A candid discussion with Amruda Nair, Joint MD and CEO of Aiana Hotels & Resorts

Amruda Nair, the Joint Managing Director and CEO of Aiana Hotels & Resorts visited Bahrain recently. Being a member of the promoters of India’s Leela Group, Amruda embraces an entrepreneurial spirit and business flair, inherited from her grandfather, the late Captain C P Krishnan Nair. Aiana is her dream project, brought to life through her partnership with H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani. During her stay in the Kingdom, DT News got a chance to catch up with her to chat about brand Aiana, her plans for Bahrain and more. Read on to find out what she had to say…  

What’s the secret of your success? What prompted the decision to go on your own?

 I am a third generation hotelier from a family of entrepreneurs and therefore pursing a gap in the market was a natural step for me. I was keen to create a global hospitality brand with an Indian soul that resonated with the modern-day traveller. Aiana is about being authentic, intuitive and engaging, driven by an Indian service ethos. Aiana is my dream project, brought to life through my partnership with H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani, who shared my passion for extending legendary Indian hospitality to the world.

How did you become fascinated by hospitality industry?

 I have been blessed to have hoteliers as parents (both attended the Hotel School at Cornell University) and therefore hospitality has always been a strong feature in my life. My grandfather was the face of The Leela brand and created a niche in luxury hospitality. Being a member of the Nair family, promoters of the Leela, my legacy and heritage remain a continual source of inspiration.

What role has Captain Nair played shaping your career?

My inspiration came from my grandfather Captain Krishnan Nair, founder of India’s Leela Group of hotels. He was a true risk taker who entered into the hotel business at the age of 65 despite several challenges. He encouraged all his grandchildren, irrespective of gender to join the family business and nurtured our interest in the hospitality industry by taking us to trade shows such as ITB Berlin and WTM London from a young age. I had the fortunate opportunity to work alongside him for five years and witness his energy and passion for creation. I believe I have inherited his appetite for risk as an entrepreneur and was inspired by his vision for India.

What are your plans for Bahrain expansion?

We recently participated in a roundtable session called ‘Uncovering Bahrain’ presented by the Economic Development Board, which highlighted the Kingdom’s thriving hospitality sector, infrastructure investment programmes and its economic value proposition. With increased demand from regional and international travellers, Bahrain’s tourism market is to grow at a rate of 4.8 per cent, reaching $1 billion by 2020.  Hotels and restaurants were the fastest-growing sector in the Kingdom for the past two years. Additionally, investment in supporting infrastructures such as airport expansion, ground transportation and retail gives us confidence that our goals will be met. Bahrain has always been perceived as an inclusive society with a rich trading history, creating its appeal as a tourism destination. Aiana, as an Indian-inspired hotel brand would add to the diversity of hotel offerings in Bahrain. We believe there is room for growth in the upper upscale, 4-star category for serviced apartments catering to the business traveller and resort offerings in the newly developed leisure destinations.

Entrepreneurship is about the ability to take risks. How far is this true in your own experience?

I have worked varied hospitality fields across the globe - New York, South East Asia, India and now Qatar – and starting up a company in the Middle East has been a rewarding learning experience. My greatest strength has always been to never let go of an opportunity and my success so far has been in identifying a gap in the lifestyle hotels space. By aiming for steady growth and introducing the company incrementally we have been able to overcome the challenges of setting up a new brand. I believe that entrepreneurship is all about opportunity, timing, the ability to take risks and most importantly surrounding oneself with the right people.

How is Aiana going to stand out?

‘Aiana’ means eternal blossom in Sanskrit. It is also a place of refuge or retreat. Those two powerful images have been our inspiration and we have blended them to create a unique vision at Aiana Hotels and Resorts.  Our service culture, in tune with the needs of today’s travellers, is underpinned by our intuitive and unobtrusive Indian service ethic. Aiana will cater to the upper-upscale category of hotels with fresh product designs complemented with experiential concepts. Our Indian service ethos is warm, welcoming and engaging. The USP of the Aiana brand lies in our authentic service, design, and operating philosophy which is geared to exceed the expectations of a new generation of savvy travellers and explorers.

How far have you succeeded in redefining hospitality?

Since 2015, Aiana has made great strides in building both our portfolio and our brand. We currently have eight management contracts and over 1,000 rooms under construction across the Middle East and India. Since the announcement of our flagship property, Aiana Residences and Suites in Doha, we are currently gearing up to open our very first property in Saudi Arabia – Aiana Makkah. The other major deal-signing announcements in India include a management agreement with Moonriver Resorts to operate Aiana Munnar and an agreement with Ferns Estates and Developers to manage and operate four resorts in Karnataka over the next five years. The first resort AIANA Hassan with 75 villas is currently under development on 45 acres of hilly coffee plantation land in the district of Sakleshpur. We also have an agreement to build a 150 room AIANA Agra within walking distance of the historic Taj Mahal in India. 

How will you compete and get the return for your investment?

 We call it ‘Hospitality 2.0’. Every aspect of the brand – from its intuitive service and locally inspired design to its engaging operating philosophy is geared to exceed expectations of today’s travellers. I was fortunate to meet a partner in H.E. Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani who supported my dreams of creating an Indian brand with a global presence.  Our vision is to be a globally respected hospitality brand that embodies the best of Indian culture as a leading operator of properties in South Asia and the Middle East.

How do you exemplify women power?

Developing a sense of purpose is a constructive way in which women in leadership positions can address gender biases, seize the opportunity to enhance their careers and improve organisational performance. Being the CEO of Aiana has taught me to have self-belief, as if you are convinced, the universe will rally behind you to help you succeed.

Encouraging diversity in the workplace by inspiring women to take on leadership roles through formal development, training and mentoring programs is an important part of every CEO’s agenda, but in order to make that shift more meaningful and all-encompassing, it is the smaller, more gradual actions that truly make a difference.