Chairman of the Empee Group, MP Purushothaman was re-elected president for the ninth year in a row at the 57th annual meeting of South India Hotels and Restaurants Association (SIHRA) and has been President of the FHRAI for three terms.
He is also founder President and serving President of Madras Malayalee Samaj, Founder President of Federation of All India Marunadan Malayalee Associations (FAIMA). Founder President and President of Honour of confideration of Tamil Nadu Malayalee Associations (C.T.M.A).
What is your current role in the FHRAI?
I am the vice president.
What were the reforms you brought about during your tenure?
The FHRAI –IHM was set up during my tenure in 2004-2005.
What was the best part of your tenure?
My entire tenure and all three terms were wonderful. I managed to get a lot done and accomplished a great deal.
What were the challenges you faced and how did you overcome those?
There were no challenges other than coordinating with the Department of Tourism. That was the toughest part of the job. They are very bureaucratic in their dealings and that delays things a lot.
How healthy is the Indian hospitality industry?
It is definitely improving. With the economy improving, tourism will also improve. There is plenty of scope for further growth.
What kind of impact do you think the Commonwealth Games will have on the hotel industry? Do you think the industry will be able to successfully welcome the tourist inflow?
It will have a good impact on the industry as a whole. The guest houses and small hotels are preparing for the same and there should be more than enough rooms to accommodate the visitors for the Commonwealth Games.
Who are your personal icons from the industry?
Myself. I am my own personal motivator.
Quick facts about the vice president
The influential Kannur-born businessman is also a major stake-holder in the Communist Party of India (Marxist) – backed TV channels, mainly Kairali, under the banner of Malayalam Communications Limited.
Khullar made news a few years ago when his name got associated in a land scandal, along with being faced with allegations that he misused funds meant for the FHRAI-Institute of Hotel Management.
But those allegations have remained only allegations with no concrete evidence against him.
He is also chairman of the Empee Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology. The Empee Group of distilleries is an INR300 crore group that is among the most diversified business houses in Tamil Nadu, with interests in hotels, liquor and sugar.
Empee group signed an agreement with hospitality major Hilton International, US to manage and operate their 253 room luxury hotel development, in Chennai. The property, promoted by Empee Hotels with an investment of INR184 crore, is at Ekkattuthangal, near Guindy.
The Empee group also operates two three star hotels in Chennai in the name of The Grand Orient and New Victoria. The group is also proposing to enter new ventures in Sriperumbudur and Bengaluru.
The Empee group has ambitious plans to open business hotels across several key metros and mini metros in the South over the next five years.
All these proposed projects are now in the planning stages and construction on them is expected to begin within the next couple of years.
Â
