Cinnamon Stays For The Business Traveler!

A few months ago, when we talked of Ram, our friend who travels frequently on work, he spoke to us about how he was taken in with the concept of staying at a homestay instead of a hotel. His idea of having a Workcation seems to be “working” for him. Having stayed in a few homestays across the country in the past couple of months, he is now a happy business traveler!

We decided to list a few reasons as to why you may want to consider Cinnamon Stays as your preferred choice of homestay whenever you are traveling on business (or on workcation) to Gurgaon.

1. A Homestay compatible with a Business Traveler.

We understand what it means to be traveling on business all the time. While you may be looking for home-like comfort, you desire consistency of service as well. We at Cinnamon work towards making that experience special for you. We are NOT A REGULAR guest house. We are a premium homestay with rooms that are spacious, homely and comfortable. Each of our rooms are themed and every element in the house is curated to serve the sensibilities of the Indian corporate executive.

2. Safety and Security : Gated campus

The homestay located in Sector 48 on Sohna Road and Sector 50 ( Golf Course Ext), is a gated society. With 24 hours security and CCTV surveillance, it is absolutely safe. Ideal for single women business travelers. It is also a great option to bring your family with you while you are on a business trip. 

3. Close to Business Towers & Corporate parks

A stone’s throw away from the business and corporate parks of Gurgaon, it saves you travel and traffic woes. Located on Sohna Road, the homestay is easily accessible to all amenities - corporate or family requirements available on Sohna Road

(Picture Courtesy - stayiningurgaon.com)

 

4. Fast Billing and Payment

In the fast world of corporate travel, Cinnamon makes it easy for you to Fast track the process of billing and payment. The Express option helps you immediately close the account of your stay at flexible hours (considering late night flights or odd hours of travel).

(Picture Courtesy - kbelloncall.com)

5. Company payment option

The homestay can tie up with your Company directly so you have a cashless transaction while staying at Cinnamon.

6. 0% escalation to HR /Admin of your Company

We are the No.1 B&B on Trip Advisor for the past 7 years! One of the main reasons why corporates choose us is there is ZERO escalation of any sort to the HR / Admin department with regards to the quality and stay experience.

7. 
   Empathic Hosts - Cinnamon is managed by Manish ( > 20 yrs of corporate experience) who understands what the corporate traveler needs. Shilpi - an HR professional & Executive Coach gets the pain points of employee travel thereby handling this area very well. The hosts have even handled medical emergencies for guests in the past.
   
   

8. Business Amenities

Cinnamon is not just about a few rooms to stay. Cinnamon allows a work environment to thrive (after all, the hosts work from here!). There are enough work tables, Free wi-fi internet and a spacious meeting space for business huddles. The sit outs allow the working mind some fresh thinking. Cinnamon allows a unique opportunity to network with other business travelers from across the world.

 

9. Flexibility

Cinnamon is flexible with breakfast timings, check-ins and check-outs. Corporate travellers can host small meetups, business lunches and do brainstorms. Of course all within the limitations on a homestay.

10. Serves Home-made and Nutritious food

For the modern day health conscious professionals, Cinnamon prepares delicious yet healthy home cooked food. We customize food requirements as per the traveler’s medical or gastronomical needs. 

Cinnamon Stays is the perfect ‘Unhotel’ for the business traveller in Gurgaon! We look forward to hosting corporate events, single women business travelers and off-sites. Check out  www.cinnamonstays.in or write to us at cinnamonstays@gmail.com  Shilpi - 9560550015, Manish - 9650400466  @cinnamonstays facebook.com/CinnamonStays

Why Corporates Love To Stay At Cinnamon Stays!

Having settled in Mumbai but making frequent short and long work trips to Gurgaon, one question always plagued me - where could I get a place to stay that would be pocket friendly, safe and would not mind having me over for weeks together. Till earlier this year, I suddenly thought of Shilpi, who was a client of mine way back in 2007 in Mumbai. We had been in touch on and off on Facebook and I recalled her talking about a homestay she had started. Hesitatingly I called and spoke to her as a friend. Shilpi had only one thing to say, if I were to stay at Gurgaon it had to be at Cinnamon and no place else! I was off for what I now recall as one of the finest times I have had in Gurgaon…something I did not experience in the two years that I spent there!

