Leading Stories

DARE TO DREAM

Torsten van Dullemen is justifiably proud of The Oberoi Udaivilas, inspired by its owners, and entranced by life in Udaipur, India. He talks about the beauty and romance that keep him there.

I have the good fortune of being the General Manager of one of the most beautiful hotels in the world, The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur in Rajasthan, home of the oldest serving dynasty in the world. You just have to consider our most recent awards to know that this place is truly special and can speak for itself:

• Ranked 2nd - Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, Readers’ Survey 2008 - Top 50 Hotels in Asia
• Ranked 4th - Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, Readers’ Survey 2008 – Top 100 Hotels in the World
• ‘Hotel of the Year’ Nominee – Virtuoso, Best of the Best Awards 2008
• Ranked 1st – Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, Readers’ Survey 2007 – Top 100 Hotels in the World
• Ranked 2nd – Conde Nast Traveler, USA, Readers’ Choice Awards 2007 – Top 100 Hotels in the World
• Ranked 1st – Conde Nast Traveler, USA, Readers’ Choice Awards 2007 – Top Hotels in Asia

A dream come true

We’re part of The Oberoi Group, which owns or manages over thirty luxury, five-star hotels and resorts in five countries across Asia, Africa and the Middle East under the ‘Oberoi Hotels & Resorts’ and ‘Trident’ brands. The company was founded in 1934 by Rai Bahadur Mohan Singh Oberoi, who died in 2002 at the ripe old age of 103! Could he really have dreamed, an almost penniless twenty-two year old standing outside the Cecil Hotel in Shimla (now called Simla), that one day he would propel himself from a clerk to the architect of a business empire spanning hotels, travel and tour services, flight catering, airport restaurants and more? It’s amazing but true. He dared to dream.

Dharma

The Group, and everyone who works for it like me, is guided by our Dharma, which are the rules we operate by, applicable to all aspects of the business. This includes conducting ourselves to the highest ethical standards, in an atmosphere and with behaviours that promote trust and respect; putting the customer first, the company second, and the self last; recognition of people as our key asset; guarding the safety, security, health and environment of customers, employees, and all company assets; and acknowledging the value of long-term gain over short-term quick fixes. Our overall mission is to meet and exceed the expectations of our guests, at the same time looking after our people and preserving the distinct Oberoi tradition which is to be pioneers in the hospitality industry. All of this leads to creating extraordinary value for our shareholders.

Magic and romance in the 21st century

If you visit us at The Oberoi Udaivilas, you will be simply amazed. Udaipur is called the ‘Venice of the East’, and without doubt it’s the most romantic city in India! We’re set against the backdrop of the Aravalli Hills, on the banks of Lake Pichola. We overlook ancient monuments dotting the banks and islands of the lake, including the famous City Palace, Jag Mandir and Monsoon Palace.

Our hotel was conceived as a traditional Mewari palace. Did you know that Udaipur used to be the capital of the kingdom of the Mewar dynasty, which ruled for 1,200 years? Through our architecture and design, and in our service standards, we try to recreate – magnificently – the romance of the past. For couples, we can organise a trip on a shikara, which is a traditional Kashmiri wooden boat, or dinner on a pontoon, which is a floating platform anchored in the middle of Lake Pichola, where guests can enjoy themselves in peace and complete privacy. Of course, there are also romantic candlelit dinners that can be arranged in a room’s private terrace. But if you so wish, there are camel rides too.

The hotel has been designed as a seamless assimilation of spaces that capture the luxurious ambience of a royal residence. The spaces ramble elegantly around courtyards and walkways, gentle rippling fountains, reflecting pools and verdant gardens! But with the opulence of the past come the facilities of today. We’re very much attuned to the 21st century. We offer just about every modern-day facility and amenity, from our award-winning The Oberoi Spa to multiple dining options, personal yoga sessions. These, combined with our impeccable, personalised and warm service, all add up to a truly unique experience for our guests.

An excellent assignment

For me, working for the Oberoi family has been hugely inspiring. Our Chairman, P.R.S. Oberoi, the son of our founder, is an hotelier first and a businessman next, but in the end it makes business sense. His passion is extremely motivating, which I’ve found in the less than two years that I’ve been here.

This is definitely a high point in my career. I started out as a management trainee at the Principe di Savoia in Milan and at the Cavalieri Hilton in Rome. Then it was London in various operations management roles at The Savoy, The Capital, One Aldwych and Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. But working in India has been excellent, a dream, and I have to say it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been (and I’ve been travelling for the last twenty years!).

This assignment has been so good for my family too. For Paola, my Italian wife whom I’ve been with for eighteen years, and for our daughters, Viola and Susie, aged six and three, who now speak Hindi (although they’re of course already fluent in Italian and English). Settling in was much easier than I’d expected, because the people of Udaipur are very friendly, and the whole area is steeped in history and culture. We are very happy here, and here we will remain for the foreseeable future.