A bi-monthly magazine by HRAEI | Vol 6 | Issue 1 | May - June 2020

What will it take for a revival of the hospitality industry after Covid-19 CONTENTS

BIG INTERVIEW May - June 2020

MR NAVIN In an exclusive interview Mr Suchanti shares his SUCHANTI, success mantra of 12 SINCLAIRS HOTEL building the brand Sinclairs

HRAEI FIGHTS 8 THE COVID-19 Association offers isolation rooms to the State Government

BIG BLOW 28 The impact of the pandemic on Indian hotel sector is deep, but there's a silver lining in the dark clouds

6 | MYSTIC EAST BIG INTERVIEW: NAVIN SUCHANTI, SINCLAIRS HOTELS

I ATTEND EVERY SINGLE HAPPY TO BE OWNERS REVIEW BY OUR GUESTS AND TAKE QUICK REMEDIAL OF FIVE PROPERTIES IN ACTION IF THEY FIND SOMETHING AMISS EASTERN

R NAVIN SUCHANTI, CEO and Managing Director, Sinclairs M Hotels Limited has nearly five decades of diverse experience spanning advertising, public relations, hospitality, administration, finance and taxation. He has held various important positions as committee member of several industry bodies which include Assocham, the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and HRAEI. He was also a member of Tourism Advisory Council of Government of . Sinclairs Hotels Limited owns and operates hotels and resorts at seven places. will be soon added to the chain. Also there is a plan to build a 114-key property in New Town, . He spoke to Mystic East in an exclusive interview.

Q: How did you get into the hospitality business? We already owned a very successful advertising and PR agency with countrywide presence, Pressman Advertising. Pressman had built MR NAVIN SUCHANTI strong brand equity and its forte was – CEO and MD, Sinclairs Hotels Limited high quality service and customer-

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HAPPY TO BE OWNERS TODAY MANY HOTEL COMPANIES HAVE FALLEN OF FIVE PROPERTIES IN IN A DEBT TRAP; NEW ENTREPRENEURS MUST LEARN EASTERN INDIA FROM THEIR MISTAKES

centric approach. them profitable. Resort hotels at about where you want a new property The opportunity to acquire a hotel Burdwan, and are to be located. Connectivity, that is, company came our way some time greenfield projects and they all are ease of getting into the destination by in the late 1980s. Both my brother destinations of delight for domestic guests is one important consideration. Dr Niren Suchanti and I thought that and foreign guests. We are primarily in leisure section of this was a good fit with our existing Today I am happy to state that the tourism. Our aim is to choose a place business by way of sustained high company has no debts and each of the with natural bounties so that our quality service and focus on customer seven units are profitable. visitors can unwind the stress they go delight. In March 1990, we acquired Every time we build a resort through in everyday life and return Sinclairs with two hotels at and property, we pay a lot of attention refreshed and rejuvenated. . to make it blend seamlessly with When we built the Burdwan the surrounding environment. The property, our consideration was that Q: How many hotels do you own way we go about planting trees and between Howrah and Asansol, you at this point and how many do you designing flower beds as part of our don’t have a good hotel. Burdwan manage (but not owned by you). green initiative come in for much also lacked in high quality banqueting Since acquiring Sinclairs, the number appreciation of our guests. facilities till we arrived. of hotels that we own has grown Come April this year, we will into seven. These are at Burdwan, commission a 60-room boutique Q: What is the USP of a Sinclairs Darjeeling, Dooars, Kalimpong, Ooty, hotel property – Sinclairs Gangtok. hotel? Port Blair and Siliguri. Gangtok will The eighth property in our chain is a To me it’s of paramount importance soon be added to our chain. leased property, as you may be aware that any guest staying in a Sinclairs Darjeeling, Siliguri, Ooty and that under Article 371F of the Indian property must return with memories Port Blair were acquired as sick Constitution, non-Sikkimese cannot to cherish and share with others. The properties making losses and there buy properties in Sikkim. management challenge then is to were default in payment of bank build a culture among the staff to offer and institutional loans. We invested Q: How do you identify a location a kind of service to guests from the in refurbishment of these properties of a hotel? point of arrival to departure that will and introduced new management Quite a few factors will be in play delight her or him. and operational systems to make when it comes to taking a decision You will have an idea of how good is

