Deco Dekko

Hilton’s Conrad brand makes a spectacular entry into India with its Pune property. Amit Dixit signs up for some serious pampering.

I have stayed in more hotels in the past few years than I’d care to remember. Truth is, I can’t remember—they’re all so alike. So when a hotel comes up that is pretty much the antithesis of cookie-cutter, I sit up and take notice. The Conrad Pune can make standing apart from the crowd seem effortless, but this is deceptive—a lot of hard work, passion and creativity have gone into the making of India’s first Conrad property. It is the top Hilton brand after all (barring, of course, the Waldorf Astorias, but those are usually palace hotels with a heritage tag).

The Conrad Pune is a homage to Art Deco, and this makes its interiors timeless and distinctive. There’s a quiet flamboyance in the air too. You notice it in the muted art deco lighting, in the restrained lashings of the property’s signature colour, in the double-height ceilings in the restaurants and public spaces, in the sunlight spilling into the property, in the stunning smart tech in your room (more on that in just a minute). I liked it all but didn’t know what to call it until the nice folks at the Conrad told me the phrase I was looking for was ‘smart luxury’.