Nira Montana Bags Luxury Design Hotel of the Year

Imagine standing amidst the snow clad Alps, ready to ski on world class pistes and in no time at all ski your way from Italy to France. No, this is not from a fantasy book, this is La Thuile. A host for next year’s women’s Alpine Skiing World Cup in February, La Thuile is a wonderful blend of natural grandeur and man-made luxury.

A mining town in the old days, La Thuile is now a luxury destination which is adored by ski lovers, because it one of the best places in the world to ski due to the quality pistes and is relatively quiet compared to other places in the Alps. 

Nira Montana, a member of Design Hotels, epitomises the town’s efforts to be a luxury spot as well as an aesthetic getaway. Standing against the backdrop of the sensational Mont Blanc, Nira Montana is a wonder in itself. Luxury Travel Guide recently complimented Nira Montana’s grandeur by awarding it the ‘Luxury Design Hotel of the Year’. The winners for Luxury Travel Guide’s awards are chosen by a team of experts that travel all around the globe and handpick the best among hotels, airline and tour operators. 

Giuseppe Artolli, General Manager of Nira Montana, was elated about the nod from Luxury Travel Guide and said, “We are elated to have been awarded Luxury Design Hotel of the Year. Nira Montana’s design is based on the valley’s traditional houses, with a contemporary Nira twist, designed to ensure complete care has been taken with the origins of materials used. It is this fresh positioning that has contributed to us winning this prestigious award.’ 

If you haven’t booked your room in Nira Montana already, just close your eyes and imagine sipping morning coffee in your room, on a moderately sunny day, with the glare from the snow on Mont Blanc lighting up the outdoors. 

About Nira Montana:

Nira Montana is a part of Shanti Hospitality, a subsidiary of global private equity firm C&C Alpha (CCAG) of which Bhanu Choudhrie is an executive director, and is the newest among Nira Hotels & Resorts. Other members of the Nira family include Nira Alpina in Silvaplana, St. Moritz, Shanti Maurice in Mauritius and Nira Caledonia in Edinburgh, Scotland. C&C Alpha Group runs a diverse investment portfolio in hospitality, realty, healthcare, aviation and utilities with offices in the UK and India. 

Ananda Spa Recommended the Best Wellness Destination Worldwide

Wanderlust is one thing, lusting for an escape from the daily hustle bustle is another. What better escape is there than to vanish into the tranquil Himalayas? The king of all mountain ranges in the world, it is formed by the perfect amalgamation of pristine beauty and unmatchable might. 

Situated amidst the towering snowy peaks is destination spa, Ananda In The Himalayas, a place to amplify the serene lavishness of the mountain range. Based in Narendra Nagar, Uttarakhand, Ananda is spread across a 100-acre Himalayan mountain estate, overlooking the Ganges. Established in 2000, it combines international spa therapies with Yoga and Ayurvedic practices. 

Such is its ascetic persona that Ananda was recently ranked number one among the top wellness destination of the world by Cheat Sheet in a list which includes Canyon Ranch, Red Mountain Resort and other famous spots from around the world. The list was compiled with destinations that help the guests find their inner self and motivate them to lead a better, healthier life. Ananda finishing first on the list is just an example of how utterly relaxing that place is. 

Ananda focuses on blending the centuries old Ayurvedic traditions with modern and international spa treatments. A few hours into their service and you will start to feel detoxification, de-stress and a deep relaxation. Through the specialised programmes at Ananda, you can lose weight, undergo anti-ageing, and emerge as a rejuvenated, revitalized self. For treatment through Ayurveda, the age-old philosophy of ‘doshas’ is followed by the in-house doctors at Ananda.

Ananda literally translates to joy and that is the motto of this luxury destination spa. In recent years it was recommended as one of the best spas in the world by The Telegraph and chosen as the no. 1 destination spa in the world by Travel + Leisure magazine. Ananda- In the Himalayas has been visited by so many celebrities, for example, Oprah Winfrey, Bill Gates and Melinda Gates, Kate Winslet, Deepak Chopra, Nicole Kidman, Ricky Martin, Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall etc. The experience at Ananda is inexplicable and can only be understood when you are deep in a state of trance, miles away from all the helter skelter.

Ananda Spa is managed by IHHR Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. with strategic guidance from C&C Alpha Group. The Group, where entrepreneur Bhanu Choudhrie is an Executive Director, runs a diverse investment portfolio in hospitality, realty, healthcare, aviation and utilities and has offices in the UK and India. 