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Kanchenjungha Room at Sinclairs Darjeeling the service by doing a periodic review We are quite happy to be owners way of realising tourism potential of guest feedback at every property. I of five of the seven properties in of north-east is connectivity issue personally see what guests have to say this part of the country. And soon and infrastructure that needs about their stay experience. This gives we shall be commissioning the development. On more than once me an insight into guest likes and Gangtok hotel and that will complete occasion, Prime Minister Mr Narendra dislikes. In fact, every single review the circuit. Whatever may be the Modi has spoken about the need to is attended to by me. The important misgivings about the region in some promote tourism in that part of the thing here is to take quick remedial quarters, we have done well here country. action if guests find something amiss. and our experience with the local What gives me much satisfaction governments, district and other Q: What is the status of your is all the seven Sinclairs resorts officials has been excellent. We find upcoming hotel in New Town and hotels enjoy high ranking by the government in the state and local Kolkata? Tell us something about TripAdvisor, the bellwether of tourism authorities responsive to our needs. this new property. industry. While properties at Burdwan Being born in Kolkata and having We have the land in a strategic and Dooars have got top ranking, the lived here, I know the region and its location. The plan was to build an one at Port Blair and Kalimpong is potential pretty well. upmarket 114 room business hotel placed second and Darjeeling third. for which we already have a sanction. Siliguri is ranked seventh while Ooty is Q: Do you think that north-eastern The hotel is designed by a leading ninth ranked. part of India has a huge untapped Architect firm from USA. But because potential in the hospitality sector? of the large inventory of rooms built Q: Most of your hotels are I can’t agree more. Riches of nature up in the last few years, we have put in eastern India. What are the in north-east and distinctive cultures our New Town project on hold. We are advantages or disadvantages of and many unique local crafts in the waiting for the right opportunity to running a hotel in these parts of the region will always be a big pull for give shape to the project. country? tourists. What, however, stands in the Q: Do you prefer to set up

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Burra Sahib Kothi at Sinclairs Retreat, Dooars greenfield projects? Is this the right optimal. Anytime is good time to do a level at Sinclairs, 40 per cent of the time to invest in such projects in new hotel project. total staff members have clocked in India? ten to 20 years with us. The country has so much tourism Q: How do you handle labour potential unexplored that it offers problems or attrition in your Q: What is your advice to a budding immense scope for hospitality business? entrepreneur in hospitality? groups to build greenfield properties To me labour problem is a This is a growing industry as also go for acquisitions. Both offer misnomer. At Sinclairs, everyone which offers opportunities to new good scope. The centre and the is treated as a member of a big entrepreneurs. But they have to be states are keen to promote tourism family and she or he is given very careful in reviewing any projects for revenue generation and creation respect. When an individual has that they may take up, especially of jobs requiring a variety of skills. the sense of belonging, they will location and cost. These should be India offers a diverse portfolio of put the best foot forward. I have thoroughly analysed and then only the niche tourism products from leisure always believed that more than project should be implemented. The to business to adventure to medical money people want respect and financial mix to invest in the project is tourism. As domestic and foreign recognition for good work. They also important and leveraging should traffic for each niche segment will also want their career to progress be very conservative. Today many grow, the hotel industry will have in an ideal work environment, hotel companies have fallen in a debt to be ready with sufficient numbers which Sinclairs offers. trap and it is therefore necessary for of rooms as also all supportive Attrition is a challenge. In our case, the new entrepreneurs to learn from infrastructure. however, the attrition rate is lower their mistakes. Having said that I must We are in the process of identifying than the industry average. What say that Indian hotel companies have locations for a couple of greenfield has worked to our advantage is the a great future as there is still a huge projects. We take up a project when presence of a unique family culture. To untapped potential in the tourism we find the location ideal and cost give you an idea of the high retention sector.

MYSTIC EAST | 15 BIG INTERVIEW: NAVIN SUCHANTI, SINCLAIRS HOTELS

SINCLAIRS RETREAT DOOARS Located at Chalsa Hilltop is spread over 20 acres of verdant green. Built in com- plete harmony with nature, the resort is ideal for those seeking rest, rejuvenation and adventure.

SINCLAIRS BAYVIEW Located right on the waterfront, this is Port Blair's only hotel to of- fer spectacular views of The from almost all its rooms

SINCLAIRS SILIGURI Situated in Pradhan Nagar, at the heart of the city, this is a luxury hotel equipped with modern amenities

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SINCLAIRS RETREAT OOTY Enveloped by the clouds at 8,000 feet and situated exactly where the "Queen of Nilgiris" was discovered, it is the highest located resort in South India

SINCLAIRS BURDWAN Situated at High Street 1 in Renaissance Township, this is an upscale tourist resort offering finest accom- modation, club and banquet facilities

SINCLAIRS RETREAT KALIMPONG Nestled in the virgin green surroundings, the retreat prominently stands out over five acres of aesthetically landscaped green.

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