Regional focus
Growing pains for India’s hotels
From the days of the British Raj, Indian hospitality has enjoyed a reputation for opulence. But, as the country’s economy changes, and more adventurous tourists arrive from overseas, Indian hoteliers are becoming more interested in mid-market offerings. Andrea Valentino talks to Sudeep Jain at IHG; Suma Venkatesh from IHCL; and Professor Dipra Jha of Washington State University to learn about why this sector has traditionally struggled in India.
odern Indian hospitality began with the Great Eastern Hotel. Founded around 1840, just as the British Raj was brushing down its red coat and preparing to swallow the subcontinent whole, it would quickly come to represent the pinnacle of Calcutta high society. It became the first Indian hotel to install electricity – and that was just the start of its allure. As one observer wryly observed of the hotel’s Victorian heyday, this was a place where “a man could walk in at one end, buy a complete outfit, a wedding present, or seeds for the garden, have an excellent meal, a double, and if the barmaid was agreeable, walk out at the other end engaged to be married”.
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Yet if the erstwhile glamour of the Great Eastern is surprising enough, even more striking is how it has endured. Calcutta may now be Kolkata, and the British Raj may have vanished for good, but apart from an eight-year gap from 2005, the Grand Eastern has greeted guests non-stop for nearly two centuries. And, if you know much about Indian hospitality, this feels appropriate. Like the Grand Eastern, after all, the industry has long been built on extravagance. Not every hotel can promise you a husband by checkout, but sophisticated brands like Taj have long dominated the subcontinent’s hospitality. Even today, these luxury hotels represent a market share worth over $23bn, according to MMR.
Hotel Management International /
www.hmi-online.com
Hotel Management International /
www.hmi-online.com
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Indian Hotels Company LimitedIndian Hotels Company Limited
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