Nira Alpina: Where Opulence Meets Nature

St. Moritz is famous worldwide for being a luxury holiday destination. The brilliance of snow clad mountains, world cup quality ski pistes and splendour of the majestic hotels add to the fame of St. Moritz.

There’s a lot to do in St. Moritz including horse riding or playing polo on a frozen lake, skiing off one of the steepest drops on the planet (Piz Nair) eating a lavish dinner at the posh restaurants or simply relaxing at a spa.

Perhaps the best place to have the complete St. Moritz experience is at the Nira Alpina hotel. A destination resort from Shanti Hospitality, a subsidiary of global private equity firm C&C Alpha (CCAG), Nira Alpina is the most convenient place to be in St. Moritz thanks to its ski-in ski-out facility.

Just a walk through a private walkway will take you to the Corvatsch cable car from where you can reach 10,000 ft. in just 15 minutes. Another thing that makes St. Moritz so special is their food, to which even The Telegraph agrees.

In a recent article, The Telegraph placed Nira Alpina’s The Bakery among the top 40 mountain restaurants in the world. The Bakery’s Swiss chocolate croissant, apple lattice pastry, apple strudel and zopf among other preparations make it a must-visit, no matter how many times you’ve been to St. Moritz. 

The Bakery is not the only Nira Alpina product to receive critical acclaim. While talking to Style Altitude magazine, a local resident included fondue night at Nira Alpina’s Pichalian in the list of must-dos at St. Moritz.

Nira Alpina is also a perfect luxury holiday destination for the summers because of its proximity to hiking and biking trails. So pack your bags while luxury awaits you.

About Nira Hotels & Resorts

Nira Hotels and Resorts is a part of Shanti Hospitality, a subsidiary of the C&C Alpha Group where entrepreneur Bhanu Choudhrie is an Executive Director and promoter. Shanti Hospitality’s portfolio includes award-winning brands like Ananda in the Himalayas (managed by IHHR), Nira Hotels & Resorts and Nidra Hotels and its pipeline projects span worldwide across Asia, Europe and the Indian sub-continent.

Nira Alpina: A Heavenly Fusion on Earth

Many cities have acquired famous phrases for themselves. Like, when in Rome, do as the Romans do or whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Some places are famous on the world map and simply inexplicable through mere phrases.

St. Moritz is one such place which has inspired poetry and art but no one can come close to the experience you have when you visit the heavenly place. Lying amidst the Swiss Alps, St. Moritz has a glory of its own with 350 km long pistes with heights of up to 10,000 feet.

The glory is further embellished by luxury hotels and activities such as playing polo on a frozen lake and enthralling ski rides. For skiing enthusiasts, Nira Alpina is probably the best hotel to stay in because of its ski-in ski-out facilities. Passing through a private walkway you will reach the Corvatsch cable car which will take you to the topmost ski point in a matter of 15 minutes.

A destination resort from Shanti Hospitality, a subsidiary of global private equity firm C&C Alpha (CCAG), Nira Alpina is also famous for its sumptuous preparations. The Telegraph recently included Nira Alpina’s The Bakery in its list of top 40 mountain restaurants.

Some of their mouth-watering and soul-stirring preparations include Swiss chocolate croissant, apple strudel, raspberry and vanilla turnover and zopf. They have recipes for curing your sweet cravings at any time of the day.

In a recent interview with Style Altitude magazine, a resident of St. Moritz for 20 years, named fondue night at Nira Alpina’s Pichalian as one of the top things to do in St. Moritz.

Nira Alpina is your gateway to having the perfect St. Moritz experience, a place whose beauty can’t be defined in any language, and the only way it can be defined is by being there.

About Nira Hotels & Resorts

Nira Hotels and Resorts is a part of Shanti Hospitality, a subsidiary of the C&C Alpha Group where entrepreneur Bhanu Choudhrie is an Executive Director and promoter. Shanti Hospitality’s portfolio includes award-winning brands like Ananda in the Himalayas (managed by IHHR), Nira Hotels & Resorts and Nidra Hotels and its pipeline projects span worldwide across Asia, Europe and the Indian sub-continent.

