Hot Seat

A travel connoisseur

Co-chairman of FICCI Tourism Committee and founder of hospitality brand Tree of Life Resorts & Spa, Himmat Anand has consistently given every project he has been a part of his hundred per cent. By Dinkar Farwaha

Moderating a session during a recent travel conference, Himmat Anand appears to be someone who is incredibly focused on what he is doing. He would dismiss any peripheral questions but become quite vocal when speaking about anything relating to business. On further interaction with him though, his eloquence become evident.

An alumnus of La Martiniere, Kolkata, Anand had wanted to join the army. "But I could not clear the mathematics paper in the entrance exam," he recalls. Then, his father's friend who ran a hotel in Darjeeling advised Anand to get into hospitality.

Anand therefore joined the Institute of Hotel Management, Catering & Technology (IHM), Pusa with Hotel Taj Mansingh, Delhi being his first assignment. "But after being a part of the hotel industry for two years, I realised that a job in this industry did not give me much joy and I decided to quit," informs Anand.

After a spell of uncertainty which lasted for a year, he got through the management training programme at SITA World Travel. On completion in 1985, he moved to Frankfurt to start SITA's office. During the six-year tenure in Germany, he handled the company's affairs for the entire Central Europe region. He subsequently joined Jet Airways (India), where he handled the group's tourism and GSA business. He was based in London and Paris during his four-year stint with the organisation.

He was then offered an opportunity to come back to India by Shailendra Mittal, chairman of Trade-wings Group, to re-vamp its India operations as its vice president. Anand decided to accept the offer, playing a significant role in the growth of the company. After proving himself in various projects, he decided to re-join SITA World Travel. When Kuoni India acquired SITA World Travel in 2000, Anand was assigned the role of setting up the company's new division. His consistent dedication and presence of mind paid dividends when he was made the COO of its incoming business for India and South Asia in 2002.

Future plans

Anand recently formed and founded a hospitality company called Rajscape Resorts after quitting Kuoni. "We are in the process of developing a premium resort in Jaipur on six acres of land in Kukas Village under the brand name 'Tree of Life Resorts & Spa'."

The property will have 15-20 luxury villas with each villa having a private garden and a few having a private swimming pool. The company, according to Anand, has tied up with architect Nimish Patel who is renowned for using stone in his structural designs. "The property will be built without the use of brick, cement or for that matter steel. We are building the entire structure only in stone and lime as was done 100 years ago using traditional Indian architectural designs," adds Anand.

The property, according to him, will also be environment-friendly. "Rajasthan has a lot of sunlight. We will therefore be using a lot of solar energy and will also ensure maximum water recycling." The construction, according to Anand, has already begun and the group plans to open it in October next year. When asked about the guest profile that the company is looking at, Anand replies, "We are primarily looking at upmarket FITs." The group, according to Anand, will manage the property on its own and is already looking at other locations in the north.

Anand loves to travel and prefers reading management books in his free time. He also has interests in music, especially Indian classical. "I am learning to play the piano," he informs. So where does he see himself ten years down the line? "Living somewhere in the mountains and sharing my knowledge about tourism and the hotel industry with students eager to learn," he concludes.