choice of shower settings for an invigorating start or a relaxing end to a busy day.
Business & Banquet Facilities
For the business needs of its guests Ista has a round the clock Executive Centre. Its facilities include a board room, meeting room, work stations and secretarial services. The hotel also offers 10,000 sq. feet of meeting space dedicated to high-level executive gatherings and exclusive social events of up to 500 attendees (300 seated). The facilities feature a 1900 sq. feet outdoor banquet facility at Istana Terrace. In addition to these facilities, Ista Pune offers all guests private dining facilities, wireless internet access in public areas, and a business centre featuring full business services.
DiningFor connoisseurs of good food & fine taste, the hotel presents 2 restaurants; Eighty Eight and Baan Tao, Fish Bowl – a trendy lounge bar and a Tea lounge, each of which possesses its own distinctive character.
The all-day fine dining restaurant – ‘Eighty Eight’ has been designed with an elegant, glamorous, yet functional setting. It offers a unique al fresco dining experience combining a-la-carte dining with a live Japanese Teppanyaki grill and Tempura station led by Chef Enjang from Indonesia. Customised Roma style Pizzas and international classics make this a great all day dining destination. One exclusive private dining room complements the restaurant. An eclectic menu and the talents of the acclaimed head chef create an intensity of flavours to craft a truly memorable dining experience.
Baan Tao offers the best facets of authentic Chinese and Thai cuisine. A clear contrast to the soft neutral pastels of Eighty Eight, the décor at Baan Tao embraces the rich and varied influences of South East Asia. The overall ambience of this restaurant with its wood elements, Chinese style sloped beamed ceiling, screens of traditional Chinese hand printing blocks and rain drop crystal lanterns is contemporary, yet with the overall inspiration from the Chinese Imperial Courtyard. Baan Tao’s signature outdoor deck seating within Thai pavilions is surrounded by water and landscaped areas. The water garden has a floating pavilion, which guests can reserve for a private dinner.
All the dishes at Baan Tao have been given an original twist and are set to become signature dishes among the most discerning of diners. Baan Tao is headed by Chef Anthony Huang specialising in South East Asian cuisine and Chef Somboon specialising in Thai cuisine.
Baan Tao also presents Pune’s first in-hotel Tea Lounge. Guests can sample a wide range of single estate teas with a unique selection of condiments and flavourings. Edgy and chic, the trendy lounge bar – Fish bowl is the perfect nightspot for youthful globetrotters. It combines a world-class bar and wine selection with modern decor, live music and a seductive ambience, making this a great place to unwind at the end of a long day. Signature cocktails served in funky fishbowls are a unique feature and encourage cheer and bonhomie. The Bar is unique in its contemporary design and approach, and continues on to an open terrace where guests can enjoy the fresh air outside under the stars.
Spa and Recreation
Featuring treatments inspired by group flagship property and renowned destination spa, Ananda in the Himalayas, the spa at Ista Pune transcends the typical urban wellness facility. Spanning over 3500 sq. feet of area, it features 5 beautifully appointed private treatment rooms, two for Ayurveda, two for international therapies and one couples suite. The spa combines ancient and modern Indian, European and Oriental therapies and uses luxury Ananda 
products that contain essential natural oils and herbs. A temperature controlled swimming pool is complemented by a Vitality Pool, a unique trend in wellness. Aesthetic landscaping including a spacious pool deck and a state-of-the-art fitness centre complete the leisure facilities.
Ista Hotels prides itself in the immaculate and personal style of service it extends to its guests. This dedication is endorsed by the many accolades the chain has received in its short history-from Best Business Hotels in South Asia (Travel & Leisure) to among the Top Spas in the World (Conde Nast Traveller, USA) to the Best Business Hotels (SATTE, India). With more signature Ista properties in the pipeline over the next 5 years in key business and leisure destinations, Ista is poised to redefine India’s hotel landscape.
Hotel Ista, Pune has been designed by the internationally acclaimed architecture and design firm Chaddha Siembieda & Associates, Hong Kong and Burega Farnell, Singapore. Its classically inspired interiors interspersed with contemporary and Oriental accents & jewel tones and a majestic backdrop of the lobby waterfall have been effortlessly blended with the city’s green outdoors, evoking a subtle yet definitive sense of space and calm.