Meet A GM: Anil Malik of Grand Central- Luxury Collection

Future of the industry:

With our enviable growth of economy, every International brand and chain wants a foothold in India - whether it is for multi locational and multi brand chain models or for motels, lodges or even service apartments.

Reliance is planning to set up motels next to their petrol pumps. Three years from now the concept of motels with a clean and safe bed in reasonably priced motels on super fast highways eg. Mumbai- Delhi will become a reality.

People with multi acre land holdings, are venturing into the hotel business as the attractive terms from Indian and International hotel chains have become much more attractive. A good example would be that of a private family run flight kitchen unit, operating since decades from a building near the airport. They are soon going to move their operations to make way for a high end five star project.

Oberois had bought land in Bandra Kurla Complex 4 to 5 years ago. They are constructing now to be ready in a year.

Closer to Delhi, hotels in Gurgaon are booming too. Recently a hotel came up within the Industrial zone. It has established average room rates, that are the envy of even the well established hotels of the capital! Our mid priced 80-room Fortune is today matching yields beyond expectations and is today confirming rooms only to those corporate houses, with either year round committed businesses or selling at BAR (best available rate) which is a typical five star bandwidth. The NCR is attracting well entrenched international names in collaboration with many real estate developers like DLF.

So the industry is in a boom period but the costs of construcyion are prohibitive and viability of the new projects will have to be evaluated critically and carefully.

Note:

1. Before moving to Mumbai in 2003, Anil was a member of Rotary Club of Delhi Chanakyapuri, of which I am a member and have known him personally.
2. As a delWine policy, we do not verify information or data given by the interviewee-editor

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Wine List and some recommendations by delWine

The hotel has a good choice of wines from all corners. Prices are generally reasonable. It is definitely a chardonnay-heavy list. The Menu does not mention vintages of many wines and could do with a spell-check. There are a few excellent wines at great prices. A couple of them are out of line and can be avoided if you take my advice or are price-conscious.

Subhash Arora

May 23,2007