Face-to-Face: Mandeep S. Lamba, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, ONYX India
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1) Onyx Hospitality Group has announced plans to add 40 hotels across Asia Pacific by 2018. What developments can we expect in India and the Sub-Continent region?
Our plans for India are to have seven operational hotels and another seven in various stages of completion by 2017.
2) Amari has a long history in the Thai hotel market. What elements of Thai hospitality will you be bringing to the India, and to what extent will your properties be tailored to the Indian market.The warmth and distinctive quality of Thai hospitality is universally acknowledged and has, particularly in recent times, been sought after by developers as a key differentiator in a guest experience. A spa is now an integral part of most upscale hotels and it is no different here in India. Amari as a brand offers the freshness of Thai hospitality and can feature our own Sivara Spa. We can also showcase authentic Thai cuisine (increasingly popular here in India) as a food and beverage option and may integrate elements of Thai architecture and design in newly built resort properties.
3) What do you believe are the biggest challenges and opportunities currently facing the Indian hotel industry?
India is rapidly gaining strength as a nation in the global economy and because of its rapidly growing economy, diverse cultures, deep rooted history and traditions, it is becoming a favoured travel destination. With tourism expected to grow at over 8% year on year for the next 10 years, India urgently needs to double its existing inventory – a relatively low figure of 1,30,000 rooms – in the same period to keep pace with the demand. While this is a great opportunity, it is equally a serious challenge to develop hotels in that pace in India given the enormous efforts required in procurement of land, its conversion for hotel usage and the over 100 sanctions and permissions that are needed to build and operate a hotel which makes the start to finish time requirement for a hotel to be between 36 and 48 months. This is an issue which is causing concern to the industry and needs to be addressed by the government at the earliest.
4) With so many well-established local hotel chains, and major international groups planning to enter the market, what points of difference can Onyx offer hotel developers and investors?
While Indian developers are now spoilt for choice as far as hotel brands are concerned, the rapid pace at which the industry is required to grow provides room for all. There is visibly a need for smaller, professional and somewhat more flexible hotel operators. ONYX fits this bill well. Its Asian roots and Thai lineage makes it that much more attractive. ONYX brings over four decades of hospitality knowledge in developing , owning and operating business and leisure hotels in the 4 and 5 star category with a range varying from a 57-room luxury resort in exotic Krabi to a 570-room business hotel in the heart of Bangkok. The fact that ONYX owns close to half the number of hotels currently in the portfolio, we have the inherent advantage of thinking more like an owner and less as an operator. And finally, the success of our hotels in competitive markets where numerous international brands have a presence must speak for our ability as able hotel managers.
5) What developments are we likely to see from Onyx Hospitality in India over the next 12 months?
We plan to announce our first Amari and Ozo hotels in India over the next 12 months.
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