‘We create seamless and comprehensive experiences’

It was It was 25 years back that Vikaas Gutgutia started the floral and décor business under the name of Ferns N Petals. He gradually expanded and gravitated towards wedding décor and interiors. Over time, he took a step ahead and set up air-conditioned tents and more recently, VG as Gutgutia is better known to his family and friends, has ventured into the hospitality sector with Udman Hotels & Resorts by Ferns N Petals.

Sharing more about his journey, from being the country’s biggest gifting solution provider to opening of Udman Hotels & Resorts by Ferns N Petals, VG says, “For over two decades, we have been an integral part of the wedding sphere. In this span of time, I have witnessed the metamorphosis of the entire wedding market, which has evolved into an opulent industry. Our humble origins as floral artists paved the way for our journey into wedding market and we started setting up huge hangers and AC tents. In 2014, a turning point came and we unveiled our banqueting halls, meticulously designed to host wedding celebrations. It was during this transformative juncture that we detected a profound desire among several discerning individuals for destination weddings complete with banquet venues, residential facilities and other ceremonial aspirations. This realisation acted as the catalyst that propelled us towards the hospitality sector.”

At present, Udman Hotels & Resorts by Ferns N Petals runs six properties, five in Delhi-NCR (one in each in Gurugram and Greater Noida and rest three in Delhi) and one in Rishikesh. While Udman Panchsheel by Ferns N Petals is a premier boutique hotel in South New Delhi which provides a holistic and luxurious hospitality experience for both business and leisure travellers alike, Opulent by Ferns N Petals is a luxury four-star hotel in Chattarpur, New Delhi serving modern amenities and exceptional services. Then there are Udman Chattarpur by Ferns N Petals that offers three categories of luxurious rooms; Udman Greater Noida by Ferns N Petals with five spacious banquet halls that can be customised and decorated by the team to host luxurious events and Udman by Ferns N Petals, Gurugram that houses 32 commodious and furnished rooms. The banquet hall, Urvi, spread across 3,000 sq ft, is ideal for small-scale retreats and seminars. 

“The recently launched Udman Haridwar by Ferns N Petals is a four-star boutique and luxury hotel. It is just a 10-minute walk away from the Ganges and Har Ki Pauri. We offer 46 elegantly furnished rooms equipped with a myriad of amenities. Our banquet-cum-conference hall, Ullhas is an excellent choice to celebrate all the auspicious moments in your life and offers a blissful getaway from the monotony of daily life,” says VG, adding that not only are they the specialists in hosting larger-than-life tailored events, encompassing all aspects including accommodation, venue, catering, decoration and entertainment along with the ability to transform spaces into dream settings but intend on becoming the go to choice for their patrons wanting to experience a serene, cosy and relaxing stay.

The Founder and Managing Director of FNP shares that the company has a robust expansion plan in place. “The properties in Delhi-NCR have been strategically planned so as to serve the demand and supply factor of the region. It was a conscious decision taken to launch a hotel in Haridwar as the first in the many Udman hotels due to be launched in Uttarakhand,” he says.

Talking about how does Udman Hotels ensures that the mission to create an ecosystem of sustainable tourism to keep the habitat intact while economically uplifting its communities is fulfilled, VG says, “We can achieve this by protecting natural environment, wildlife and natural resources when developing and managing tourism activities. We need to provide authentic tourist experiences that celebrate and conserve heritage and culture and be an agent of change in the world of sustainable travel and tourism by fostering the increased knowledge, understanding, adoption and demandss for sustainable tourism practices.” He adds that India is a host to a variety of wildlife ecosystems. “We recommend travelling to places rich in biodiversity in eco-friendlier ways (through cycling or trekking). Guests can also participate in eco-tourism and pre-planned packages offered by hotels. Eco-tourism provides a lifetime of enriching experience to us and makes us respect the natural marvels of this earth,” he feels.

On the scope for growth in India’s hospitality sector, VG opines that it is expected to attain a value above Rs 1,000 billion by end-2023 and that it is predicted to grow at an average annual rate of 7.5 per cent to 18.36 lakh crore by 2025 (7.2 per cent of GDP). “This makes India one of the fastest growing tourism industries over the next decade. Our diverse culture, historical heritage and natural attractions make it the perfect destination. Hence, a growing demand for quality accommodation and hospitality services. India’s expanding economy, rising disposable incomes, increasing domestic and international tourism and Government initiatives have largely contributed to a favourable environment,” he says. 

The G20 Summit will also present momentous opportunity with hoteliers getting an opportunity to leverage digital platforms to enhance their visibility, streamline operations and provide personalised experiences. “Additionally, with the growing popularity of destination weddings, corporate events and MICE tourism, there is an increasing need for large-scale banquet facilities and conference spaces. Moreover, the Government’s focus on infrastructure development including improvements in connectivity, airports and tourist attractions is creating a favourable ecosystem. This has encouraged reputed brands to invest in strategic locations and capitalise on the emerging tourism hotspots,” VG adds.

After two years of pandemic impacted trade, recent trends indicate that consumers are returning to the hospitality fold in promising numbers. Hospitality businesses now face the challenge of an increase in 55.2 per cent in operating costs, with industry groups lobbying the government for extra financial support for the industry. Sharing his views on the challenges the hospitality industry needs to overcome, VG says, “From technology perspective, the challenge to hoteliers is to create a hotel and room environment that at least matches but preferably exceeds their guests’ home environment. In other words, hotel and room technology, amenities and features should be the same or better than what guests already enjoy at home. Some major financial challenges faced by the hospitality industry in India is high financing costs, multiple taxes, licensing and legal issues, eroding margins and working capital issues. An industry’s budget is much more than what the actual spending is.”

To capitalise on the new and emerging trends reshaping the future of hospitality business, he opines that the Group is embracing innovative technologies to enhance guest experience. “We are already utilising data analytics to gain insights into guest preferences and behaviour, enabling personalised offerings and targetted marketing campaigns. We are also emphasising on personalised experiences in the MICE segment and leveraging the power of social media by encouraging guests to share their experiences and user-generated content. We offer exclusive access or discounts to guests, creating a seamless and comprehensive experience. In the next couple of years, we have envisioned and planned to launch up to 50 new Udman hotels,” concludes Gutgutia.