Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Kences Palm Beach, Mamallapuram

Location near sea and landscape.

Service quality very poor and slow especially their restaurant Riva. We asked for drinks menu, didn't come. We asked for chapatis, didn't arrive. We asked for bill, didn't come. In the end we had to go to counter to pay. Poor for a 5 star property and its in house restaurant. In the morning the flooring was all wet due to moisture.

The location scored for me...

Staff was very transactional.. with a few exceptions of course the rest were just there..😏

Pleasant stay and good food. Enjoyed the stay.

Its a good location with peaceful ambience and very good helping staff. Rooms were very clean

The trees and forest like location in a beach backdrop

Nothing. Everything was fine

Pros: breakfast staff was very nice and courteous. Especially Mingma, she checked on us and cleared the plates very efficiently. The pool and the beach are well kept. Cons: the dinner staff was very slow with everything. From not opening the door to even checking on us to see if we wanted anything else, they were not attentive to us. The room was not clean. We had a dirty desk chair and a very dirty carpet. They left a dirty plate outside our room. We tried to make an appointment with the spa and they said they would call us back. They never called us back for the appointment. We shouldn't have to hound the staff to get us the extra features that we would be paying for. I expected better from a 5 star resort.

Excellent breakfast experience at Welcome by ITC! Delicious spread, great variety, and warm hospitality. Special thanks to Mingma for her attentive, friendly, and excellent service. She truly made the experience memorable. Highly recommended!

The venue is good and services are good.Special mention to Sejal

Giving it each everyone response and fantastic service by all. Reshaf.

India post payments Bank We had very excellent stay and breakfast lunch dinner at cafe Riva . Great service by mingma she was very helpful and associated us at morning time .. all the best to her for her career .. and good experience

Good and amazing experience around here

Ambience is great. Staff are very courteous and polite. Arjun helped us have a wonderful team outing!! Thank you team!!

The bountiful buffet presented a truly delightful culinary experience, offering a wide array of delectable dishes to satisfy every palate. Each bite was a pleasure, making the meal particularly enjoyable. Adding to this splendid repast was the absolutely breathtaking view of the beach, which unfolded majestically before our eyes. The panoramic vista of the sparkling ocean, with its gentle waves lapping at the shore, was not only beautiful but also incredibly relaxing, contributing significantly to the overall enjoyment of the occasion. The combination of exquisite food and a stunning natural backdrop created an atmosphere of pure bliss and tranquility.

Excellent service by staff and pets friendly location 10/10 sejal, shiwangi verybnice

The service was too good and got very good experience...the location was excellence.. definitely I would suggest this resort

