Hospitality
Ruins of gold
Neemrana Hotels acquires ruins to transform them into profit making properties
Neemrana Hotels is the most unique hospitality brand of India. It converts palaces and bungalows in ruins to beautiful and profitable properties. Kate Winslet and Julia Roberts are two of countless fans of Neemrana.
Aman Nath, a writer and Francis Wacziarg, a banker bought Neemrana Fort in 1986. It was in ruins for 40 years. In 1991 it opened as a hotel with 12 rooms. They equipped the old palaces with modern amenities such as air conditioning and plumbing. They restore each property in phases with the money from the guests. Local artisans and local materials keep the costs low. They break even in 2–3 years, while other hotels take 7–8 years.
In an interview to Outlook Francis said, “We didn’t want to be part of a chain where you have to open your room-curtain to find out if you’re in Casablanca or Hong Kong.” Nor would they have room entry codes “that you punch like an automaton”.
Aman Nath shared with CNBC, “Hotels are today made by executives using other people’s money, imagining what rich people would want and keep escalating standards to five, six and seven star. We are not wooing luxury. Conspicuous luxury is in bad taste.”
Today it manages 18 resorts in the states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttrakhand, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Kerala. They call it non-hotel. Rates vary from INR 2500 per night to INR 31,000 per night. They also invest in the community. Neemrana Music Foundation promotes western classical music in India.
Enjoy: Fakirs of Benares Link
