Koti Resorts (Hotel Project) Constructed commenced 1991 Location : Baldeyan, Himachal Pradesh GENESIS OF A HOTEL PROJECT - KOTI RESORTS, NALDHERA, SHIMLA How does a Newbie make an entry into the HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.......??? Or, to be specific – HOW DOES ONE MAKE A HOTEL...... GET INTO THE HOTEL BUSINESS...??? Agreed, the business of teaching/learning of getting into this mammoth Industry is also BIG BUSINESS. Considering that almost each and every city in the country has several institutes/colleges/ and even University departments have jumped onto the band wagon of this reasonably popular academic course. So when a long time friend from the neighbourhood wanted to start a new business/career on a family held plot in the hills – it smelled like a good opportunity. As a student of the University, he was also accidentally pushed into the “business” of running the University Cafeteria – which was on contract to some people. The student leaders (he was part of the Association) were dared to take over the Cafeteria and run it themselves if they had a problem with the then management. Obviously, EGOS got hurt, and one doesn’t DARE a bunch of University leaders of the Student body running the roost. So initial experience taught them supply chain management, financial acumen, human resource management, and of course – all about food. All components of running a ‘dicey operation’ such as a Student cafeteria in a volatile environment were experienced and the nut and bolts of the business learnt the hard way. So it was full confidence and a positive gut feeling that this friend took that momentous decision. And the idea germinated. Remember when we (almost the entire extended family from here in the plains + the rest from the hills) took off to Shimla to case the joint – to put mildly. Would’ve been summertime then – is all that I can remember. Caught up with the ‘hill party’ at Shimla for further going towards the Naldhera Golf Course, where we were booked for lunch. The site was en route – a few strokes short, as ad people would put it, of the Golf Course... On a hilltop called Baldeyan. Anyway, after the family divisions of the land parcel ownership was settled, we (my friend and yours truly) spent some time at the site to figure out the way ahead. Ideas flew back and forth, including some number crunching – and just like that we zeroed in onto making a Resort Hotel. In the middle of a wild nowhere – with great views all around. Shimla town visible at 7 o’clock (S/SW), and the snow capped peaks of the Upper Himalayas ranging from the North to the ESE (say 4 o’clock) the radio mast tower dead North, and the Craignano peak due South (that’s where Shimla’s water supply tanks are located}. The location was a gift from heaven. And the matter was settled – we all agreed that it was so......!!!! So the next step – what kind of hotel do we plan for??? What kind of target customer, tariff, rooms, program...........and a thousand other questions befuddled us. I suggested going to a Hotel Consultant. No ego! So the both of us drove down to Delhi after zeroing in to the offices of Mr. AN Haksar (the recently retd Chairman of the ITC) – who had only recently set up this office. It hurt when we agreed to pay 1/2 a lakh as consultancy fees – in spite of me being the designated Architect for the job. But then.........cie la vie..........!!!! Such is life!!! We got into a quick learning curve of hotel industry terms, and practices. Of things like Occupancy rates, the ARR, peak season rates, and various depts. like F&B, Housekeeping, etc. But what the heck – we both were in our thirties.......!!! And lapped up the learning without any fuss. And joyfully agreed when they said they’d do the hand holding for a while after the hotel started business. Of course we’d agree – after all AN Haksar was the Chairman Emeritus of the ITC group – that super successful upstart in the Hotel Industry. With the Hotel Mughal Agra, the ITC Chola, the ITC Maurya, and the ITC Grand Kakatiya, amongst other successful Iconic properties under their belt. I had already made up my mind on NOT DESTROYING THE ENVIRONMENT with a multi-floor frame structure that was standard pattern in the desecration of the hills. So a low rise low floor concept was a given. And that’s what we did – to achieve what we’d like to think of as the pioneer of hill resort hotel design character......... We were already in competition with another resort being planned some distance away near Chail – another great resort hotel, and the game was on. After getting sanctions and a starter loan from the HP SIDC, we borrowed money from family and friends, and – in a small Maruti 800 – took off for the site one summer morning. Also in the car back seat was my old mistri (now appointed thekedar) and his ‘brother mistri’......from their village in UP. Stopped for a quick lunch immediately after crossing the Dhalli Tunnel, and the on to the site. Now after throwing all tenets of site planning and architecture down the hill, one walked around to locate the point where we would start CONSTRUCTION OF THE RESORT HOTEL. Took a few minutes (remember we were freshers in our thirties) and within the hour had laid out the foundation plan for the 1 st Block. Another added advantage – there were no site boundaries and no benchmarks to go by – excepting an old stone water tank used by the village below. And a few pipes going down from there. Meanwhile left the contractor there in the wilderness for him to locate his construction huts, approach roads, material dump spaces, etc. No idea how he managed. Within a month we were well into the making of the first ‘residential hut’ that one had envisaged. A block of four rooms – with outer rooms a bit larger with a separate dining space. And a vestibule as one entered. The toilets were located between the dining & bedroom spaces – and well ventilated. There was also an open lobby between the four rooms – giving safe access to all. And interesting approaches planned as per site conditions. With built in housekeeping stores, etc under the staircase landings. And space for 2-3 kilo-liters of water tanks for the 8 rooms/suites per block. One also planned for a central heating system – with insulated pipes servicing each block. A/C s were not even in our minds – but we were forced to install them later because of global warming and climate change. Neither were the ubiquitous ceiling fans - which are nowadays a must have in the towns of Shimla and Solan. Among other hill stations.....!!! In fact one got insulated cavity walls made under duress...........a fact appreciated much later in life. Incidentally, I think the cost of petrol was around Re. 8/50 or something those days, and it was easier on the pocket to drive up to the site beyond Shimla than stay over night in a hotel. And the Mandal Commission agitation had made us night birds on the highways to Shimla. VP Singh was the PM, and globalisation of the economy had yet to take birth...........!!!! The hotel had a soft opening in 1991, I think. And the first customer stayed for a week. And then came back after a sort while to stay for a month. We felt vindicated. And the Hotel has never looked back ever since. designed by www.MetamorphosisDesign.org Struggling to bring clarity to your vision before starting your dream project? Let us help you refine your ideas and align them seamlessly with your budget. Schedule your design consultation today - call - 9316511166