Subject: Service Concerns During Our Stay at ITC Welcome hotel Kences We would like to express our disappointment regarding several service lapses that occurred during our stay, despite our detailed pre-arrival coordination with your team. 1. Check-in Process To facilitate a smooth and hassle-free arrival, we had shared the complete rooming list and guest ID proofs well in advance, specifically for an express check-in process. However, despite being a reputed ITC-branded property, your reception team allotted incorrect rooms to three of our guests, where the rooms were already occupied by other guests. This was highly unprofessional and caused embarrassment and inconvenience to both parties. Such incidents are unacceptable for a hotel of ITC's standards & offensive too. 2. Housekeeping Standards We had specifically instructed your team to ensure that all double-occupancy rooms were equipped with the appropriate number of toiletries and amenities. However, in Room Nos. 4002 or 4004, only one hand towel and one bath towel were provided, and tissue papers were missing from the washroom. These basic amenities were replenished only after we informed the housekeeping team. These are fundamental housekeeping standards that guests should not have to request, especially after our clear instructions were communicated in advance. Additionally, the door lock of the room was not functioning properly and was attended to only after the guest reported the issue. Does your hotel not have a standard procedure for inspecting room readiness and functionality before allocating rooms to guests? Daily preventive checks by the respective departments should have identified and rectified such issues well before guest arrival. 3. Food & Beverage Service We had repeatedly requested your Food & Beverage team to ensure timely replenishment of food during all meal services. However, during the dinner service on 18th, your team waited until several dishes were completely empty before arranging for refills from the restaurant. As a result, guests were forced to choose alternative dishes instead of the items they preferred, simply because they could not continue waiting. If your hotel was unable to manage multiple groups simultaneously while maintaining the expected service standards, our booking should not have been accepted. We had confirmed this event nearly a year in advance, and we expected adequate planning and resource allocation from your end. Every service provided by the hotel is chargeable, and we are paying for every facility and service rendered. Therefore, it is reasonable for us to expect the quality of service that is associated with the ITC brand. Overall, we are extremely disappointed that a reputed property like ITC Welcomhotel Kences fell short in delivering the standards expected from a premium hospitality brand. The shortcomings observed in the Front Office, Housekeeping, and Food & Beverage departments clearly indicate gaps in planning, supervision, and staff training. Considering that your Heads of Departments were fully aware that two large groups were arriving during the same period, appropriate planning should have been undertaken by deploying experienced and well-trained personnel for the check-in process, housekeeping operations, and F&B service. At this stage, explanations and excuses cannot justify the shortcomings we experienced. Such lapses may perhaps be expected from budget or lower-category hotels, but they are certainly not acceptable from a premium brand like ITC, which is known for its commitment to hospitality excellence. We hope this feedback is taken constructively and that the necessary corrective measures are implemented to ensure future guests do not encounter similar experiences. 4. Breach of Confidentiality Finally, on 19th, despite our repeated and explicit instructions that the negotiated room rates and commercial details were highly confidential and should not be disclosed to anyone other than the SafeTrip team, your Front Office personnel shared the complete billing calculations with guest. This is a serious breach of confidentiality and reflects either a complete failure in internal communication between your departments or a lack of attention to the instructions and emails shared by our team. In either case, such an incident is unacceptable for a hotel of ITC's reputation. What is even more concerning is that none of your team members appeared to understand the seriousness of this lapse. Confidential commercial information must be handled with the highest level of care and professionalism. Any unauthorized disclosure of such information can lead to significant commercial consequences and, in certain circumstances, may also expose the hotel to legal disputes or claims from affected parties. We strongly urge your management to review your internal communication processes, reinforce confidentiality protocols, and ensure that all departments are adequately trained to handle sensitive guest and commercial information responsibly. On a positive note, the food served throughout our stay was delicious and well appreciated by our team. This played a significant role in ensuring our team had a satisfying dining experience despite the other service concerns. We sincerely appreciate the efforts of the Executive Chef and the entire culinary team, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to them for maintaining the quality and taste of the food. However, based on our overall experience during this event, we will have to seriously reconsider our decision before planning or recommending any future events at ITC-branded hotels across India. We sincerely hope that the concerns highlighted in this communication are addressed with the seriousness they deserve and that appropriate corrective measures are implemented to restore our confidence in the ITC brand.

Near to the beach

Nothing

We had a great time on this holiday. The food at both the restaurants was excellent. And the service was top of the line. Special mention of appreciation for Rickden, Siva, Mingma, Giri, Reshaf and Chef Subag. The rooms need minor upgrades and maintenance. In aggregate a great experience, and would recommend going to this resort.

Wonderful experience, great stay and location (beach opening) The staff was great especially Annu, Ritika, Giri and Mohan in the restaurant. The breakfast spread is fantastic. We will come back again for longer stay.

beach

breakfast

Excellent stay! The rooms were clean, spacious, and comfortable. The staff were friendly and helpful throughout our visit. The food was delicious, and the location was convenient. Great value for money. I would definitely recommend this hotel and stay here again

Very nice experience. Mohan ji is very supportive

It was such an amazing place and we enjoyed the view. They soo natural and the services was also good..Kalai and Jeyaraman did their well best to us. We ll be visiting again soon...thank you

stay is comfortable n special thanks to ms swara to guide us

It was too good the view of the beach and service is also very good

I think, overall experience was excellent , especially I must quote Miss Swara , she welcome us at reseption counter, her behaviour was very polite and found to be very informative also. Swimming pool is excellent. In dinning area Miss Anushka was always smiling ....

