JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity, India [Master Thread]
 

Somewhat to my surprise I can't find a peep about this on the Net, so I'll just report my findings this morning -- there's a building under construction in Jasola, next to the Apollo Indraprastha Hospital at the turnoff from NH-2 towards Noida, which has big "JW Marriott" hoardings around it. Odds are it's the "luxury hotel" mentioned in this article as an Emaar MGF property (they're also building the JW in Kolkata), for completion in FY10-11. Glad to see Marriott return to DEL ^

Nice to see Marriott returning to New Delhi!

Are there any updates?

JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity
 

This hotel says it opens August 2013. I tried to book a room on October 7 and it won't let me.

Does anyone know when it really opens?

I just did a google and the only thing that came up was April 2013 which is obviously old, and now wrong, news. If I were you and really wanted to know, I would call the Zirc reservation line and ask them, and if they didn't know, have them find out and get back to you. After all you are MR Zirc.

The Zirc line was answered by someone who don't speak the good English. He/She (not sure the gender) said it was opening August 23 and I couldn't book the room because "their computers are not hooked up." That was a new one for me.

About a month ago, the site was taking reservation for August. I booked for December and received confirmation.
While I was in Bangalore a few weeks ago, I happened to meet with the GM of Marriott Bangalore and when I mentioned to him about my booking at the upcoming JW in New Delhi, he wished me good luck because the opening will likely be substantially delayed due to issues related to Airport security. Apparently, Marriott and several other hotels have been ready to open but can not get Gov't approval to do so.

That stinks--it would have been very convenient to me because I land at DEL at 10:30pm and I fly the next day to IXC and just need a nice place to crash that is close to the airport.

The Aloft is showing an April 2014 opening date:
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofth...ropertyID=3767

Well, maybe these hotels can open soon:

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/...cle4974621.ece

It seems it should be opening this month, but I have just tried to reserve a room for May 2014 and there are none available :(:confused:

Must be a resurgent India programme. Just completed a stay at the new JW Marriott in Bangalore

Please do a trip report (in its own thread to make it easier for search) if you've got time. Thx!

Cheers.

you mean you're asking for Flapster to put his review in the thread he started??????????????
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...-marriott.html

Didn't realize there was a thread on the property already. Great place to post it!

Cheers.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...-aerocity.html

Could it be that one?

As of a few days ago, it said "opening in September 2013" but now it says "opening soon."

I have been following this hotel for an upcoming trip. This has been delayed for many months due to Government of India security concerns. Its not tentatively going to open in October. I think it was supposed to open in June, then July and then August. That's Indian gov't for you.

I have been following it as well. I would like to stay there in October but it doesn't look like that is going to happen.

Can you imagine spending millions to build a hotel that the government later decides is not allowed to open? Only in India...

sorry to say it's also happened in China too (when the City of Shanghai wouldn't provide occupational license and they're the owners of the hotel).........

Marriott Aerocity
 

Last word was that the local governments were about to sign off on security issues. Now they may be requiring a massive glass wall between hotel and runway. One would have thought that all this would have been sorted out before 14 hotels started construction. Seems the hotel is ready to go but government is not. If any new information, please reply.

Some more info on what all the hotel had to do to comply:
http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/d...id=17609&sid=1


Earlier, the hotel received conditional clearance from BCAS, which said the hotel authorities would have to meet certain conditions keeping in mind the security issues before applying for licence. According to the police, one of the conditions was that all the rooms facing the runway should be sealed and alarm systems installed to prevent any unlawful entry into the rooms. Another condition was that the passages leading to the top floor and the rooftop should be blocked and access should be allowed only under supervision. A third condition was that entry to the balcony on the sixth floor be shut and sealed, and rooms facing the runway should be secured with bulletproof glasses. The hotel claims to have fulfilled all the conditions stated the report.

Now the web site says "Opening October 2013" - any takers?:D

since no inventory has been loaded for any dates, think I'll pass...........

About three months ago or so when it was taking reservations, I had booked a couple stays for December. At the time it was showing 'opening July 2013'.
I do hope that it is open in October or soon after because the only other Marriott is a Courtyard in Gurgaon and not very convenient in Delhi traffic.

looks like it is about to open
 

Just noticed that the hotel is taking reservation for stays starting October 18th. The rates now are about 40% higher than when it originally started accepting reservations about four months ago which is when I booked for my upcoming trip in December.

Thanks for that, I have now managed to book my stay for next May. Do post a trip report after your stay.

must have been VERY expensive security glass :D

I'll be in the area for a week in November but fear staying here as it will probably still be working out the kinks. I'm at the Courtyard now.

Would love to hear about your stay and a mini comparison between the Gurgaon Courtyard and the JW Marriott. I am booked at the JW for early December.

I was going to move to this hotel as I need to fly down to Bangalore for a day trip but then I read this:

"This hotel does not provide shuttle service."

How does a 5 start hotel AT the airport NOT provide shuttle service???? This is why:

"Mercedes-Benz S Class; fee: 2500 INR (one way)"

Shameful.

You can get on the airport express train from the airport for about $1

OK, so I changed my reservation and will have 3 nights each at the CY and the new JW. Also 1 night at the Ritz in Bangalore. I'll get some updates when I return later in November.

