Accor’s ibis brand will launch its third hotel in Mumbai in October 2021. The Ibis Mumbai Vikhroli is the 20th ibis hotel in India and the 55th Accor to open its gates in India. The French hospitality group Accor, which operates luxury hotel brands such as Sofitel and Raffles, has been expanding both in India’s premium and economy segments with brands such as Novotel and ibis.
Hotel exterior: Photo courtesy all.accor.com
In 2019, Accor announced changes in its ibis brand with the idea of making this economy brand of hotels more warm, welcoming & vibrant for travellers. The Ibis Vikhroli is the first hotel in India to be built in the new ibis style. The hotel was designed by Isabelle Miaja, Singapore based international design and architecture firm that has also designed the Sofitel in Mumbai. Ibis invited us to check out the hotel before its official opening later this week.
The location of the hotel is excellent. Having lived and worked in the vicinity for many years, it is finally good to see an international hotel chain operate close by. The hotel is located right on LBS road opposite 247 Corporate Park and is close to Powai, Ghatkopar and Vikhroli. The distance from the airport is about 30 minutes.
As I entered the hotel lobby, the first thing that caught my attention was Coldplay streaming throughout the channel music. With a key focus on music, ibis partners with Spotify, and you can stream the Ibis playlist even at your home. The hotel lobby felt like a casual living room with seating space that could also double up as a workspace or catch up with people over the conversation.
The hotel lobby area
The hotel lobby area has a computer for your short use
Ibis has done away with the classic, oversized hotel reception desks. Instead, there was an informal greeting area around the corner where the ibis team checked me in using an iPad.
The ibis Mumbai Vikhroli guest reception corner
This is a 250-key hotel with all rooms of the same size, a standard 17 square metres. Guests can choose between king-size beds and twin beds. My room was well lit with a lot of natural light that made it feel cosy and comfortable.
A few things I liked about the room amenities is that the televisions have access to OTT content. You do need to use your credentials to log in, however. However, keeping up with the millennials, they have done away with a proper work desk in the room. There was a daybed by the window, which also doubles up as the work desk when needed. The daybed also accommodates a third person in the room.
Standard room at the ibis Mumbai Vikhroli
The rooms have a daybed by the window and a movable side table
Apart from this, there was an unstocked minibar, an electric kettle with an essential selection of tea & coffee and a safety box. As a new-generation hotel, there were enough plug points on both sides of the bed to plug in multiple devices along with USB ports as well.
There are mini-fridges and safety lockers in each room
In-room amenities include tea and coffee
Charging ports in the room are on both sides of the bed
As first guests staying at the hotel, we got a chance to look at other rooms. The room decor in all the rooms is locally inspired. Different rooms get different headboards, and I particularly liked the dabbawala theme.
Other locally inspired room decors at the ibis Vikhroli, Mumbai
Other locally inspired room decors at the ibis Vikhroli, Mumbai
The bathroom is designed in a capsule format, with big bottles of toiletries shared amongst guests. I liked the bath amenities; shampoo and body wash are chemical-free and 100% vegan.
Entrance to the room bathroom
Inside the room bathroom
Bathroom amenities
Bathroom amenities
Bath amenities are chemical-free and 100% vegan
The hotel has one restaurant on the second floor named SpiceIt. Along with an indoor dining space, the restaurant offers alfresco dining as well.
The restaurant area at the ibis Vikhroli, Mumbai
The restaurant buffet area at the ibis Vikhroli, Mumbai
The outdoor alfresco dining area at the ibis Vikhroli, Mumbai
ibis also has the most extended breakfast hours that start at 06:30 am up to noon, although you will only get a cold breakfast in some parts of it.
We had the opportunity to try a few things from the menu during our stay. While Ajay liked the club sandwiches and the Indian spread, I was partial towards their Asian fare. The menu also offers a variety of local delicacies such as Keema Pav & crab meat vada pao.
A glimpse of hotel items on the menu
There is also the library bar, which shares the restaurant space. The library is well stocked with 250+ books, and the bar at the hotel will have taps serving local beer. The hotel is currently awaiting its liquor license.
The library area at the hotel
The library and the bar area at the hotel
The entertainment and the bar area in the hotel
While ibis hotels worldwide do not offer pools & gyms, the ibis Vikhroli has a well-equipped gym on the topmost 15th floor. Keeping in mind the overall wellness, there is also a yoga deck for guests.
The fitness centre at the ibis Vikhroli, Mumbai
The fitness centre at the ibis Vikhroli, Mumbai
Ibis hotels are pet friendly, and this one is no different. During my conversation with the general manager, Anant Leekha, I learnt that the hotel provides pet pads and essential amenities for guests staying with their pets.
A room night at the ibis Mumbai Vikhroli is currently priced at approximately INR 3,999 + GST. However, the hotel is presently offering a unique offer, where you can ‘Pay What You Want‘ for the stay from October 15 – 25, 2021. The idea is to welcome the locals to experience all that this hotel has to offer. You can book it here! Just remember, you have to sign up and log into your ALL account to access the promotional price.
(LiveFromALounge.com was invited to preview the hotel by ibis Hotels. The Views and Opinions are as usual, our own)
Very nice. Everything you need present.
Thanks for sharing the review. I’m (pleasantly) surprised at the size of the room. I always think of Ibis as offering very small rooms, but these seem quite acceptable size.