Being at the head of a premier wedding hote, Girish Sehgal, General Manager, JW Marriott Pune, knows more about the marriage business than many others. His insights:

JW MARRIOTT PUNE is not only the city's marquee F&B destination, but also a much sought-after wedding destination, making it an ideal location for Marriott International to showcase its Shaadi by Marriott initiative. BW Hotelier therefore caught up with GIRISH SEHGAL, who took charge of JW Marriott Pune in July 2019, to find out more about the idea behind Shaadi by Marriott and what makes JW Marriott Pune a great place to get married. Spread over 40,000 square feet, JW Marriott Pune's banqueting space includes a ballroom that can accommodate 2,000 people.

BW HOTELIER: What is Shaadi by Marriott all about? How is it different from similar initiatives rolled out by other hotels?

GIRISH SEHGAL: ‘Shaadi by Marriott’ is Marriott International's way of giving guests the commitment to create a wedding experience that is glorious and unforgettable in every way. Right from conception to execution, every aspect of a wedding is carefully thought through to the minutest detail.

Among the many services offered, we get the best designers to come together and create a glitzy collection of wedding outfits, customized to fit the requirement of each couple and give them their dream outfits on their big day.

In 2018 we had designer duo Shantanu and Nikhil; this year, we have on board the famed designer Manish Malhotra. Focusing on both traditional and non-conventional celebratory values of Indian weddings, Shaadi By Marriott is an unmatched blend of simplicity and elegance.

BWH: What makes JW Marriott Pune the city's best wedding destination?

GS: At JW Marriott Pune, Shaadi by Marriott offers holistic planning and execution. Be it fun-filled bachelorette parties at Mi-A-Mi, a luxurious spa outing at Quan, a sundowner at Paasha, or traditional pheras followed by a classy reception at the grand ballroom, we’re the one-stop destination for all wedding celebrations. Not just the ambience, the food and beverage served up by our culinary maestros who specialise in Indian and International cuisines will ensure your taste buds are left wanting for more.

BWH: Tell us more about your clientele.

GS: JW Marriott Pune plays host to people coming from multiple verticals to relax and rejuvenate, and they are also the ones who give us our wedding business. Right from the medical fraternity to the real estate moguls, we will have Pune's movers and shakers hosting top-notch weddings this year, with guests flying down from different parts of the country and the world.

BWH: What are the USPs of your property?

GS: JW Marriott Pune epitomises top-notch service and sophisticated style. In view of its ideal location, the hotel is the perfect destination for both business travellers and vacationing families. Its rooms provide guests with mesmerising views of Pune's cityscape and there's array of dining options for them to dig into. Guests can choose from gorging on Italian fare at Alto Vino, enjoying pure vegetarian dishes at Shakahari, or devouring robust North-Western cuisine at Paasha. These and many more outlets await patrons who visit our property.

The property also has a fully equipped fitness centre and an outdoor swimming pool. For visitors who believe in shopping-till-you-drop, or just wish to enjoy a leisurely walk, there's the Pavilion Mall that is inter-connected with our hotel.

BWH: What are the bespoke services that you offer to families signing up with your hotel for weddings?

GS: Our one-of-a-kind wedding studio is dedicated to planning ‘The Fairytale Marriage’. It is the space where Marriott teams, wedding planners, chefs and decorators on the Marriott panel conduct their meetings with clients. Such interactions ensure that the bride and groom can meet the relevant teams not always at a restaurant or an office, but at a creative ‘studio’ to personalize their dream wedding.

We have also opened a new chapter of Shaadi by Marriott by unveiling the Honeymoon at Marriott package, which enables a couple to select a Marriott destination for their honeymoon and we assure them that the experience will leave them asking for more.

BWH: What are your plans for the immediate future?

GS: As I mentioned earlier, we have a line-up of top-notch weddings happening at our hotel and all of them will feature an array of lip-smacking thematic menus. With the wedding season in full bloom, we’re gearing up to give families an experience and a stay to remember.

In the year ahead, we plan to have a special fair called Wedding Pie 2020, where will present the our entire property from a wedding point of view and show how different outlets at JW Marriott Pune double as ideal destinations for different marriage ceremonies. Throughout the year, in fact, we will have an array of promotions that will showcase regional and International cuisines.

This article was published in BW hotelier issue dated '' with cover story titled 'The Spice on MICE'