Managing Director of Amber Restaurant, Kolkata, SK Khullar speaks with Hotelier India about his vision for Indian tourism in the future.
What were the reforms you brought about during your tenure? The government was quite helpful during my tenure and the major thing that took place was the purchase of the plot and the laying of the foundation stone for the FHRAI Institute of Hospitality Management in Greater Noida, which is now being run by us.
The year was full of energy and was very positive, I visited almost each and every state of India because I wanted to know the regional problems and the State governments helped in every way. The response was excellent.
What were the challenges you faced and how did you overcome those? As such there was nothing challenging except to convince the State and Central Governments to improve tourism in India. We were facing the aftermath of 9/11 that year. I strongly believe that if tourism flourishes, it will take care of terrorism. We should join hands with the government to increase tourism.
How healthy is the Indian hospitality industry? I’d say it is very healthy. We are very proud to see that people who are coming to India are going back with positive impressions. Religious places have increased traffic because the hotels have gotten better and people are more likely to stay in hotels rather than with relatives.
I still feel a push in terms of land being available at cheaper rates is needed from the government. In Calcutta, plots have been allotted by the government and they have been taken by the developers. If small places like Malaysia and Bangkok can do well, then India definitely has the potential to rise.
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 all depends on how many people will come but we have enough rooms. While I maintain that hotels should have been given the incentive to build rooms much earlier, it’s never too late to start.
On my last trip to Delhi, I was also told a lot of private houses are being converted into Bed and Breakfast places to stay in
Gurgaon. We might even have a situation like the one that arose during the Asiad Games, where we had a surplus of rooms. Either we will have enough rooms or a surplus, but I don’t think we will fall short.
What in your opinion is the driving force behind the best hotels in India today? In India there are only three or four groups in that successful category such as the Oberoi, Taj, Leela and the Park group of hotels. I think foreign chains would be interested in investing in tourism in India, and a lot of investing will most likely happen after the CWG.
What does the tourism industry need to focus on for increased growth? Infrastructure has to be created especially in areas that are important for tourism. The government needs to act in this area and the FHRAI is doing all it can to help to achieve this.
What are the positive changes the FHRAI can bring about in the hotel industry in the future? The only thing is that the FHRAI is there to see to is that the partnership between the private and the government works properly and together. It is being worked out already and we are getting results.
About SK Khullar SK Khullar is the propreitor of Amber Restaurant – a perennial favourite in the heart of Kolkata. He is also president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Easter India. More views from key industry figures can be found on www.hotelierindia.com
SK Khullar and his late elder brother Rajpal had launched the popular Kolkata eatery, Amber restaurant in 1959. Amber started with a 40-seater restaurant and a 50-seater bar, and was the first in Calcutta to get a liquor licence. The Khullars then took the ground floor property on lease and constructed three more floors to house what became the city’s first multiplex restaurant.
Looking into the future
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Managing Director of Amber Restaurant, Kolkata, SK Khullar speaks with Hotelier India about his vision for Indian tourism in the future.
What were the reforms you brought about during your tenure?
The government was quite helpful during my tenure and the major thing that took place was the purchase of the plot and the laying of the foundation stone for the FHRAI Institute of Hospitality Management in Greater Noida, which is now being run by us.
The year was full of energy and was very positive, I visited almost each and every state of India because I wanted to know the regional problems and the State governments helped in every way. The response was excellent.
What were the challenges you faced and how did you overcome those?
As such there was nothing challenging except to convince the State and Central Governments to improve tourism in India. We were facing the aftermath of 9/11 that year. I strongly believe that if tourism flourishes, it will take care of terrorism. We should join hands with the government to increase tourism.
How healthy is the Indian hospitality industry?
I’d say it is very healthy. We are very proud to see that people who are coming to India are going back with positive impressions. Religious places have increased traffic because the hotels have gotten better and people are more likely to stay in hotels rather than with relatives.
I still feel a push in terms of land being available at cheaper rates is needed from the government. In Calcutta, plots have been allotted by the government and they have been taken by the developers. If small places like Malaysia and Bangkok can do well, then India definitely has the potential to rise.
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 all depends on how many people will come but we have enough rooms. While I maintain that hotels should have been given the incentive to build rooms much earlier, it’s never too late to start.
On my last trip to Delhi, I was also told a lot of private houses are being converted into Bed and Breakfast places to stay in
Gurgaon. We might even have a situation like the one that arose during the Asiad Games, where we had a surplus of rooms. Either we will have enough rooms or a surplus, but I don’t think we will fall short.
What in your opinion is the driving force behind the best hotels in India today?
In India there are only three or four groups in that successful category such as the Oberoi, Taj, Leela and the Park group of hotels. I think foreign chains would be interested in investing in tourism in India, and a lot of investing will most likely happen after the CWG.
What does the tourism industry need to focus on for increased growth?
Infrastructure has to be created especially in areas that are important for tourism. The government needs to act in this area and the FHRAI is doing all it can to help to achieve this.
What are the positive changes the FHRAI can bring about in the hotel industry in the future?
The only thing is that the FHRAI is there to see to is that the partnership between the private and the government works properly and together. It is being worked out already and we are getting results.
About SK Khullar
SK Khullar is the propreitor of Amber Restaurant – a perennial favourite in the heart of Kolkata. He is also president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Easter India. More views from key industry figures can be found on
www.hotelierindia.com
SK Khullar and his late elder brother Rajpal had launched the popular Kolkata eatery, Amber restaurant in 1959. Amber started with a 40-seater restaurant and a 50-seater bar, and was the first in Calcutta to get a liquor licence. The Khullars then took the ground floor property on lease and constructed three more floors to house what became the city’s first multiplex restaurant.
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