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Says Solanki: “eRevNax India has been the vendor for revenue and distribution management tools to Oberoi hotels for almost four years now, which, incidentally along with Pride Hotels, are our favourite clients. This is due to the level of mutual understanding that has developed, making business a pleasure.”

Says Jain: “We have had the best working experience with Hotel Jaypee Palace Agra because of their very professional, committed and excellent project coordination, as well as Oberoi Wildflower Hall Shimla as they are very quality conscious, provide an excellent working environment and have good commitment towards vendors.”

Seth says they work equally with established hotel chains such as ITC WelcomGroup, Taj Hotels, Sarovar Park Hotels, Claridges and the like, as they do with standalone hotels, and are comfortable dealing with both.

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Indian manufacturers are constantly accused of neglecting quality over quantity and thus, many Indian hotels too prefer sourcing their equipment from foreign companies. Do international hotel chains prefer working with suppliers from their home country in spite of the high cost incurred, simply due to this poor opinion of Indian products/ services, or are they open to exploring Indian vendors?

Solanki answers this one by saying he feels any hotel, be it an Indian or international brand, bases its buying decisions primarily on product quality and its customisation for their benefit, irrespective of the vendor being an Indian company or one based in the home country of an international hotel.

Jain agrees with this assessment; he says the vendor is decided by the quality of product and service and not where they are based. Khan feels that international hotel chains too need Indian vendors to give a local flavour to the property. Bhatia says that in his opinion, they are open to vendors; it is up to the vendors to demonstrate their price-quality equation.

Says Jagdeep: “Most international hotel chains are open to work with Indian vendors or vendors representing international brands. However, for some critical components and aesthetic design some hotel groups rely on their international suppliers. Some hotels especially are open to explore newer products at higher costs, if they are at par with international standards and mean innovation in design.”

Seth sums it up by saying that international companies do come with an established mindset, however, in his experience, they are open to evaluating new vendors on their merit and on a case-to-case basis.

Going forward, which hotels would they want to do business with? Says Solanki: “We look forward to working with Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces; Park Hotels; ITC-Welcomgroup and Fortune Park Hotels, as it would be a challenge working with such large chains and definitely good for the company business.”

Anil says The Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Shangri-La, Regent, Waldorf Astoria and Conrad are some of the hotels his company would like to work with, as they are the names to be reckoned with.

Jegadeesh says for him it is the Hilton and Marriott Hotels, among others, while Jain looks forward to working with Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces in future. Jagdeep says Dorma looks to working with the W, St Regis, Conrad, Mandarin Oriental and Ritz Carlton as and when they come to India. Tandon says it would be The Leela for him, which has its own class and thus would be a challenge to work with.