Successful handling of lockdowns helped IGH grow

Panaji As normal life resumed after the shadows of Covid lifted from across the world, opportunities beckoned galore for some of the hardest-hit sectors like travel, tourism, and hospitality - if they were ready to grab these to bolster and expand their business.

Those who had managed to keep their head high, somehow, during the pandemic, had an extra advantage. Inter Globe Hotels (IGH) cites some decisions taken at the time that helped the group in growing exponentially post-Covid.

IGH President and CEO J.B. Singh, speaking on the sidelines of the recent launch of ibis Styles in North Goa’s Vagator – the second ibis property in Goa and 23rd in the country, listed the three-four key decisions that propelled the group’s survival amid lockdowns and unhindered growth in the post-Covid era.

He also cited the group’s present approach and what its core focus is.

“Since January-February of 2020, Covid had started spreading in several parts of the world and by then, several countries had started taking preventive measures such as lockdowns. Realising that such restrictions would also be implemented in India, we geared up to finalise the strategy to tackle the situation that may arise if lockdowns happen here. We decided that we will not shut our properties completely and utilise the (lockdown) period for maintenance,” he said.

“Further, we also finalised a zero revenue budgeting and other action plans to deal with the halt in business operations. We kept our properties that had guests open and in the remaining ones, our maintenance crew kept running the rooms. Our staff stayed at hotels, air conditioning facilities remained operational, and housekeeping staff kept kitchens and rooms clean... This kept our buildings in a very good shape,” Singh added.

“We were the first (during lockdowns) to offer our services to doctors, nurses, and other paramedics at very very attractive rates. We worked actively with the government. Even when other hotels were shutting down, we shifted their guests to our hotels... Not that it made us money, it generated very low revenue but what it did was, it kept our buildings and staff engaged,” he said.

IGH, which joined hands with Accor in 2004, currently has 28 operational properties across the country while another two will come up within a year or two.