The Radisson GRT hotel in Chennai and Radisson GRT Temple Bay resort in Mamallapuram are feeling ‘Blu'.

This isn't a state of mind, or a state of business, even, but a status upgrade (from Green) that is awarded after the hotels fulfil service requirements that relate to guest satisfaction on various counts.

These are: a 100 per cent guest satisfaction guarantee that says a guest need not pay if a complaint isn't resolved; an online price guarantee that ensures the guest gets the best rate for that room comparable to others; express and late checkouts at no extra cost (subject to availability); 24-hour free Wi-fi Internet accessible all over the hotel, three-hour express laundry, room styles, and certain F&B facilities that mandate, for instance, that a certain brand of probiotic drink be available in the breakfast buffet or a grab-and-run breakfast for travellers catching early flights is available.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Vikram Cotah, Senior Vice-President of the hotels, said the upgrade is also based on guest satisfaction scores, property quality and online distribution audits as well as surprise audits.

The Green and Blu statuses are proprietary to Radisson properties across the world, but an independent agency, the Canada-based LRA, that also audits other hotel chains, carries out the audits, Mr Cotah explained.

The Blu upgrade will give the Chennai and Mamallapuram Radissons, part of Carlson Hotels Worldwide, greater visibility, give them an advantage in international markets where Radisson Blu is a well-known brand and will allow them to be “seen and sold as a premium hotel”, Mr Cotah said. However, he said room rates would not rise as the hotels are the market leaders now.

The Chennai hotel is operating at 80 per cent occupancy, while the Mamallapuram resort is operating at 65 per cent. Radisson is opening another hotel in Chennai's Egmore, in December.

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