As a Corporate person who has to travel to Gurgaon so often, I couldn’t resist the urge to list down why I prefer staying at Cinnamon over and over again (apart from spending time with a friend that is!). Here are a few benefits I feel every Corporate person derives from staying here:

1. “Unhotel” environment

The Unhotel experience of Cinnamon just took my heart away. I mean here I was in a place as clean, hygienic and hospitable as a hotel, yet it was not a hotel at all. The cosiness and warmth was much more. The place buzzed with people with infectious energies - the hosts, their child, the staff and fellow guests. It was like coming back to a family at the end of the day!

2. Very Safe

Even though I marveled at being a working woman in Gurgaon for 2 years, safety was a priority always. I would never compromise on the same. Cinnamon gave me a sense of security and safety. Located in a gated society with proper CCTV cameras and Security service manning the society, I felt assured of returning back to a “safe” place!

3. Women friendly

Cinnamon is extremely woman friendly. Shilpi herself supervises the operations even though she is so busy in her professional life. Her on-and-off presence ensures that every woman guest is treated with special care (at times I think I am pampered just because I am a woman!) Books, discussion, movies, TV shows and even hobby ideas are more women centric and personally it gives a huge high!

4. Budget friendly

My Company’s work from home policy came as a life saver to me. I did not want to compromise on work just because I was changing locations. However, what they did not cater for was the expense of stay and travel back to Gurgaon. Cinnamon’s budget rooms were a relief to me as they are economical and offer 3 star rooms at competitive rates. I would have spent a lot more had I booked myself in a hotel. And got far less.

5. Healthy and delicious home cooked food

I love my home food. Not that I am a great cook myself, yet I feel that wholesome homemade meals are way better than outside gourmet meals.
And you just CANNOT have outside food for more than a few days. This is a BIG PLUS when it comes to Cinnamon. 

 The breakfast spread is tasty & healthy  every morning and you can even request for home made packed lunch. Coming back to piping hot dal chawal sabzi at the end of the work day was icing on the cake (especially when one is served with such love and warmth - pampering is the word!)

6. Creative Decor

Not once did I feel that the rooms or the ambience was short of a hotel. In fact every room at Cinnamon has quirky names - Green room, doodle room, puraani jean, etc :-) In fact, it was much better! I was “home” and it felt comfortable, cosy and warm like I would “feel” and “sense” as my own! Free wi-fi, arrangements for specific pick-ups and local offbeat recommendations that I had not experienced were add-ons!

7. No. 1 on Trip Advisor for the past 7 years

Now Shilpi is a good friend and I would expect that as friends, I would be welcome at her homestay. The thing is that I was not just welcome, I was provided service that I had least expected. It is the little things that the team at Cinnamon does that makes it so special. I have to share an incident when on one day I was required to wear a saree to work. I was not carrying one from Mumbai. Shilpi jumped to my rescue sharing one from her collection and got her tailor to do the rest at a notice of just 3 hours! Now I know why Cinnamon continues to be at No1 on Trip Advisor every year for the past 7 years!

8. Shilpi’s background helps her to understand needs.

If you ask me the one best thing about Cinnamon, I will have to say Shilpi. Am not biased, am just being honest. Shilpi’s background and experience as a Coach and a seasoned Human Resources professional makes her empathic towards her guests. She looks at each individual’s needs as her own and works around the same to make guests feels delightful!

9. Close to business parks and offices on Sohna Road/ Golf Course Extension

Cinnamon is strategically located extremely close to business parks and other offices that dot Sohna Road and Golf course extension. Both are equally good. They have two locations. My own office is just 4 kms away from Sohna Road. This gives me the comfort of not being stuck in traffic while traveling to work or for my client meetings. The proximity makes it convenient, easy and less stressful.