Atlantic Coast Financial Continue to Impress Stock Holders

After The Street scaling up its stock from a sell to a hold rating, the Atlantic Coast Financial Corp (NASDAQ:ACFC) is buoyed by upgrade to a buy rating from ratings agency Zacks. ACFC currently has $6.50 price objective on the stock.

According to Zacks, “Atlantic Coast Financial Corporation, formerly known as Atlantic Coast Federal Corporation, operates as a savings bank through its subsidiary Atlantic Coast Bank, a federally chartered and insured savings bank serving north-eastern Florida and south-eastern Georgia markets. The products offered by the bank includes checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, demand deposit accounts, time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit, family residential first and second mortgage loans, home-equity loans, commercial real estate loans, commercial and residential construction loans, land and multi-family real estate loans, commercial business loans, and automobile and other consumer loans. Atlantic Coast Financial Corporation is based in Waycross, Georgia.“

In another bit of news around ACFC, CEO John Kenneth Jr. Stephens through an acquisition back in August bought 10,000 shares of the stock at an average price of $6.20 per share and accrued cost of $62,000.00. That marks the CEO as one of the most influential stock holders of the company with 30,690 shares valued at $190,278 in the ballpark.

ACFC has been a key opportunity area for brokerages following its continued positive showing on NASDAQ.  Other than The Street and Zacks, FBR & Co. raised their price target on ACFC shares from $5.50 to $6.50 back in July.

About Atlantic Coast Financial

Atlantic Coast Financial Corporation is an publicly traded bank holding company headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida (a Maryland corporation) and listed on the NASDAQ Stock Market (NASDAQ: ACFC), which wholly owns Atlantic Coast Bank. Atlantic Coast Bank's services are focused primarily on Personal Banking and Business Banking in the Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia regions.

In its May 2015 AGM, the Bank re-elected two directors for three-year terms: Bhanu Choudhrie, Executive Director of C&C Alpha Group Ltd, a London-based private equity group; and James D. Hogan, retired Chief Risk Officer of the Company and the Bank.

St. Moritz and Nira Alpina: A match made in the Alps

What’s your idea of a luxury holiday? Is it skiing around 350 kilometers wide world cup quality pistes? Is it staying in a five-star hotel against the backdrop of stunning snow clad mountains? Is it horse riding or playing polo on frozen lakes? If it is indeed any of these, St. Moritz is the ideal spot for you.

Although, it is famous for skiing pistes, which would remind you of your times on a scary roller coaster, you can still do a lot in St. Moritz even if you are not looking for adrenaline rush. You can go for calm walks Sils to Isola over frozen lakes, chill your bones in the mineral bath or just go ice-skating.

Apart from these activities, a resident of St. Moritz also suggests a fondue night at Pichalain in Nira Alpina. Speaking to Style Altitude Magazine, he called it one of the must-do’s in St. Moritz because of the exclusive bohemian experience. A destination resort from Shanti Hospitality, Nira Alpina is a subsidiary of global private equity firm C&C Alpha (CCAG), famous for being the only ski-in ski-out hotel in the area. 

Even while relaxing inside your room, you can enjoy a stunning view of Engadin Mountains and Lake Silvaplana. On more sunny days, you can sit out at the terrace of the Nira Alpina’s bistro and enjoy some warm coffee. There’s a well-equipped spa where you can have a cozy bath, massages, manicures and healing therapies like hot stone chakra placement.

It’s so immaculately placed at the foot of Mt. Corvatsch that you just have to walk through a private walkway to reach the Corvatsch cable car which lands you at 10, 000 feet above the ground--all in a matter of 15 minutes. Even during summers, Nira Alpina’s strategic placement will let you enjoy hiking and biking without any hassle. At the end of your trip you will be convinced that St. Moritz is really the perfect luxury holiday.

About Nira Hotel & Resorts

Nira Hotels and Resorts is a part of Shanti Hospitality, a subsidiary of the C&C Alpha Group where entrepreneur Bhanu Choudhrie is an Executive Director and promoter. Shanti Hospitality’s portfolio includes award-winning brands like Ananda in the Himalayas (managed by IHHR), Nira Hotels & Resorts and Nidra Hotels and its pipeline projects span worldwide across Asia, Europe and the Indian sub-continent.

Nira Alpina: A Bliss in the Alpine Luxury

When you look up at the sky and wonder if there’s paradise on Earth, tourists in St. Moritz smile with a wide grin. Placed in the mighty Alps, St. Moritz inspired the idea of Alpine holidays with its enormous pistes which run for 350 kilometers in the backdrop of grand and luxurious five-star holiday destinations.

