Bharat Hotels
The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has completely changed the world. Every aspect of our lives—personal, professional, political and social has undergone a metamorphosis. During the challenging lockdown, besides taking care of our employees, we provided aid to those adversely affected. We supported various state governments in their relief efforts.
We opened our kitchens to cook food for the needy, our doors for doctors—the frontline warriors fighting the pandemic and offered comfortable stay for guests coming back on Vande Bharat flights. I am proud and heartened by the way our teams have risen to the challenge—with flexibility, resilience, courage and a caring heart.
I am a firm believer that tourism, particularly domestic tourism, will be the key driver of India’s economic revival. Health and safety will be the new luxuries and trust is going to be the new mantra. The industry has to be more responsible,
transparent, efficient and sustainable.
Technology and multiskilling will play a crucial role in the revival. The recovery will be slow, long and full of setbacks and challenges. We have to strive hard to overcome and emerge.”
Bharat Hotels supported various state government initiatives of feeding the daily wage earners, those below the poverty line, those marginalized and the LGBTQ+ community members by donating 300,000kg of food supplies. The group’s various hotels opened their kitchens by providing 350,000 packed meals to the needy. The group also provided handmade masks and PPE kits for the frontline warriors.
The group, along with Keshav Suri Foundation (KSF), has reached out to the extremely marginalized and the worst affected transgender people through different NGOs such as Kinnar Maa Trust in Mumbai and Delhi, Sangama in Chandigarh, ATHB and NGO Bharani in Kolkata, Aarohan, Mitr Trust, Basera Ek Samajik Sansthan in Delhi, Payana in Bangalore, as well as various activists from different states.
The group’s hotels joined the Akshay Patra movement of feeding the transgender community along with Chef Vikas Khanna. They extended mental health support by their onboard counsellors to those requiring help in coping up with the pandemic and its fallouts.
Frontline Heroes
Pintu Hasamsha, Duty Manager, The LaLiT New Delhi
Besides managing the front office, Pintu Hasamsha spearheads the maintenance and upkeep of the hotel and ensures that hygiene SOPs are followed. Hasamsha was the first team member who volunteered for duty soon after the lockdown was announced. He did not just facilitate his team members in reaching their homes safely, but single-handedly took charge of the entire operation, until a team could be assigned.
He, along with his team, has ensured that the doctors residing at the hotel have a safe and comfortable stay.
Rinku Mandal, Executive Housekeeper, The LaLiT Mumbai
Rinku Mandal has efficiently led her team, between them managing 300 rooms occupied by frontline warriors staying at the hotel. The housekeeping team, under her guidance, ascertains the cleanliness and upkeep of the rooms, guest amenities and manages the guest laundry. Due to the lockdown and travel restrictions, most of the staff has been unable to report to work. She manages the entire department with just 35% of staff members, including maintaining the front and back of the house.
She ensures that her team goes through regular training to keep abreast with the new unlock guidelines. She motivates them to bond with each so that the jobs are done seamlessly and attend activities such as yoga classes regularly so that they are mentally and physically focused.
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