The Indian state of Meghalaya has finally launched its first ever 5 star hotel in its capital city, Shillong. Encompassing an area of 8800 sq m, Taj Vivanta Meghalaya offers the best luxury and comfort features, consisting of 101 rooms accompanied by a number of other contemporary amenities.
Project Vivanta Meghalaya – Instigated
On Oct 14, 2022, the inauguration of the highly awaited Taj Vivanta Meghalaya was finally completed. Vivanta Meghalaya has, at long last, been launched in the capital city of Shillong, popularly regarded as the “Scotland of the East”.
The inauguration ceremony took place in Shillong and was graced by the presence of the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Conrad Sangma, who consecrated the hotel and ‘opened its doors’ for service for the very first time after 36 years of waiting.
As per customs and tradition, the inauguration began with the handing over of the hotel key by the Chief Minister to the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), as a formal gesture, in the attendance of the Tourism Minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar; the Chief Secretary, DP Wahlang; and also the chairman of Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), Saleng A Sangma.
The Taj Vivanta encompasses or is built over an area of 8800 sq. metres and is located in Police Bazaar, Shillong City. The size of the newly launched hotel isn’t the only big highlight of the hotel; it’s also the impressive variety of amenities and provisions that the hotel offers.
Taj Vivanta Meghalaya is equipped with a maximum number of 101 rooms. The accommodation also hosts exquisite restaurants, aesthetically appealing coffee shops or cafes, several retail stores, a bar and a great hall or banquet hall for the purpose of convenience and functionality of its guests.
The hotel has been rented to be operated by the IHCL for a time span of 33 years on a Public Private Partnership (PPP)
This is truly an eventful and memorable occasion for the owners of Taj Vivanta Meghalaya, the MTDC. They have waited in toil and patience for a long journey of over three decades. The initial idea for the hotel was preconceived in the year 1985, only to achieve the goal this year.
Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma, at the inauguration spoke about the struggle the hotel faced during its construction era and the important role played by the NPP-led administration that ultimately resulted in the completion of the hotel’s construction.
He demonstrated his gratitude towards stakeholders involved, including the MTDC for finishing the project, in spite of the disturbance and interference caused by Covid-19.
The Chief Minister also said that Taj Vivanta Meghalaya, in confederation with the upcoming “Courtyard” by Marriott, will produce fruitful results and boost high-value tourism in the state of Meghalaya. This way, tourists will be able to discover and delight in the state’s rich and varied history, its heritage, and unique culture.
Taking to his Twitter account, the Chief Minister wrote, “With a huge feeling of fulfilment and after a long wait of 36 years, I am filled with immense joy today to inaugurate Meghalaya’s First 5 Star Hotel,” Vivanta Meghalaya, Shillong.” For nearly four decades, the former Crowborough Hotel stood abandoned in Shillong’s marketing district, Police Bazar, and was a long-unfulfilled dream of the people of the state. We are happy to finally achieve this milestone in 50 years of our statehood. “
Over and above that, the Chief Minister also congratulated the Meghalaya Tourism team, the MTDC, the team over at Taj Vivanta, and the rest of the officials who have waited tolerantly for many years in order to see this project come to light; the project, as Sangma wrote, “of our people’s dream”.
Nevertheless, this model will be further duplicated or re-created to transmute the state of Meghalaya into an eco-tourism destination that will be most favoured by tourists from all over the world.
The CM went on to elaborate about the different number of initiatives the state government has grasped to supplement and elevate the accommodation infrastructure in Meghalaya.
Some of these initiatives comprise the establishment of large resorts and the tourism framework in Sakaladuma in the West Garo Hills; Sohra or Cherrapunji in East Khasi Hills; Thadlaskein in West Jaintia Hills; the Pelgawari in South-West Garo Hills; Shnongpdeng in West Jaintia Hills; Nongkhnum in West Khasi Hills; and Mawlyndep and Nongmahir in the district of Ri Bhoi.
The ‘Homestay Scheme’ has been introduced for the purpose of accomodation framework augmentation or expansion.
The accommodation will be constructed over the next five years in association with the PMEGP and will have 2500 accommodation units.
