Gunjan Sabikhi
What inspired Udaan Hotels to focus exclusively on the Himalayan region, particularly in West Bengal and Sikkim?
Our Promoters and Managing Directors — Nishikant Agarrwal and Sashikant Agarwal — are based in Siliguri, the gateway to all destinations where our properties are located. This geographic advantage made it operationally convenient and strategically sound to first strengthen our base in North Bengal and Sikkim before exploring other destinations in Northeast India.
Who is your core customer base — are you targeting domestic leisure tourists, international travellers, spiritual seekers, or wellness enthusiasts?
Our primary customer base comprises domestic tourists, followed by international travellers. While our resorts offer wellness spas, we do not position ourselves as wellness-centric properties.
What challenges have you faced operating in high-altitude or remote Himalayan regions, and how have you adapted your operations to address them?
Operating in high-altitude regions does bring challenges, but over time, we’ve developed the expertise to set up and run properties in these areas efficiently. This has become one of our core competencies and key strengths.
How do you maintain consistency in service and experience across different properties, especially given the diversity of locations?
We follow a well-defined philosophy, corporate culture, and set of quality processes. These are uniformly applied across all properties. Our managing and operational teams undergo comprehensive training to ensure consistency in service and quality, regardless of location.
Many travellers today seek immersive experiences — how does Udaan balance luxury with cultural immersion and nature-based tourism?
We understand that tourists — domestic or international — come to the region to see the Himalayas and experience the local culture. Our properties are thoughtfully designed to offer this blend, with several offering 100% Himalayan-facing rooms. While we are deeply rooted in the region’s culture and natural beauty, we maintain a strong commitment to quality and luxury without compromise.
Your properties are all pure vegetarian — what was the rationale behind this unique positioning, especially in the hospitality sector?
Our choice to operate as a pure vegetarian chain stems from personal and religious beliefs. Fortunately, our food quality has earned us immense popularity — even non-vegetarian guests return for the taste and quality. Vegetarian guests also appreciate our consistent blend of premium hospitality and cuisine.
Tell us more about your operational model — is Udaan directly managing all its properties, or do you follow a franchise or lease-based system as well?
We directly manage all our hotels and resorts.
Kera by Udaan appears to be your wellness-focused offering — how do you envision wellness tourism evolving in the Himalayan region?
Kera is a premium spa facility offered at our properties but is not positioned as a standalone wellness destination. It adds value to the guest experience as an additional offering.
Sustainability and local culture are becoming integral to hospitality — how does Udaan integrate local heritage and eco-friendly practices into its operations?
All Udaan properties are built with an eco-conscious approach. Our resorts in Darjeeling, like Udaan Dekeling and Udaan Nirvana, embrace natural settings, mountain views, and serene gardens. Our vegetarian cuisine also supports sustainability. While we don’t formally market ourselves as an eco-friendly brand, environmental responsibility remains central to our operations.
Are there plans to expand beyond the Eastern Himalayas into other parts of India or internationally? Could you tell us more about the upcoming properties under the Udaan brand?
We continue to expand within the Eastern Himalayan belt and have a vision to grow further into other parts of Northeast India in the future.
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