Heritage Hotelier who revived India's past

At the 8th BW Hotelier Indian Hospitality Summit IHA 2024 held on October 21-22, Aman Nath, Co-founder and Co-chairman of Neemrana Hotels, was honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. The honour recognised Nath's visionary contribution to India's hospitality industry where he has seamlessly intertwined history, culture and tourism to redefine heritage hospitality in the country.

During his acceptance speech, Nath highlighted Neemrana's philosophy of prioritising heritage preservation over conventional hoteliering. He emphasised that "Neemrana's prioritising comes from the same thought process: history before hotellering," underscoring that the historic properties they manage are not merely hotels, but experiences rooted in the past. The brand's signature slogan, "We don't let history become a bygone," captures their mission to revive India's architectural legacy.

Reflecting on his journey, Nath candidly shared how he never initially aspired to be a hotelier. Instead, he embarked on a mission "as a war against architectural waste." What began as an unconventional dream has now become a model of sustainable tourism, where the concept of 'changed end use of buildings has gained mainstream recognition. Nath proudly noted, "Today, this changed end use of buildings is now fashionably mouthed by consultants and architects, but recycling is very much a part of the DNA of all Midnight's Children."

Neemrana Hotels, known for transforming over 30 neglected historical structures into thriving hospitality landmarks, has never relied on financial debts. “Old-fashioned as I may seem, Neemrana has never taken a single loan and remains a zero-debt company,” he remarked. Despite the challenging COVID-19 period, Neemrana retained all its staff, a testament to the leadership of its CEO, Sonavi Kaicker, who Nath praised for her humane and effective management.

Nath's lifelong principle of overcoming challenges with creativity and positivity continues to inspire his team. He shared, "The one motto I have followed in my life is to never see any problem as an obstacle. I've always looked far beyond and found inventive solutions. Today, the whole Neemrana team is 'infected' with similar positivism, if I can use this word."

Concluding his address, he expressed gratitude to the jury that bestowed this honour, stating, "On behalf of the Neemrana family, I take this opportunity to bow in gratitude before them and you all."