Chander Baljee is a strong believer in serendipity; a well-founded belief if one examines his life’s journey. His family runs the popular Baljee’s restaurant in Shimla since 1953, and a visit to the hill station is incomplete without dropping in to enjoy some piping hot sweetmeats.
Chander joined the business in 1972 to help his father and brother open an upmarket restaurant, ‘Fascination’ on the premises. Soon, it became the go-to destination for the city’s young crowd and tourists.
A chance conversation with a regular customer, who was then the Deputy Director at Mysuru’s Tourism Department, proved to be a life-changer. “This gentleman would visit our restaurant for tea and urged me to visit the southern state for business. I simply agreed,” Chander reminisced.
Most would dismiss this as just another polite chat with a client. However, when the Deputy Director wrote to Chander about the expiry of Hotel Metropole and Vrindavan Garden Hotels lease and that the state government was re-opening bids for both properties, the latter decided to pursue this opportunity. Despite the palpable opposition from his family, he travelled from Himachal Pradesh to Mysuru to submit tenders for the hotels.
“When we did not get these projects, my host suggested I consider leasing ‘Hotel Stay Longer’. After some negotiation, we got the property and I have been in Bengaluru ever since,” Chander laughingly said.
Incidentally, Hotel Stay Longer, rebranded later as Hotel Harsha, is still part of Royal Orchid Hotels (ROH) portfolio. Even more interestingly, Hotels Metropole and Vrindavan Garden are also part of the company’s network.
This story is from the May 2021 edition of Hotelier India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2021 edition of Hotelier India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Why Western Couples Are Choosing India For Their Big Day?
Decoding the reason, and how to cater to them...
A Match Made in India
Director General of Tourism Mugdha Sinha's grand vision for wedding tourism...
Tee Off in Style
Hoteliers are giving golfing facilities a boost even as they offer putting greens that make the sport popular.
Bespoke Getaways: What Makes Them Desirable?
Boutique hotels are increasingly becoming the first choice among discerning guests as they provide meaningful breaks.
Blending Tradition with Innovation
The balance of honouring tradition while adding a dash of modern flair is what keeps the culinary scene fresh and exciting...
DON'T THINK, OUTSIDE THE BOX
The oft-quoted maxim, \"Think out of the box!\" does little to encourage creativity or innovation and often is their enemy.
Putting the Wow into Weddings
As hotels become the preferred venue choices for weddings, the industry is certainly shaking things up.
Innovation Is Not an Option but a Necessity
Emphasizing the need for the Indian hospitality sector to innovate and disrupt itself in the current transformative period.
Why Marriott built its GCC in India?
Drew Pinto, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue & Technology Officer of Marriott International, tells Hotelier India all about finding the best talent in India...
FROM POTENTIAL TO POWERHOUSE
In an exclusive and candid interview with Hotelier India, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, India's Minister of Culture and Tourism, speaks about how tourism and hospitality will power India's economy by 2047.