Faiz Alam Ansari, shares details about his early MICE assignments and his insights into the MICE division of the Garden city of India while being the Complex General Manager at Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel and Convention Center.

IN THE recent years, India has emerged as one of the most sought-after MICE destination. This niche segment is the primary aspect of business tourism and is associated with business travellers which has witnessed a positive growth in the last two decades. This can be attributed mainly to the boom of the corporate industry in the country and Bangalore, being the multinational IT hub, has abundant potential to prosper in this field. Being a completely business driven market and Whitefield as a subset of this market has its own dynamics, which is quite flexible at the moment. With a robust inflow of both tourists and business travellers to the city, we expect Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Centre to be a game changer within the existing hospitality market. 

As a MICE hotel, this segment witnesses exponential growth and contributes significantly to our hospitality portfolio. I believe, the combination of a 5-star hotel adjacent to the large convention center makes us the colossal and ideal MICE space in the city, be it large corporate events, elaborate weddings or exuberant parties. We have observed that a majority segment of our guests are from the corporate and IT industry, driven by the growth of corporate sector. While being proactive to the needs of MICE travelers, the property is also agile and flexible in both services and facilities. We constantly add and update our curated event packages depending on the guest’s requirements. We have everything planned out for a flawless execution with a touch of the signature Sheraton style hospitality. In the recent past we have had the privilege of hosting multiple events and conferences on a large scale such as the Heart for the City, the Automation Anywhere, SAP FKOM SKOM Conference, SEMRUSH event and many more. 

Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Centre, located amidst a corporate market, is the only hotel in South India which includes a hi-tech state of the art convention center which can seat up to 2200+ people. This makes it the largest hotel in terms of offering a combined meeting space of more than 65,000 sq ft. We are also well-equipped with comprehensive audio-visual technology, an in-built stage, custom catering and a team of expert event planners to support the latest MICE requirements and demands. These facilities have enabled us to organize several events on a large-scale that would not have otherwise been possible in the city. Situated in the vicinity of some of the corporate giants, makes us an apt choice for guests travelling to Bangalore for work purposes.

In addition, we are constantly in the process of enhancing our facilities and ensuring that they match global standards, which gives us an edge over our competitors. The hotel is equipped with an inventory of 360 rooms and 5 food and beverage outlet to accommodate a large number of guests who come to attend meetings and conferences that are usually spread over 2-3 days. The Lobby Lounge offers an effortless environment for interesting conversations over bite-size sandwiches, desserts, coffees and more.We also have 12 break-out venues that can accommodate large conferences and at the same time host smaller seminars with specific requirements. The drive way access, providing separate parking spaces for guests attending the event and exhibitions and airport assistance to escort guests during arrival - departure are few ways in which we try to enhance the experiences of our MICE travelers. 

Thus, the property in its almost 2 years of operations has contributed to position Bangalore on the global MICE map for its excellent service and execution. Our hotel has been recognized globally in various prestigious platforms for which I am extremely proud of many of our achievements. I consider bringing the Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center to the second rank on Trip Advisor, as one of my greatest achievements for the property so far. We have also won other esteemed awards, including the ‘Best Convention Center Hotel of the Year’ by Food Food Awards 2019, ‘Best Wedding and MICE Hotel’ by India Travel Awards South 2019 and ‘Best 5 Star Convention Hotel of the Year’ by Stars of the Industry Award. 

My journey with the property since my joining in 2016, has been nothing short but amazing.