In the bustling heart of Mumbai's hospitality scene, the story of Kamat Hotels (India) Ltd (KHIL) is a testament to legacy, discipline, and a philosophy where consistency trumps fleeting excellence. At the helm of this ₹700-crore empire is Vishal Kamat, the executive director, who carries forward a century-old tradition that began with his grandfather washing dishes.
A Legacy Forged in Discipline and Humble Beginnings
The Kamat narrative is deeply personal. It traces back to Vishal's grandfather, Venkatesh Kamat, who arrived in Mumbai from Bhatkal, Karnataka, with little to his name. Starting as a dishwasher, his diligence caught the eye of his employer, who offered him both his daughter's hand in marriage and his business. Demonstrating an early entrepreneurial streak, Venkatesh chose to establish his own venture first, setting the foundation for what would become a hospitality powerhouse.
Venkatesh was a strict disciplinarian, known for his unwavering routine and attention to detail. "That is, to take any process, dumb it down and make it hyper consistent. Ours may not have been the best idli in town, but it is the most consistent," recounts Vishal, highlighting the core principle that propelled their restaurant brands to ubiquity across western and southern India.
Building an Empire: From Restaurants to Orchid Hotels
The business evolved through generations. Venkatesh's son, Vithal V. Kamat, pioneered the shift from restaurants to hotels after taking over in the early 1970s. He authored Idli, Orchid and Will Power and was instrumental in branding the Kamat identity. Incorporated in 1986, KHIL went public in 1994. Their flagship, The Orchid Hotel, launched in 1997 near Mumbai's domestic airport, marking their foray into the upscale segment.
Today, KHIL operates a portfolio of 22 hotels in the four- and five-star categories, with a total inventory of roughly 2,500 rooms. While it owns two properties, it leases 11 others. The Orchid brand, including sub-brands like IRA by Orchid and Toyam by Orchid, is present in 19 cities, with a stronghold in Mumbai and Pune. The group also manages the heritage property Fort JadhavGadh near Pune.
Vishal, a graduate of the Institute of Hotel Management, Dadar, joined as a management trainee in 2003-04. He learned the ropes under professionals, emphasizing the blend of science and art in hospitality. "You cannot process your hospitality. You have to have that element of reading people," he states.
Philosophy: Sustainable Growth Over Blind Expansion
In an era of aggressive expansion, Vishal Kamat champions a different creed. "I'd rather have fewer hotels, but with each hotel performing at a certain top level... rather than just open many and then struggle with it. Growth for sake of growth is not the idea," he asserts. This focus on quality and guest satisfaction over mere scale defines their strategy.
He also addresses nepotism candidly, calling the debate "absolutely rubbish" in the context of family businesses, arguing that building for one's family is a natural instinct. However, he draws a line at blind favouritism, advocating for a merit-based approach akin to 'Bharat-style' rather than 'Dhrithrashtra-style' from mythology.
Sustainability is another cornerstone. KHIL was an early adopter of green practices, winning Green Globe Awards in 1998 and 2000. They encouraged towel reuse and reduced linen changes long before it became an industry standard.
The company's financial resilience is notable. Recovering from pandemic lows, KHIL's year-on-year revenue grew to ₹10.2 crore and ₹10.8 crore in post-lockdown years, with profits soaring from approximately ₹25 crore in FY20 to ₹312 crore in FY23. With a current market cap of about ₹702 crore, the group is eyeing a target of 30 hotels, having recently opened properties in Rishikesh, Dehradun, and Bhavnagar.
Away from the boardroom, Vishal leads a lively life in Mumbai with his wife Aditi, three dogs, and a parrot. A catering college graduate who ironically avoids cooking now, he humorously recalls sabotaging a potato dish to escape family kitchen duties. Yet, his passion lies in steering a legacy built on consistency, a value that continues to define the Kamat name in India's dynamic hospitality landscape.
