As Bangladesh’s hospitality sector continues to evolve, few names are shaping the premium landscape as actively as Ashwani Nayar. Serving as Area General Manager – South West Asia for InterContinental Hotels Group and Cluster General Manager of Crowne Plaza Dhaka Airport, Nayar brings decades of global hospitality experience into Bangladesh’s growing luxury and corporate travel ecosystem.
In this exclusive conversation with TheGolfHouse, he discusses the strategic thinking behind Crowne Plaza Dhaka Airport, the intersection between hospitality and golf tourism, and how experiential luxury is redefining guest expectations in Dhaka.
What strategic vision guided the development of this property in such a prime aviation corridor?
The vision was very clear from the beginning to create a truly international hospitality destination that complements Dhaka’s rapidly growing business and aviation ecosystem. The airport corridor is one of the city’s most important gateways, and we wanted to build a property that reflects both efficiency and elegance. At the same time, we wanted the hotel to carry elements of Bangladesh’s cultural identity. If you look at our central fountain, you will notice that it is inspired by the tea gardens of Bangladesh. We have brought that natural landscape element into Dhaka in a very unique and contemporary way.
How does this property differentiate itself within Dhaka’s premium hospitality segment?
The biggest differentiator is the feeling of openness and spatial luxury. When guests enter the hotel, they immediately experience a grand lobby with extremely high ceilings and a very open architectural concept. That sense of scale creates a strong first impression. While the hotel feels expansive, we have carefully integrated private zones where guests can connect, meet, or simply relax in comfort. We wanted to create a social luxury environment without compromising privacy.
Another distinctive feature is the interior design philosophy. You may notice that certain areas, especially the room corridors, resemble a luxury cruise liner. Bangladesh has a strong maritime connection through the Bay of Bengal, and our designers beautifully reflected that inspiration throughout the property.
Could you walk us through the guest experience and design philosophy?
The guest experience has been designed around movement, interaction, and comfort. Every section of the hotel has been created to feel grand yet welcoming.
We focused heavily on natural flow, open spaces, and visual continuity. Whether guests are walking through the lobby, the corridors, or the dining spaces, they should consistently feel the elegance and scale associated with a global luxury brand.
At the same time, the design is practical for today’s traveller. Corporate guests need efficiency, connectivity, privacy, and relaxation within the same environment. That balance was extremely important for us.
Dining has become a major part of luxury hospitality. What culinary experiences are being introduced here?
Food is one of the strongest pillars of the guest experience at Crowne Plaza Dhaka Airport. We currently have six dining venues within the property.
Our all-day dining restaurant, “Mosaic,” represents a melange of international cuisines. One of the unique features there is the live interaction between guests and chefs. We have introduced three open kitchens along with a functional cold kitchen effectively four open kitchen experiences inside one restaurant. Guests can see the culinary process live, which creates engagement and authenticity. We will also host international buffet concepts and seasonal food promotions regularly. Another major addition is our Chinese specialty restaurant, “House of Han.” This venue is designed to deliver an authentic Asian dining atmosphere. It includes 10 private dining rooms accommodating groups from six to 30 guests.
That level of private luxury dining is something quite rare in Dhaka at the moment. Guests can enjoy restaurant-quality experiences while still feeling like they are dining in their own exclusive space.
Corporate travel remains a major driver in Dhaka. How is the hotel positioned for business and events?
Corporate travel is central to our strategy. The location itself gives us a significant advantage because of proximity to the airport and major commercial zones. Beyond that, we have invested heavily in operational efficiency, meeting infrastructure, guest connectivity, and premium service delivery. Modern business travelers expect seamless movement between meetings, dining, wellness, and relaxation. Our event and conference facilities are designed to support everything from board meetings and diplomatic gatherings to large-scale corporate functions and social events.
How important is wellness in today’s hospitality landscape?
It is absolutely essential. Luxury hospitality today is no longer limited to accommodation. Guests are looking for balance, wellness, fitness, and lifestyle integration. That is why wellness facilities, leisure areas, and thoughtful guest comfort have become central components of the property design. Travelers today want to maintain their routines even while travelling, and hotels must support that expectation.
As Cluster General Manager overseeing two landmark properties, how do you maintain brand distinction?
Both hotels operate under the larger IHG ecosystem, but they serve different guest expectations. InterContinental Dhaka carries a legacy luxury positioning with deep historical and diplomatic significance. Meanwhile, Crowne Plaza Dhaka Airport is positioned as a modern, energetic, globally connected hospitality destination with strong appeal for corporate and transit travelers. The operational standards remain globally aligned, but each property has its own identity, atmosphere, and guest journey.
Bangladesh’s hospitality sector is evolving rapidly. How do you see this hotel contributing to the country’s tourism and business ecosystem?
Bangladesh has tremendous untapped potential in hospitality and tourism. International business travel is growing steadily, and there is increasing demand for globally benchmarked accommodation and lifestyle experiences. We believe this hotel can contribute significantly by raising service standards, introducing new dining concepts, attracting international guests, and supporting Dhaka’s image as a regional business destination.
Hospitality today also plays a role in investment perception. The quality of hotels, dining, infrastructure, and service directly influences how international visitors experience a country.
Finally, as someone connected with Bangladesh’s golf community, how do you see hospitality and golf tourism intersecting in the future?
Golf and hospitality naturally complement each other. Around the world, golf has become deeply connected with corporate networking, tourism, diplomacy, and premium lifestyle experiences. Bangladesh already has several outstanding golf courses and a very passionate golfing community. With the right collaborations between hotels, golf clubs, airlines, and tourism stakeholders, the country can develop a strong golf tourism ecosystem.
I believe Dhaka has the potential to position itself as a regional golf and corporate leisure destination in the years ahead.