Our stay was wonderful staff are very polite, rooms are comfortable, allover greenery pets friendly

Closeness to the sea.....private beach

Rooms didn't have windows!!!!

The best service i've ever had, Mr. Gopinath & Ms. Sejal r the best one they r too kind and every staffs also🙂‍↕️🤎

Best circumstances and also staffs are more friendly!!

Thank you so much Kences team I really appreciate everyone that room was neat and clean that food was very nice special thanks to Pradeepa and Gopinath

The staff and ambiance and the food

In the swimming pool, all were allowed with normal cotton dress, saree and salwar, with jasmine flowers in hair.. which is not advisable

This hotel enjoys one of the finest locations on the Mahabalipuram coast. Sitting directly on the beach, it offers uninterrupted sea views, refreshing sea breezes and beautiful sunrise / sunset walks. Quite honestly, the ocean does a lot of the heavy lifting here and makes an excellent first impression. Our stay - however, started on a less impressive note. For a property carrying the ITC brand, the arrival experience felt surprisingly subdued. While the architecture, landscaped grounds, and coastal ambience are appealing, the hospitality initially lacked the warmth, attentiveness and polish expected from a premium brand. The resort itself is attractive. With spacious rooms, comfortable beds, expansive lawns and a well-positioned pool area. However, minor signs of wear and maintenance fatigue were noticeable in parts of the room and bathroom, suggesting that upkeep is not always keeping pace with the property's positioning. Service was the inconsistent aspect of the stay. Early interactions felt reactive and some requests required follow-ups that should not have been necessary. To the hotel's credit, the experience improved noticeably over time, with several staff members making genuine efforts to assist and enhance the overall experience. Breakfast offered a decent variety and was enjoyable overall, though service slowed during peak periods. Like the rest of the stay, it reflected good fundamentals but inconsistent execution. The biggest takeaway is the gap between the property's exceptional location and its operational delivery. The beachfront setting is outstanding but premium hospitality requires more than a spectacular view. I would recommend the resort for families and travelers seeking a relaxed beachfront escape. With stronger service consistency, sharper maintenance standards and more proactive guest engagement, this property could fully live up to its premium branding. For now, the beach delivers a five-star experience every day. The hotel is still working toward matching it.

Prompt service. Lovely food.

Actually nothing. It was beautiful

Calm and peaceful cottages with no disturbance. Atmosphere and service was excellent. Rooms were neat and clean. It's absolute value for money given the location and services offered. Swimming pool was clean,.poolside cocktails were nice addition... Spl. Mention on the food. menu was to the point, easy to understand what ull get, decent portion size, tasted amazing. Must try Mongolian chicken stir fry, prawn Thai curry, pizza and walnut brownie. Staff were kind through out our stay.

Good atmosphere, and quality treatment very professional staff very safe family room break fast and lunch also very testy

Quality treatment and very good atmosphere very good spot i near mahabalipuram

Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Palm Grove offers a refreshing blend of classic South Indian hospitality and modern comfort, making it a relaxing stay option in Chennai. The hotel’s biggest advantage is its location along the scenic Marina beachfront stretch, providing easy access to the city while still feeling calm and peaceful. The lush greenery around the property gives it a resort-like atmosphere that stands out from many business hotels in the city. The rooms are spacious, clean, and thoughtfully designed with comfortable bedding, elegant interiors, and good amenities for both business and leisure travelers. Many rooms offer pleasant views of the sea or gardens, adding to the overall experience. The housekeeping and room service teams are generally attentive and responsive, helping guests feel welcomed throughout their stay. One of the highlights of the hotel is its food. The breakfast buffet offers a wide variety of South Indian and international dishes, and the restaurants maintain good quality and service standards. The swimming pool and fitness facilities are also well maintained and suitable for unwinding after a long day. The staff (Monga, Shiv Alam, Jagannath)deserves special mention for being courteous and professional. From check-in to departure, the service feels warm and personalized. While some areas of the property may show slight signs of age compared to newer luxury hotels, the comfort, hospitality, and ambience more than make up for it. Overall, it is a dependable and enjoyable place to stay in Chennai.

