Ramesh Shiva, founder and MD of Grand Continent Hotels
The mid-market hotel group, which will complete 15 years next month, operates 28 hotels and another 10 in the pipeline in the near term. We are also developing a 122-room hotel in Devanahalli, near Bengaluru airport, and another property near EVP Film City in Poonamallee, Chennai. Because this is a people-driven business, retaining people is a challenge, particularly in the hotel industry, but it is essential.
Grand Continent Hotels Ltd, with its registered office in Chennai, is accelerating expansion with a focus on corporate travel and pilgrimage tourism, while continuing an asset-light model with an emphasis on profitability. Ramesh Shiva , founder and MD, in an interview speaks about the business model, demand trends and future expansion strategy. Excerpts: How was first half of FY27 for the group and the mid-market hotel segment? The pipeline includes properties in Somnath, Ayodhya , Varanasi, Rishikesh and Vrindavan. What is your perception of Tamil Nadu ’s hotel market? Local employees can be an excellent source of talent. Take Rameswaram, for instance. Many of our employees there are from the same town, and they feel a strong sense of ownership towards the hotel. What they value most is being treated with respect and dignity. They also recommend friends, making word-of-mouth an effective recruitment channel. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Chennai | Silver Rate in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai | Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Petrol Price in Chennai | Diesel Price in Chennai | CNG Price in Chennai | LPG Price in Chennai