The new look and swanky Panjim Residency, Goa Tourism Development Corporation’s prime accommodation facility for tourists in Goa was officially inaugurated today by Hon’ble Union Minister for Defence, Mr. Manohar Parrikar in presence of cabinet ministers and GTDC board of directors.
[su_expand more_text=”READ MORE” less_text=” ” height=”0″ hide_less=”yes” link_style=”button” link_align=”center”] Panjim Residency, formerly known as Tourist Hostel has been serving the State’s tourism industry for more than four decades. GTDC has been playing an active role in all commercial aspects of tourism including providing accommodation. Panjim Residency is one of the many properties of the GTDC located right in the heart of the State’s capital and overlooks the River Mandovi. Panjim Residency is a ground plus six storey building. Though built to facilitate the middle economic class tourists, its strategic and scenic location has made it one of the most sought hotels in Panjim for all tourists. It has a unique and enviable panoramic view of the river and overlooks the evergreen Betim coastline and hillock. This puts it in an advantageous position to attract tourists of the high net worth.
As the building and its amenities had out-lived its age, the GTDC proposed to improve and upgrade the structure and facilities and to modernize it keeping in mind the new age tourists looking for class and style while on a holiday or a business trip in Goa.
The GTDC appointed M/s Inside Out to provide consultancy services for the work of up-gradation and renovation of the Panjim Residency. The up-gradation and renovation works included a new reception lobby, restaurant lounge, repairs of stairways, corridors, all rooms and attached bathrooms (numbering 45), a facelift to the building façade, repairs of the terrace, plumbing, electrification, air-conditioning etc.
The contract was awarded to M/s Dhirubhai D. Thumer & Co. Hyderabad. The total project cost was Rs 12 crore.
While the renovated and upgraded Panjim Residency was launched in November 2015, it was officially inaugurated by Mr. Parrikar today in the distinguished presence of Hon’ble Chief Minister, Mr. Laxmikant Parsekar, Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Mr. Dilip Parulekar, Hon’ble MLA and Chairman of GTDC, Mr. Nilesh Cabral, Hon’ble MLA of Panjim, Mr. Sidharth Kunkolienkar, Mayor of Panjim, Mr. Surendra Furtado, Chief Secretary, Mr. R. K. Srivastava, Director of Tourism, Mr. Sanjeev C. Gauns Dessai, Managing Director of GTDC, Mr. Nikhil Desai and Board of Director – GTDC.
While speaking with media, Hon’ble Union Minister for Defence, Mr. Manohar Parrikar said, “It gives me great pleasure to inaugurate the Panjim Residency which has always been a landmark in the capital city for any tourist visiting Goa. I am happy that the Goa Tourism Development Corporation has undertaken works for upgrading and renovating this building which will attract tourists to stay in the hotel with better facilities and amenities. Tourists today want good accommodation facilities and it is good to see that the government through the GTDC is working on improving such facilities.”
Hon’ble Chief Minister, Laxmikant Parsekar said, “Panjim Residency has finally got a new facelift which is now equivalent to a star category above 3 and can offer good and modern facilities for tourists visiting Goa for a holiday. Improving the quality and standard of facilities for tourists will go a long way in attracting more tourists to the State.”
Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Mr. Dilip Parulekar said, “The Panjim Residency is one of the many accommodation facilities provided by GTDC for tourists in Goa. There was an urgent need to renovate it and also upgrade the facilities therein. The GTDC has successfully carried out this work in the last one year and we are now looking at improving accommodation facilities at other properties namely Colva, Old Goa, Britona and so on.”
The Hon’ble Chairman of GTDC, Mr.Nilesh Cabral said, “Goa Tourism Development Corporation is committed on augmenting and improving tourism related infrastructure projects in the State. It is our endeavor as the SPV for tourism projects to give top priority to accommodation facilities. Today Goa is a 365 day holiday destination and tourists throng the State all through the year. The demand for rooms is very high and as a tourism corporation having tourism properties we can offer some of the best hotel facilities and amenities for tourists.”
Online bookings are available on the Goa Tourism website: www.goa-tourism.com and also through various online travel portals such as Yatra.com, Make My Trip, Clear Trip, goibibo etc.
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