Swosti in Puri to pioneer luxury stays & conferences

Swosti Premium Beach Resorts Puri opened its gate with a grand ceremony in the temple town situated across the pristine Blue Flag beach, and will be a game-changer for the tourism in the state, offering great stays and expansive venues for conferences and meetings.

Nisha Verma

Inaugurated by Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Education Minister, Government of India, alongside Pravati Parida, Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister, Government of Odisha; Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Odisha, and other dignitaries, including Prithviraj Harichandan, Minister For Law, Works & Excise, Government of Odisha; Sambit Patra, MP, Puri; Sunil Mohanty, MLA, Puri; Upasana Mohapatra, MLA, Brahmagiri; Babu Singh, MLA, Bhubaneswar and Siddharth Shankar Swain, Collector & District Magistrate, Puri.

The latest addition to the Swosti portfolio, this property with 125 tastefully designed rooms, is only around an hour’s drive from Bhubaneswar airport and railway station. Being the first five-star property in Puri, this property would certainly change the hospitality scenario in the holy town popular for Lord Jagannath Temple, which receives thousands of visitors from both within India and outside.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, JK Mohanty, CMD, Swosti Group said, “We made this 5-star facility for high-end customers who come to Puri and don’t get rooms. It was earlier mentioned at many forums that high end hotels are not there in Puri. To fill that gap, we have made this hotel.”

Odisha holds huge potential

In his address, Pradhan appreciated the effort and vision of Swosti Group to open a 5-star property in Puri and added that the government is in full support of such initiatives. “At the heart of our vision for Odisha is the commitment to socially empowering infrastructure. From modern airports and well-maintained roadways to efficient waterways, each element plays a crucial role. These developments are not just infrastructure, they are the catalysts for expanding tourism, creating job opportunities, and fostering a deep sense of pride and self-assurance in our state,” he said.

Parida said that with more 5-star hotels entering Odisha, the tourist footfall, as well as the length of stay for visitors to the state will increase. “Exciting tourism initiatives are on the horizon, driven by the robust Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model that promises to lay a strong foundation for growth. As the tourism minister, I am actively addressing the opportunities and challenges that have emerged, setting the stage for transformative advancements in our sector,” she claimed.

Congratulating Mohanty on the occasion, Deo said that Odisha should be promoted as a wedding destination. “Nobody is looking at Odisha as a wedding destination. Why can’t we develop Puri as a wedding destination where people from other states come to Puri and organise nuptials here. Also, Puri can attract corporates to conduct conferences and conventions, whether national or international. With the international airport in offing, the face of Puri as a tourism destination is set to change. Even golf tourism can be promoted for international tourists. This would also attract foreign exchange.”

Conference haven

Speaking about the property Mohanty said, “We have a lot of open space, public areas, as well as big space for banquets, meetings, conferences and exhibitions. Each banquet hall has a big lawn in front. For convention facilities, we have gone vertically up in this property. There is one hall with a lawn in front, then a hall and lawn again on the next floor, and another venue on the next floor. The project has been conceived in such a way that we can do three weddings at a time. These conferences have been successfully executed and a lot of weddings are already booked from September up to March next year. In fact, IATO Convention 2025 is planned to be held in Puri at this property,” he informed.

Luxury abode

This seaside paradise offers accommodations designed to blend sophistication with comfort. Savour the rich flavours of multi-cuisine dishes and buffets at Beach Hut, the all-day dining, while the Saltwater restaurant caters to seafood enthusiasts. The Sky Bar, on the rooftop offers a luxurious experience with panoramic views. The property also features the luxurious Ekayaa SPA, spanning 1352 sq ft. The highlight of the property is the range of conference facilities, which includes Boita Voyage, accommodating up to 1,000 guests in a pillar less, convertible space. The Panorama and Portrait provide cozy settings of hosting up to 150 guests and the Mahari Courtyard boasts 2,400 sq ft of adaptable space, perfectly blends sophistication and versatility for medium sized events.