Luxury has a different meaning for every traveller. For some its about the grand decor, others look for impeccable service, while for few others its the attention to detail that defines an uber luxe experience.
MBD Prive Collection, the recently launched 33 room-luxury offering at the Radisson Blu MBD Noida Hotel owned by MBD Group that dons the Carlson’s popular Radisson Blu brand, blends it all to offer a personalized luxury experience.
We spent one night staycation at an MBD Prive Collection room and came back awed and rejuvenated. Our personal butler Siddharth was there to greet us at the lobby itself and we were quickly led to our room on the second floor. The check-in was done in the room itself and if you’ve taken a red-eye or long flight, you will know in-room check in is such a luxury!
Rooms
Done in Victorian style, the rooms have handpicked art and decor pieces from a library look mini bar to a piano that doubles up as your study, vintage wall clock, exquisite chandeliers and lots of art and artefacts.
Each piece narrates a story of an era and adds to the opulence of the room. The furnishings were Rajasthani adding the royal Indian touch. For some it might be too much of bling, for others a regal getaway.
While the decor is from the bygone era, the room is equipped with latest technology to woo the modern discerning traveler. So there is a tablet that has all the information and controls.
Prive Premium Room: Blend of old world charm and modern amenities
One of my hotel pet peeves is that how elusive the switch always is. At times at night it takes hours just to figure which all switches you need to turn off to get some shut-eye. Thankfully our room here had a sorted master light, underlining the fact tat its attention to details that matters when it comes to a luxe experience. The bathroom done tastefully stocks luxe Raasa toiletries. We spent the day lounging in our room.
Turndown Service
Another feature of the MBD Prive Collection is the personalized turndown every evening that includes signature amenities, aroma and mood lighting. When we went back to our room after spending time in the pool, we were pleasantly surprised to see the romantic avatar of our room- there was an aromatic fragrance, lights dimmed and towel art adorning the bed. There was an amenity kit too complete with under eye cream and lip balm. Our fruit platter had made way for marzipan chocolates, that too were personalized. And then there was the bath tub that was ready to sink in with rose petals and bath salts on the side. Personalised and pampering, the turndown service is where the attention to details comes into play.
Prive Lounge
Guests staying at Prive Collection rooms can access the Prive Lounge that serves complimentary drinks and appetizers in the evening. Keeping up with the theme, decor of Prive Lounge also exhibits its badge of grandeur, which is little understated to offer a salubrious environment for the partaker of the exquisite spirits it has to serve. While the comfortable seaters cushions the fatigued business traveler, the mini-library is replete with man’s best friend -book-to give the guest a formidable company along with the tipple.
Exquisite and Exclusive: Prive Lounge
The corridors leading to the lounge too are adorn with art including works from Mrs Satish Bala Malhotra who is at the helm of MBD Group. Enjoy a drink at the Prive Lounge or there is also the option of going to the hotel’s stylish bar @Links if your idea of winding up is having a drink at a buzzing bar.
Corridors: Even the corridors narrate stories discerning travelers would revel in
Personal Butler Service
Our personal butler for the weekend, Siddharth was prompt, intuitive and offered impeccable service. I have stayed at luxury hotels earlier which offered butler service, however the butler service at MBD Prive Collection was far more personalized and definitely the high point of our stay. Siddharth is an ex-Oberoi, and has worked at Oberoi Gurgaon for three years which shows that MBD group is hiring the best in the industry to offer an unmatched service.
Every hotel brand has its character and reflects the owners’ style and outlook. Oberoi Hotels are known for their world-class hospitality, Leela properties for their grandeur and Lemon Tree Hotels for their quirkiness. Though Radisson is a chain brand, the MBD Prive Collection Rooms is where owners Sonica and Monica Malhotra have brought in their personal charm and fervor with Prive rooms.
Pink Power behind MBD Prive Collection: Ms Sonica Malhotra, Ms Satish Bala, Ms Monica Malhotra
Food
We had dinner at hotel’s Made In India restaurant. It was a sumptuous meal that had the most delish kebabs I have had in a long time. Even if you are not checking into Radisson Hotel anytime soon, make sure you visit this restaurant which is perfect for occasions when you want to indulge. There is ala carte and also elaborate set meal options- Royal, Maharaja and Premium Menu. We opted for the Maharaja and by the end of it we felt like one. The elaborate meal included Samak-e-Sakhnavi (Fish Minced with spices, skewered and finished in Indian Clay Oven), Zaffrani Murgh Tikka flavored with Kashmiri Saffron, Behari Kabab (Chicken Supremes with hand ground spices, char grilled over live coal) besides the regular galouti kebabs. The main course there was Aloo ki Takli, Dal Makhni, Hyderabadi Dum Biryani and Gosht Rizala. We wondered how come we had not been to this star of a restaurant, that serves one of the best kebabs and biryani in town, earlier! Made In India restaurant serves contemporary Indian cuisine but at the same time it has revived some ancient recipes and included them in the menu.
Made In India – An Epicurean Journey
Sunday morning was made with bed tea that our butler Siddharth himself served us in our room in the morning- English cutlery, tea and cookies; quite a treat to be treated like that early in the morning.
The bed tea was followed by a lavish buffet breakfast at S-18. We have visited the restaurant quite a few times earlier for business meetings or quick lunch and like always the service was prompt.
After spending time at the spa and salon, it was back to gluttony at their Pan Asian restaurant R.E.D – Rare Eastern Dining. For Sunday lunch the restaurant was packed with families. We settled for sushi platter, Cha Li Wasabi Cha Tou that is prawns in Japanese wasabi and mayonnaise dressing with sliced apple and kiwi, sliced fish in hot pepper sauce. For main course the familiar Pad Thai and fish curry. A satiating meal, we had like to be more experimental next time we visit.
Beyond Rooms
Radisson Blu Noida Hotel has a salon, spa, fitness centre an swimming pool. the Espace Spa offers host of massages. I went for a facial at their salon and the therapist did a good job of giving me a face massage according to my skin type, while husband indulged in Deep Tissue massage to relax his overworked muscles. Fitness Centre, Spa, Salon and Swimming Pool make a buzzing fitness complex that is thronged by regulars and hotel guests alike.
Salon at the Radisson MBD Noida Hotel
THE Verdict
For us, it was the inimitable butter service that stole the thunder at Radisson MBD Prive. This service is also perhaps the calling card for the hotel property that would offer its discerning and high-spending guest, who are mostly business travelers, an experience a notch above the regular room stay.
(Disclaimer: The one night-two day stay was sponsored by Radisson Blu MBD Hotel, Noida)
Summary:The butler service is the calling card for the hotel property that would offer its discerning and high-spending guest an experience a notch above the regular room stay.
