Held at Hotel Westin Gurgaon, the Hotel Build 2016 conference brought together members from various verticals within the hotel-build industry to discuss solutions that can be adapted for prevailing challenges.

The first panel discussion, The CEO Panel, brought together leaders from the hospitality industry and was moderated by Mandeep Lamba, MD, hotels and hospitality group, India, JLL, who asked the panellists to tell the audience about how the hotel industry has evolved over these years. Ajith Thomas, director, international operations, Chris Garrod Global said that not only has the process of implementation changed, but no more are hotels run the conventional way. Sanjay Sethi, CEO, Chalet Hotels, pointed out that little has changed and that the industry continues to face age-old problems such as labour, approval issues, technology and execution methodologies. Panellists were also of the view that the ever-changing demographic shift of guests is transforming the industry from a lifestyle business to a commodity one.

However, in this journey, “the world of hotel design has gone flat” pointed out Sethi. There’s little that distinguishes one hotel from another. Hoteliers and designers have failed to embellish hotels with Indian elements, and prefer to embrace international design, thus losing their ability to stand out.

Echoing this concern, Vineet Verma, executive director, Brigade Hospitality, said, “From an owner's perspective, we have stopped 5 investing in iconic properties as it makes little business sense. Guests are spending differently and will see no point in staying at a five-star property if he/she can avail a similar deal next door. Hotels are built with a cookie-cutter approach. it's the same handbook that is handed down across all the properties.”