India - 3
Dubai-based Bollywood star Vivek Oberoi spurned support from movie legend father Suresh Oberoi to start with nothing. At 16 he was DJing, which led to radio, which led to television, which led to movies (he's now shooting his 70th): his real estate empire, BMW, is developing 3 UAE hotels, all IHCL, he’s into spirits, artificial diamonds and hands-on kids’ charity. All in a big way. Celebrity chef Amrita Raichard, in a brilliant yellow sari, held her own in a discussion between opinionated male colleagues. The versatile Shriji Huzuzur Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar – owner of Udaipur’s Taj Lake Palace, 2026 IHCL Hotel of the Year – was hilarious when chatting with comedian Shailesh Lodha (in Hindi, but who cared?) and serious when later onstage with Puneet Chhatwal.
There were hospitality-cricket parallels from top commentator Harsh Bhogle, and humbling holistic homilies from Dieter Müller-Elmau, who had made the 17-hour journey from 100km south of Munich for 4 hours in Goa – and back again.
It was good to see so many owners there. Pramod Ranjan, CEO of IHCL partner Oriental Hotels, personally designed both Taj Madikeri in Coorg and Taj Havelock Island in the Andamans. He was called up onstage to thank one of the discussion panels, above - Shalini Bhupal, fourth from left, owns seven IHCL hotels, including the extremely thoughtful Taj Santacruz Bombay where Girlahead overnighted.
There were no breakouts. The entire event was learning – and the sponsors’ display, led by Ecolab and Tata Consultancy, was manageably compact and thus busy (suppliers’ generosity meant a courier facility was laid on to ship gifted glasses, coffee makers and other necessities).
As well as hard work, you had the feeling everyone was having fun – and at lease half a dozen managed to work out before the next day started. Vivek Batra, GM of Taj Cidade Goa complex, really entered into the spirit of ABC. His five-floor open atrium was ideal for ‘dressing up’. See below.