다른곳보다 종류수가 조금더 많고 맛도 좋았다

당구 및 탁구등 놀이시설이 미비

We faced repeated hygiene issues—found insects in the room, during breakfast, and even on the bed at checkout. Despite multiple complaints, there was no proper resolution. Service was equally poor. A staff member knocked on our door late at night without prior permission to fix a phone issue, which was very uncomfortable. Overall, this stay did not meet basic hygiene or service expectations. Would not recommend.

Amazing Work From Front Office Team

Food was delicious ,parking facilities are avaliable ,everywhere greenery

Namaste shack restaurant from Shiva Chef was polite Bharani great work

I was in pain and was in need of ice pack at 3 am, the staff understood and provided me with a makeshift ice pack by putting ice cubes in a bag and stapling it. Remaining staff was all courteous and helpful too particularly Shantanu at breakfast. He understood the instructions and delivered exactly what we asked for. Loved the scrambled eggs, they were creamy and the best we’ve had. Vada was very nice, well cooked, crispy and very less oil.

By the standards of ITC breakfast could have been better. Filter coffee didn’t even taste like coffee and there was no other option for coffee. Pastries were not appealing and looked too much like maida.

An amazing experience. Must visit for a family gateway with immense greenery and access to beach. A must visit to their spa .Rini has given a massage much needed Good one. Shivangi at the front office accommodated an early and quick checkin .

I had a great experience, and everything was well organized. Special thanks to Chintu for being so helpful and making the trip smooth and enjoyable. Highly recommend this place!

Property felt safe and relaxing. Food wasn’t bad. Some dishes were too good and some were okay but none were bad. Location was good.

Fitness and gaming centre was under renovation. So except for swimming pool and private beach, we could do no other activities. Staff were polite but always took time to attend. Would have appreciated if guests were allowed to use chairs on the beach.

Excellent service from staff ,pets Friendly resort I would like to recommend this property to you all specially front office staff are very polite with us

Very beautiful property Shivangi and Chintu was super help food was very nice would like to visit again.

The stay was good. The staffs are very friendly and wonderful. Enjoyed the overall stay. Will like to visit again

Love location very beautiful place staff are also well mannered all over greenery ,pets friendly resort ,special thanks to sejal ,palmar, Shivangi they took very smooth check in

Beach view swimmingpool and breakfast

Room not clean full dust Bathroom things not good condition very bad surrounding

Excellent stay as always. Delicious food and excellent hospitality. Great experience at the reception with Swara

It’s was good to experience to spend time in this hotel

It's was good experience to spend my time

Bharani and Udhaya both good person

The property was good Bharani did good work

Barani helped a lot of us Property was nice

Property was good to time spend Barani did help nice

Very good ambiance and supportive staff. Had very good experience during my stay.

The sea view was amazing And it's was good property

Perfect blend of comfort, nature, and great service.

We had our leadership summit in Kences for 3 days. It was a great experience. Hotel staff were very polite and helpful. I would like to personally appreciate the following staff members who has been with us for whole 3 days and we had around 50 guests and none of them got any complaints Jaya Ram Sathiya Jagannath Jakir Ajeez Abhijit All of these staff members were very accommodating and helpful during our time. I truly recommend this resort for everyone!! Thank you once again!!! Regards, Arun

Thank you, Ms. Pradeepa for an excellent service. 5 Stars!

Excellent hotel great location most enjoyable stay Only spoilt by the service in the reasturants, staff very friendly bur slow to our requests and oftern seemed either not to understand our requests or forgot them totally Ordered 2 gin and tonics as aperos to supper and waited 25 minutes for them to arrive Inconsistent opening times for the shack area , although service and food was excellent the two guys there were great

Location is very beautiful and staff are very friendly sejal, she did quick checking and during our stay she helped us to arrange a suprise cake for my friend birthday allover excellent

Everything

Понравился только бассейн. Мы с супругом были там одни. Для местных было холодно. Правда бассейн мелкий 1,2м.