Checked in to the JW today. This place is amazing. Easily the nicest Marriott property I have stayed in and on par with most of the Ritz Carlton's as well. Staff is incredible. I'll get a full report once I stay a few days, but don't hesitate to book a room here!

Am at this moment sat in the JW lounge having been here for a couple of days, so here are my impressions.

It's a 10 minute ride from the airport in either a Toyota Fortuner or a Merc S class, I chose the Merc and got the S class - good start! The hotel meeters and greeters are on the left hand side.

A whole posse of folk turned out to meet me, including the duty manager, guess they weren't too busy...after the welcome drink, we went off for an in room check in.

Lovely modern room, and of course everything is brand new. Great bed, brand new sheets, the colour scheme is lots of differing brown / beige hues, evident throughout the hotel. I have some pictures, will have to upload at a later point. Usual in room amenities, minibar etc and a ipod / pad compatible music system. (tip: no need to d/load the app to use if just playing music). My room has a terrace with a couple of seats, quite nice at this time of year, but partly overlooking a construction site at the moment. Great spacious shower and bath, for privacy the bath has a screen that can be pulled over to shield from the rest of the room. They are going through a soft opening period currently and not all of the floors are open, not that you would notice!.

Usual breakfast selection offering, with Indian specialties offered. Free newspapers on the room door in the morning, and a nice little personalized paper each morning with a global roundup. The breakfast staff are probably a little too keen, I only need to be asked once if I am enjoying myself and having a wonderful day, but if this is all I have to criticize then things ain't so bad...

I have used the car service via the concierge and I have nothing but praise for him and his team, especially the drivers - they helped me out enormously and excellent service. (and another Merc upgrade - and no I didn't ask.) how they cope with the Delhi traffic I don't know day in and day out I don't know!

And so, to the lounge. The lounge will eventually be on the 3rd floor, but in the interim is at K3 on the ground floor. Various seating, comfy tall back chairs, sofa's and really good attentive service, without being in your face - the .whole place just feels comfortable and right - maybe that's because there aren't too many guests currently.

For Sharon, the lounge Opening hours for are .0900 through to 0100 with High Tea for qualifying exec members between 1500 and 1700 and then open for drinks / snacks on a gratis basis between 1800 and 2100. Last orders are at 0045 and they will chuck you out by 0130 (apparently
Lots of choice of alcoholic drinks, 4 beers, and then a little food selection -.
Now this is the best bit. Just read this lot and let your mouth water...

Foie gras (the ethics aside, I like it and can recommend it), hummus, vegetable and tuna salad, smoked salmon canapés, pethiwali tikki, somosas, lamb mince, kathi rolls, cheese selection, sliders, antipasti, crispy shrimp calamari, steamed jiao zi dumplings, pastries etc etc.

to finish up, there isn't much here at the moment in the vicinity, there's a new Hyatt going up, some offices etc, but lots of ongoing construction. There's no noise from the construction itself, but occasionally you may hear the odd plane start up - hey it's an airport hotel after all.

At the moment there is no hotel shuttle, and this is due to GMR regulations, not of the hotels making. As the area develops there will be a shuttle, but no time line on this. So it's a taxi, hotel car or the train which is about 500 meters walk to the hotel. The hotel are frustrated about this, but much like the saga with the security required for the airport segregation, not their fault.

So, would I stay here again? Most definitely and will stay here without hesitation. Recommended.

Lol...fancy a drink?

Beano HK, thanks for the detailed review! And I'll update the exec lounge sticky.

You might want to PM lucycan about meeting up while you're both there. It's always fun to chat with other FTers in person.

Cheers.

We did! Does it count as an impromptu FT do?

If only all JW's were like this...

Yes, & sometimes impromptu ones are the best ones! Reading your review, I'd agree w/ the if only all JWs comment!

Cheers.

Thanks Beano HK for a detailed review.
We will be there in 3 weeks and are looking forward to our stay. A couple questions for you and/or Lucycan if you are able to get the details while there!!
- is the gyn open and if so what are their hours of operation?
- The 'temporary' lounge : is it just a section within the K3 restaurant or an enclosed area? Are non alcoholic beverages etc. available throughout the day or just at certain hours?
- When is the lounge scheduled to open? and
- did either of you get any details about suite upgrades or are they even available during the soft opening?
I am an MR PLAT and plan to spend a fair amount of time at the hotel so a lounge and extra room space will definitely come in handy.
Thanks in advance.

The gymnasium is open 24/7 but only manned until 2300.

The lounge is currently adjacent to K3, and is semi - private.

I don't know about non alcoholic drinks.

Lounge is scheduled to open on level 3 "next week".

I don't know about upgrades and didn't ask, I was more than satisfied with my room though.

Both lucycan and I have now checked out, Although they may be back in a day or so and as a Plat maybe better placed than me to comment on upgrades.

Ate in K3 last night, choice of buffet or a la carte. I chose buffet with a choice of Chinese, Italian and Indian selections. Nothing fancy, but no complaints. I enjoyed the home made ice cream. YMMV

Thanks for the responses to my questions. Good to hear that the lounge will be opening next week and that the gym is open 24 hours.
Safe travels..

I'm back at the hotel now so let me know if you have additional questions.