Leading Radisson’s Central India expansion

“For me, success is not only in achieving and exceeding hotel goals and targets, but also what I can do more for the industry”, says Namit Vijh, the new AGM of RHG Central India. Overseeing a growing portfolio of a luxury hospitality brand, Vijh’s journey with Radisson Hotels Group began five-and-a-half years ago when he joined as the General Manager of Radisson Gurugram, Udyog Vihar. When asked about his progression within Radisson, he states, “We believe in growing people, and I am a live example of that”.

Starting as the General Manager of Radisson Gurugram Udyog Vihar, Vijh was soon entrusted with overseeing hotels in Rajasthan and Agra. His responsibilities expanded further in June 2024 when he was appointed Area General Manager for Central India. This new role places him in charge of multiple hotels, including the flagship Radisson Gurugram Udyog Vihar, which currently features. Reflecting on this progression, Vijh states, “It’s been an incredible journey. Hospitality is not just a profession, it’s a passion. The growth opportunities within Radisson have allowed me to extend my expertise beyond a single property to multiple units across Central India.”

Vijh’s role now includes overseeing key hotels across cities with strategic significance, such as the recent opening of Radisson Blu in Kumbhalgarh. Discussing the development of Radisson Gurugram, Vijh emphasised the significance of the hotel’s growth in terms of its role as a key player in MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and wedding events. He notes, “Radisson Gurugram Udyog Vihar has become a strong contender in the corporate and social events space, with 200 rooms and 35,000 sq ft of banqueting space and Ambience Mall, just opposite the hotel and a unique partnership with Zoreko for a 15,000 sq ft gaming zone and a restaurant named NH8.”

Sustainability and social responsibility

Radisson’s commitment to sustainability is not just a corporate goal but a core part of its operational strategy. “We are driving sustainability in every aspect of our business,” Vijh explains. This includes partnering with local communities, farm-to-fork habits, as seen in the Radisson Blu Kumbhalgarh property, which collaborated with local tribal communities to create a unique dining experience. "We worked with tribal women to create a pop-up kitchen, offering our guests an authentic taste of the region while supporting the local economy,” says Vijh.

The group’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives extend beyond sustainability. Radisson recently partnered with Bengaluru Football Club in Indian Super League (ISL) as their official hospitality partner. “We want to promote healthy habits, not just in terms of food but also in terms of lifestyle, aligning with the values of millennial and alpha-millennial guests,” he explains.

Plans, opportunities and challenges

Central India presents unique opportunities and challenges for market expansion. Discussing the strategic initiatives to enhance guest experiences and drive market growth, he shares, “As we expand as a company, we are believing in terms of a lot of, I would say, economies scale in procurement, in aspects of business,” he exclaims, adding, “We had a hotel every four hours, a drivable destination, which in future we want to make it every two hours. We are training our associates to manage better and tying up with a lot of institutes”.

Vijh is particularly excited about Radisson’s expansion in Central India, a region with significant potential for growth. “We recently opened Radisson Blu Kumbhalgarh, which has been a great success. We’re also opening new properties in Ujjain and Nathdwara, including a hotel at India’s first cricket stadium in Nathdwara,” he shares. These locations tap into the growing trend of religious tourism, with destinations like Ujjain and Nathdwara attracting millions of pilgrims each year. The expansion is not limited to religious destinations. Radisson is also opening hotels in untapped markets, such as Jabalpur, and enhancing its presence in existing cities like Indore and Bhopal. “We are expanding rapidly, and this growth is supported by strong relationships with our existing hotel owners,” adds Vijh.

Despite the region’s promise, there are challenges, particularly in terms of infrastructure and talent retention. “One of the biggest challenges is ensuring we have the right talent in place. We’re working on partnerships with local institutes to train individuals at the grassroots level, preparing them for roles within our hotels,” says Vijh.

India’s inbound tourism

Experiencing great recovery, India’s inbound tourism is driven by growing global presence and economic aspirations. “We are looking forward to being a developed economy by 2047, as envisioned in the Viksit Bharat initiative,” shares the GM. With the country marketing its tourist destinations more aggressively, there has been a noticeable surge in foreign tourists and NRIs returning to explore India. Citing the recent tourism boom in Ayodhya as an example, he adds, “We have seen great success in religious tourism, with new hotels coming up in Banaras, Nathdwara and Ujjain.”

However, challenges remain as other countries seek to attract Indian tourists with visa-free or flexible visa policies. “We believe better visa-on-arrival options or even complimentary visas for the next six to twelve months would significantly boost inbound tourism,” he suggests. When discussing the country’s future connections, he highlights Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia and Vietnam, along with Eurasian destinations like Azerbaijan and Georgia, as rising competitors. “India’s infrastructure developments, such as the Udaan project and the expansion of airports in Tier II and Tier III cities, are expected to strengthen the nation’s tourism growth. Vande Bharat is a great example of how infrastructure is improving, and we’re hopeful it will support increased tourist movement,” he says.

Innovations and trends

RHG has been at the forefront of innovation, particularly in how it caters to MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) clients. Vijh mentions that during the Covid19 pandemic, the hotel group introduced new services like robot-delivered room service to ensure minimal contact. “It was quite creative, and our guests, especially children, loved interacting with the robots,” he recalls. As the industry moves forward, Radisson is investing heavily in upgrading its catering and banqueting facilities, as well as exploring innovative revenue streams. “We are looking at concepts like creating hubs within our properties to supply items to other nearby hotels, maximising the use of available space and driving additional revenue,” he explains.

Looking ahead, Vijh identifies several trends that he believes will shape the future of hospitality in India. “Minimalistic approaches and immersive local experiences are going to attract more travellers, especially in Tier III and Tier IV cities,” he predicts. The demand for authentic, culturally rich experiences will drive the growth of hotels in these unexplored territories. He also stresses on the importance of service excellence. “Indian hospitality remains one of the strongest in the world because we still believe in the traditional value of Atithi Devo Bhava or the guest is God,” he says.

Under the leadership of Vijh, Radisson Hotels Group’s Central India operations are poised for sustained growth. His focus on expanding into new markets, fostering talent, promoting sustainability, and driving innovation is setting the stage for Radisson to remain a leading player in the hospitality industry. As he puts it, “It’s all about people – our guests, our employees, and the communities we serve,” he concludes.