St. Moritz is the perfect blend of recluse and opulence. One moment you might be skiing off a height of 10, 000 ft., and the other you might be wearing off your stress in a luxury spa. A polo game on a frozen lake might be followed by a caviar dinner with a stunning view of the Alps. The elegant landscape from the comfort of your room window can be replaced by the raw and bare view of Endagin valley from the Piz Nair Wall, which is one of the steepest drops on the planet.

All this fun and frolic can be enjoyed hassle-free at Nira Alpina. One of the most highly regarded tourist sites in St. Moritz,.Nira Alpina is a destination resort by Shanti Hospitality, which is a subsidiary of global private equity firm C&C Alpha (CCAG). A ski-in, ski-out hotel, in fact the only in St. Moritz, you just need to walk on a private walkway till the Corvatsch cable car and bam, you’ll reach 10, 000 ft. in 15 minutes! 

Style Altitude magazine recently acclaimed the grandeur of Nira Alpina while interviewing a resident who fell so much in love with St. Moritz that he’s been there for two decades now. A fondue night at Nira Alpina’s Pichalain is what started the affair, and he recommends it as one of the must-dos in St. Moritz. The bohemian ambiance and the sumptuous food at Nira Alpina make him keep coming back for more.

It’s the perfect hotel to be in during winters because you can reach the vertical limit of skiing through the private walkway, without even going outside, literally. Although, in summers too, the hotel’s strategic placement at the foot of Mt. Corvatsch, will give you an advantage if you are interested in high altitude hiking and biking trails. If St. Moritz is the paradise on earth, Nira Alpina is definitely the gateway to heaven.

About Nira Hotels & Resorts

Nira Hotels and Resorts is a part of Shanti Hospitality, a subsidiary of the C&C Alpha Group where entrepreneur Bhanu Choudhrie is an Executive Director and promoter. Shanti Hospitality’s portfolio includes award-winning brands like Ananda in the Himalayas (managed by IHHR), Nira Hotels & Resorts and Nidra Hotels and its pipeline projects span worldwide across Asia, Europe and the Indian sub-continent.

Nira Alpina: Your Gateway to a Mesmerizing Alpine World

Few ski destinations around the world can match up to St. Moritz—the birthplace of Alpine holidays studded with a massive 350 kilometers of pistes and luxury five-star holiday destinations.

For seekers of a high-octane adrenaline rush, there’s The Corviglia—the steepest start slope in the entire Switzerland—and the Piz Nair Wall—one of the steepest drops on the planet. For those who yearn for more daredevilry, there’s horse racing, polo and kiting—all done on a frozen lake.

However, St. Moritz is not just all about rollicking fun and games—it has another side that hooks shopping lovers, party lovers, and foodies, and Nira Alpina leads that trend, sitting on top of the list of many food connoisseurs, travellers and adventure seekers.

After winning several accolades from different corners, the destination resort from Shanti Hospitality, a subsidiary of global private equity firm C&C Alpha (CCAG), was acclaimed by Style Altitude magazine in an interview with a St. Moritz resident who’s been up there for twenty years and knows the place like his own backyard.
 

 

Among the endless possibilities, a fondue night at Nira Alpina’s Pichalain ranks right on top. The experience is truly bohemian which makes it remarkable and absolutely worth your while. 

The hotel in itself is a naturally strategic location at the foot of Mt. Corvatsch-- a great vantage point to peer through the serene Alpine settings. The ski out/ski in hotel promises some of the finest skiing experiences for you through a private walkway that connects it to the Corvatsch cable car station.

In winters, it’s your direct link to skiing pistes, while in summers, some stunning high-altitude hiking and biking trails rule the roost. The bewildering wonderland that is Nira Alpina makes it a paradise for the world’s well-travelled and worldly to discover, reinvent and enjoy Alpine vacations.

About Nira Hotels & Resorts

Nira Hotels and Resorts is a part of Shanti Hospitality, a subsidiary of the C&C Alpha Group lead by Executive Director and promoter Bhanu Choudhrie. Shanti Hospitality’s portfolio includes award-winning brands like Ananda in the Himalayas (managed by IHHR), Nira Hotels & Resorts and Nidra Hotels. Its pipeline projects span worldwide across Asia, Europe and the Indian sub-continent.