Suri wanted to make GE Hotel a property jewel

KOLKATA: It’s almost a year to date. On November 30 last year, when Lalit Suri walked into the historic Writers’ Buildings at the handover of Great Eastern Hotel, he was brimming with life, full of plans to revive the grand old edifice.

His premature demise in London on Tuesday thus come as a shock to all those who saw him that day.
Last November, he was accompanied by his wife Jyotsna, and daughters — Divya Suri Singh and Deeksha Suri — and other senior executives of Bharat Hotels. Buddies Farooq Abdullah and Sharad Pawar were also at hand to celebrate the handover of Great Eastern which coincided with Pawar’s election as BCCI supremo.

Mr Suri’s enthusiasm remained unabated throughout. Sitting in the Presidential suite of Great Eastern hotel in April this year, Mr Suri had said: “We are spending Rs 120 crore for the makeover. I hope to make it a jewel of a property. After all, Great Eastern Hotel was once regarded as The Jewel of the East.”

Hopefully, true to Mr Suri’s spirit, the plans that he had been so painstakingly putting final touches to are likely to be carried out in right earnest. Arvind Sachdev, vice-president (finance), Bharat Hotels, told ET: “It is an irreparable loss. He was a guide to us. But we will carry on all the work. All his dreams will be fulfilled.

In case of Great Eastern, all meetings fixed for later this week will be held as scheduled.” For example, a team from Architects 61, the Singapore-based firm appointed for Great Eastern’s restoration, is coming down to Delhi as scheduled for a round of meetings, said Mr Sachdev who has spent his career spanning 27 years working with Mr Suri.
Mrs Suri, who has a keen eye in restoration of heritage properties, has also been a key member of his team in every hotel project. Both his daughters are qualified in business management, HR and legal affairs and are involved in the business. Their role will only get bigger in the coming days.

As far as Great Eastern is concerned, group sources said work will progress as per the schedule. “The plan has been approved. The heritage commission has also okayed it. The drawing and the concept have been finalised,” Mr Sachdev said. The main part of the renovation of the structure will involve civil construction job. “We were waiting for Mr Suri to return to India and select the contractor,” he added. Six to seven bidders, including leading players like Shapoorji Pallonji, have responded to the tender and one of them will be selected soon.

“We have recently floated a tender for service jobs like plumbing and electrical works. We expect to select one of bidders within a month,” Mr Sachdev said. Talks are also on with leading global hospitality chains like Starwood Hotels and Intercontinental who are keen to associate their brands with the hotel.

Echoing similar sentiments, Satya Roy Chowdhury, resident manager, Great Eastern Hotel, Kolkata, said: “The work will not stop. In fact, we are now doubly resolved to make it one of the best hotels in the country. Mr Suri wanted to restore the glory of the hotel. We will carry on with his legacy.” Mr Chowdhury was on his way to Delhi when ET spoke to him.

But it is the benefit of his social network that Great Eastern will perhaps miss the most, said J Bag, chief executive of Great Eastern Hotel, in the run-up to the privatisation. “His enterprise will be difficult to match. His loss will definitely be a setback for the time being. But they are a spirited lot and will soon bounce back. Theirs is a team effort. We have seen his family members and executives work closely together,” he added.

Mr Suri had decided to retain the Maxim’s brand, and convert it into a nightclub add a basement parking area with space for 160 cars, a health club, spa and swimming pool. The West Bengal government, too, is confident it will not put brakes on the privatisation deal. The chief minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, expressed his grief over the death of Mr Suri. “It is painful,” he said.

State industry minister Nirupam Sen said: “His death will not affect the privatisation of Great Eastern Hotel. The work will be completed as scheduled.” During his last official meeting with the CM, Mr Suri had sought 10 acres to set up a hotel management and catering institute. “We are in the process of identifying suitable land for the institute,” industry department officials said.

However, with Mr Suri’s sudden departure, the fate of 130-odd employees of the hotel hangs in balance. As Atiar Rahman, general secretary of the Intuc-affiliated Great Eastern Hotels’ Staff and Workers Union, said: “When the deal was signed, we were assured that those below 45 years would be absorbed by the company. But with the death of Mr Suri, we are not certain about their fate.”

He added: “Restoration on such a scale takes about 18 months. The present deadline of June ’07 is likely to get delayed. But we are hopeful that if the Suri family works on it, the hotel can be opened in ’08.”