10. Ethical , creative small business that supports local causes

On one of the days that I was staying at Cinnamon, they were organized a curated workshop by a student from Varanasi who had started a small recycling art based project. Now, Shilpi’s mother also runs a homestay in Varanasi (Called GrannysInn.in - which is a #silverstartup). Seeing the hosts promote a newbie in the space meant that they really valued her work. Every item, every show piece at Cinnamon is picked up with a conscious effort of supporting local business, local art and a local cause

If you are looking for a place that is not just clean rooms and four walls, but has a character, breathes what it believes and you want to meet interesting people- each one having a unique story to tell, then Cinnamon Stays is the place for you!

It really stands up to it’s #unhotel positioning!

10 Things That Every Homestay Must Have!

While a lot of people (we included) have been talking about homestays being the preferred choice these days amongst travelers of every kind, many of us may face the dilemma of “how” to go about choosing the right homestay.

The word of mouth reference from friends seems like the best way to ensure a delightful and safe stay, there may be times when we have to make choices on our own in a new place.

As travelers, for us, the choice of homestays is ever increasing in the Indian market. We decided to give you a heads up to 10 things you must look at while zeroing down to any homestay.

1.   Conveniently located

The location of the homestay has to be convenient. Easily accessible from public transport, market areas and the city. Unless you are specifically looking for being away from the city, the location must be a place where local commutation is easy.

 

(Picture Courtesy - www.photopin.com)

2.   Reviews are available online with reference checks

 

(picture courtesy - www.photopin.com, www.airbnb.com) 

 

The homestay must have reviews available for you to check online. A Tripadvisor rating always holds good in short listing the places you are looking at. You may want to read reviews from the likes of tripadvisor, lonely planet and other popular Online Travel Agents (OTAs)

3.   Warm and easily accessible hosts

The hosts of the homestay generally live in the property. This is a benchmark to decide a good place for yourself. Hosts should be warm and easy to approach. At the very outset, while shortlisting, you could check how early they respond to your mail, how easily are they available telephonically and are they able to provide you with relevant answers to your queries.

4.   First hand local information

The place must have people who live or work there providing you with information about the place, culture, commute, places to visit and everything “local” about the city that you are visiting. Travel tips, guides and quick trivia should be part of the conversation you have with the hosts or the staff.

(Picture Courtesy - www.alamy.com)

  

5.   Homestay must have a soul of its own.

The home in any city reflects local culture and flavor. The homestay should must have a “feel” and “sense” of being part of the city. The décor, aesthetics and interiors must make you feel “at home” and a “part” of the city.

  

6.   Comfortable rooms of 3 * hotel standards

The rooms must be well ventilated, clean, hygienic and like a 3 * property if not better. The rooms should be comfortable with basic amenities and should give you a very “homey” feeling.

7.   Breakfast and home made meals

The concept is that of a bed and breakfast so check the kind of breakfast menu being served. Is there a flexibility of having the meal you prefer or is there a set menu that you have to go by. Check if there is an option of the other meals of the day. If so, are home made meals being served or meals are ordered in.

8.   Flexibility of using amenities

Check the amenities within the homestay. There could be availability of parking, play area, a meeting room, wifi. There are some places that even provide you with local transport etc. Have a look at what is being offered and check the usage fee.

9.   Crowd friendly but not crowded

The homestay should be friendly towards its guests and should use discretion with regards to the choice of guests it is hosting. Thereby, ensuring safety of other guests. It should not be utterly crowded that you do not feel comfortable.

10.               Privacy but not Private

The homestay for all reasons is a house open to visitors. However, it should ensure your privacy amongst all the other guests. In the meanwhile, it should also not be too private that you are just a guest and don’t get an opportunity to be part of the family hosting you.

Armed with these basic tips, homestays are a great choice for vacationers, business travelers, students, solo travelers, women travelers. With the statistics all in favor of this growing segment in the hospitality industry, you can be assured that homestays are here to “stay”!