Mr. Vishal Kamat, the Director of Kamat Group of Hotels, delivered a talk yesterday (22nd February) in the NAB Audi. Due to begin at 10:00 in the morning, the event was delayed by more than an hour because of an alumni reunion at the same venue. A prerecorded video of a cabinet minister, who spoke about the PM’s vision for a ‘New India’, was played before the talk. The minister urged society to contribute as a whole to help the country overcome its numerous issues. A student representative of the institute’s Economics and Finance Association then introduced Mr. Kamat and briefly described the Kamat Group and its ventures.

Mr. Kamat started off by drawing a parallel between the Birla and the Kamat groups in their Indian origins and similar cultures. He took a pause to say how nervous he was, having to speak in front of some of the brightest minds in the country, and explained how to use the energy of nervousness to one’s advantage. Students, he said, ought to spend time identifying their positive and negative traits and work on them to further their passion. Citing past experiences, he advised the audience to cultivate healthy professional and personal relationships.

Coming from a humble background, he grew up with a set of values that the Kamat Group has now come to be known for – trust and value for money. Another similarity between the Kamat and Birla groups, he felt, was in their mindset. Both organizations had invested in their futures to become leaders in their own fields. He moved on to speak on how the company had removed the minibars from all rooms at one of Kamat Group’s hotels. This was done as he felt that a guest would be more pleased with the instant service at the ring of a bell instead of using minibar by oneself. Being so able to turn the lack of a minibar into a situation that satisfied customers is an example of ‘saving resources without affecting needs’. The Kamat Group practices what he referred to as “responsible luxury” – something that other hotels brand have replicated since.

Furthermore, Mr. Kamat felt people ought never to pursue a goal without a firm understanding of why they were doing so. Successful entrepreneurs, he said, never set out with a primary intent of making money, and anyone who did would undoubtedly fail. He stressed on the need to learn from one’s mistakes to having a positive attitude and trusting in oneself. A quote a verse from a Parsi text followed, which conveyed that good thoughts lead to good deeds and a great life.

Mr. Kamat concluded by expressing his gratitude and opened the floor to a Q&A session. However, the delay meant that only a few questions could be taken, and the party moved outdoors for an informal interaction. He then handed out unique business cards which contained tea seeds, and shook hands with every member of the audience before departing.