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Rocky Kalra, Vice President, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group
Indian hospitality has witnessed phenomenal progress in the last few decades, as evident from the number of hotels, resorts and rental properties being opened in different cities and even remote areas. Over the years, there has been a significant rise in the GDP and FDI that has increased the purchasing power of the masses, which is reflected in their ability to travel domestically and internationally. With the growing demand for destinations, experiences and leisure, the curve of Indian hospitality should move sustainably.
Domestic tourism has received a significant boost with the government’s initiatives like Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD schemes to promote regional tourism, improve connectivity and build robust infrastructure. With these developments, the remote cities that had comparatively less traffic than the urban cities have witnessed a remarkable construction of new commercial properties to entertain tourists from around the country and the world. It has further created opportunities for the development of large-scale hotels and resorts.
A great deal of attention is being given to the construction and conservation of the spiritual, cultural and historical sites with an influx of foreign tourists visiting India. A likely example of this is their presence in religious lands like Vrindavan and Kedarnath. The Tourism Ministry of India, under the Government of India, is deploying a huge chunk of resources and energy to boost tourism around these regions. Even the recent Union Budget promises significant developments in the hospitality sector to elevate India’s image on the global map. The Lalit is all about creating experiences that are culturally rooted and celebrate diversity whether it is the regional food that is served in its restaurants or cultural festivals that are organized at its properties in Srinagar and Mumbai.
“Indian hospitality is an ever-evolving industry as the trends that are relevant today might be irrelevant in the coming months. The success of a hotel depends entirely on the quality of services, unique experiences and a well-trained staff it provides. Another factor that defines the future of a hospitality business is the recurring visit of the guests and their mood when they are leaving a property. At Lalit, we are sensitive to guest feedback and improve our services accordingly. Our systems revolvearound uncompromised luxury and sustainability that reflect in the success of all our properties across the country,” says Rocky Karla, Vice President of The Lalit.
The constant evolution of the digital world enables hospitality businesses to monitor the varied interests of travellers and offer personalized experiences and services at their properties. The AI, mobile booking apps, in-built social media tools for business owners
and enhanced data interpretation softwares have allowed these businesses to reach a new set of travelers and tourists. The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group always keep an eye on the latest technological advancements in the world and incorporates them into its operations to understand trends and elevate experiences for its guests.
Today’s traveller wants an eco-friendly environment at the place he is living and travelling to. It’s non-negotiable for the hotels to align their operations and practices with sustainability whether it’s through energy-efficient systems, resource management or other eco-conscious measures. At Lalit, basic etiquettes among the staff are encouraged to prevent food wastage, avoid litter and turn off electrical appliances when not in use. The same behaviour is reciprocated by its guests, who consciously contribute to the larger good of the environment and society.
For a traveler, it is more to do with a luxurious hotel room and modern amenities. He visits a destination not just to laze but to enrich himself with an experience that is unique and empowering, like exposure to local culture, personalized service a distinctive ambience. The Lalit hotels are consciously built on the locations where a visitor can enjoy different traditions, cultural regions and adventurous activities. The river surrounds the Lalit Bekal Nombili, bringing the traveller close to nature without moving to a different location. Water sports, spa experience and gymnasiums are other leisure amenities that the Lalit Hotel offers across its chains.
While there has been immense progress, the hospitality industry still needs to invest a lot in skilling the staff and improving services, which various hotels still need to deliver, as evident from their social media reviews and feedback. An innovative approach needs to be included that would differentiate them from ordinary hotels. They could either excel in their services or build on a unique selling proposition to incur more revenue and scalability.
