Business hotel in Fort Kochi
Fragrant Nature Kochi is a business hotel in Kochi for travellers who have to work in Fort Kochi, Mattancherry or around the port. It sits in the heritage district, away from the commercial centre of Ernakulam. It is a former warehouse of the East India Company with a clock tower. Ernakulam Junction railway station is 10 km away, which is a 30-minute drive.
There are threetypes of rooms to meet various needs. Duke’s Chamber is 390 sq. ft. with a designated work area. Ocean Blue Suite is 700 sq. ft. and has a private balcony. Royal Dutch Suite comes in at 1,050 sq. ft. and includes a living room, a dining area, and a powder room, which a senior traveller can use to hold a quick meeting with a client without reserving a meeting room. Each category takes up to two adults and two children.
There are three meeting rooms. The banquet hall has an area of 1,250 sq. ft. and seats 100 in theatre style or 40 at a boardroom table. The theatre-style seating at Flint House accommodates 50 people in 900 sq. ft. The boardroom is 290 sq. ft. with seating for 13. A board of 15 does not fit the boardroom. The equipment includes an LCD projector, laptop, PA system, whiteboard, flip chart, and Wi-Fi.
A client dinner can be held in-house, with four dining outlets available. Zamorin offers multi-cuisine meals throughout the day, on both a buffet basis and an à la carte basis. The rooftop restaurant overlooking Kochi Harbour is Bay View Terrace. East India Street Cafe is the lighter option, with seafood and international dishes. The hotel lists domestic and international liquor, and Purple Dusk is the bar. Airport transfers are arranged through the concierge. Pre-book one before you come.
The hotel is close to Mattancherry Palace, the Paradesi Synagogue, and the Jew Town spice market, all of which can be reached by a simple walk or a rickshaw ride. The Chinese Fishing Nets are located 2 km away.
Corporate retreat hotel in Munnar
Fragrant Nature Munnar stands at Pothamedu, 4 km from Munnar town, among tea estates. It suits a corporate retreat in Munnar where the aim is distance from the office. Cochin airport is four hours by road, so a round trip costs the group eight hours.
One hall serves every purpose. The banquet hall covers 1,110 sq. ft. and seats 80 theatre-style, 40 in a U-shape, and 40 around a boardroom table. It has air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, a projector, and a screen. The meetings page lists one hall. A group that splits into workshops should ask what the hotel can offer as a second space.
Rooms have fireplaces, and the suites add jacuzzis. A temperature-controlled infinity pool overlooks the mountains. Dining runs across Black Truffle for all-day multi-cuisine meals, The Glasshouse for grills and steaks, and a coffee shop.
Team retreat Resorts in Kollam
Located on Paravur Lake, Fragrant Nature Kollam is a corporate stay in Kerala that provides teams with a break from the city. It is not a business area.
The conference hall has a capacity of 50 theatre-style, 30 U-shaped, and 25 classroom-style seats, with an area of 800 sq. ft. The boardroom is 180 sq. ft. with 12 chairs around the table. The events page lists an outdoor space for 250 guests, which suits company events after the sessions. Equipment consists of an LCD, laptop, basic PA system, flip chart, and Wi-Fi.
Rooms come in four categories: Lake View Rooms with a private terrace, Premium Lake View Villas, Private Pool Villas, and the Lake View Family Cottage. The Premium Lake View Villa is 850 sq. ft. and accommodates up to four guests. The Family Cottage sleeps up to six with a private 12 m by 6 m pool. This hotel provides a free boat ride on the lake, kayaking, yoga, and Prana Spa. Anna Rasa is an all-day multi-cuisine buffet, Rithulahari is a tea, coffee, and snack counter, and Sandhya is a second multi-cuisine restaurant with a buffet.
The property has spacious grounds. Groups requiring a short walk from one room to another should request rooms close to the conference hall. For groups arriving by coach, confirm the vehicle size with the hotel before booking.
Group booking checklist
Be sure to verify these points before paying a deposit.
- The style of seating and number of people seated.
- Munnar’s banquet hall seats 80 theatre-style and 40 around a boardroom table.
- The Wi-Fi speed in megabits and the number of devices allowed.
- Free Wi-Fi is listed on the property pages, and there is no mention of a number.
- The listed equipment includes a projector, a laptop, and a PA system, and does not name a camera or conference microphone. A conference with participants from a distance calls for more.
Choosing a hotel by business need
- Select Fort Kochi if the meeting takes place in Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Ernakulam, or at the port, and the group does not exceed 100 in theatre style.
- If you have a party of up to 80 in theatre style and are willing to travel by road, head to Munnar.
- Select Kollam for groups of up to 50 in theatre style who prefer a lake and a spa.