Я уже писала об этом отеле. Могу только повториться. Это не 5 звезд. Что-то среднее между 3 и 4 звездами. Отель убитый. Номер осень темный, простои светильники прикроватные, т.к. у кровати в изголовье света нет. Темно! Ванная комната не очень чистая. Стеклянные двери в душевой не отмыты, в подтеках засохших. В Ресторане стойкий запах кухни. Официанты не расторопны. Забывают заказы, приходилось или ждать долго или перезаказывать у других официантов. Отель рассчитан на свадьбы и различные симпозиумы. Но нам повезло. Были дожди, и свадьба на свежем воздухе не состоялась. Но на следующий день, когда дождя не было, мы поняли, что при хороших погодных условиях ночь была бы бессонной. Не посоветую данный отель .

Понравилось только то, что в бассейне купались только мы с супругом. Для индийцев было холодно ( январь).

Не понятно кто присвоил этому отелю 5 звезд. Даже 4 звезды можно поставить с большой натяжкой. Не понравилось много, поверьте, этот отель что-то среднее между 3 и 4 звездами. Кто привык к хорошим 5-кам даже не просматривайте этот отель, как вариант. В ресторане при заказе официанты забывают сразу же , что мы заказывали . Ждали долго. В самом ресторане стойкий запах кухни . Пляжа как такового нет. Да и купаться в океане небезопасно. Постоянные волны.

A truly beautiful hotel with direct access to a stunning private beach. The staff were exceptionally polite, friendly, and always ready to help. The food was fantastic, and we especially loved relaxing each night at the outdoor bar-restaurant, listening to the sound of the waves. The swimming pool was refreshing, and the breakfast spread was hearty and delicious every morning. Our ground-floor room felt like a cozy studio apartment, surrounded by lush greenery, which made the stay even more serene. The location is perfect too—just minutes away from the Shore Temple and other major attractions in Mahabalipuram.

Seriously cant think of anything that we did not like.

Location was excellent. Breakfast was good. Chef Gurmeet took a little extra care. Haripriya who waited on us was extremely helpful

The rooms, and especially the bathrooms need immediate refurbishment. We had wet sheets and blankets and they had to be replaced late at night.

Overall one of the best experience !!! Enjoyed everybit of the stay ! Worth every penny spent !

NA

The ambiance.

Washrooms in the cottage could have been maintained. Especially the wet bath partition door not getting closed.

Breakfast was very good. Great spread. Unfortunately a lot of guests don't use fresh plates and keep touching food with hands. The pool looked great and quite a few people were enjoying using it.

The wait staff in the restaurant looked just too overworked I think. I think a couple may have been ill as well.

The staff was really helpful.

Lots of renovations going on during the stay

excellent service from staff people are very friendly and helpful specially shreya sejal palzar chintu will visit soon

We recently stayed at the Welcome Group resort as part of a large alumni get-together, and the experience was very good overall. The property is well maintained, the setting is excellent, and the service was warm and efficient — especially considering the size of our group. A special mention for Sathya, who was extremely helpful and responsive, particularly during the evening dinner and the events that followed. His support made a big difference and ensured everything went smoothly. Thank you to the team for a pleasant and well-managed stay. We would be happy to recommend the resort for group gatherings and reunions.

Pradeepa and Gopi thank you for the services. It was real a good experience to stay in the property. The hospitality was very good. We would like to recommend in our group.

I wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude for the exceptional service and hospitality at your resort. The tranquil atmosphere, impeccable maintenance, and private beach experience exceeded our expectations! Please thank the team for their warm and attentive service especially anushka bikash. We highly recommend your resort and look forward to returning. Thank you for a memorable stay!

We had wonderful experience in welcomhotel kences beutiful location staff are very friendly specially sejal, palzar allover excellent stay

Pradeepa and Kartheeswaran housekeeping assistants were very helpful and professional. Room was very neat and clean. We would highly recommend this hotel

Nothing

Everything Management Rooms, nothing worked ..fan, phone, shower and I had two rooms and both had issues. I went there to shop for wedding events and the event manager didn't bother to meet with me. Never again. I would recommend everyone stay away.

The property was very good with great facilities.

Rates paid was on the higher side despite our booking being on week days