An exclusive interview with Mehul Sharma, Founder & CEO, Signum Hotels & Resorts
1. When were you founded?
-> Signum Hotels & Resorts was founded in January, 2019.
2.How many employees do you have?
-> Signum Hotels & Resorts has over 300 employees.
3.How do you get an idea to start this venture?
-> I got this business idea while travelling abroad, when I found a gap in the market for a niche, Indian rooted global hospitality brand offering experiential stays. The whole idea was to create a global brand touching people’s lives with unique stay experiences.
4. Is the company funded?
-> The company is not funded, it is boot strapped.
5.Briefly explain about the business?
-> Signum Hotels & Resorts, manages assets & properties on behalf of owners. We have our own Brand, Brand standards, Standard Operating Procedures, White-labelled Technology and our own team. We deliver profits to the ownership and increase their shareholding value by increasing Earning Per Share. We run the hotels under our brand, across the globe.
6. What is the future Plan?
-> We plan to strengthen our global footprint by opening the brand hotels in various countries and establish ourselves as contemporary global hospitality brand with Indian roots providing experiential stays.
We have recently collaborated with UK based group 360 Stays and we manage more than 325 keys across the UK in more than 39 locations. We are coming up in Bosnia and Canada too.
7. How are you different from others?
-> We believe in curating local experiences for guests. We aspire to engage the senses to disconnect from the everyday and focus in the present by actively engaging the mind & body in new experiences. We incorporate the flavour of the city in our hotels through art, music and architecture. Our aim is to bring the city to the guest for a truly memorable stay.
This sets us apart and different from other brands.
8. What’s your revenue?
-> We are still boot strapped and profitable though we are looking forward to raise funds, soon.
9. How fast are you growing?
-> We are strengthening our footprint in India and abroad. We are soon coming up with more than 12 hotels in India by the end of this quarter & beginning next quarter.
Abroad, we have just expanded with collaborating with 360 Stays with more than 325 keys across the UK in more than 39 locations. We are also launching properties soon in Dubai, Middles East, Canada, Bosnia, and more
11. What’s your background?
-> I am hospitality industry veteran with more than two decades experience with leading brands like Taj Hotels, Shangri La, ITC Hotels, IHG, etc.
12. What skills you needed to start the business?
-> First & foremost skill is the right capital understanding, clear vision of the idea, belief in yourself, backed by lots of data and research. You must have a business plan, and be prepared for the worst. Overestimate your expenses and underestimate your sales. Make sure that you have funds to survive for next 2 years. Must have skills are to be hardworking, grounded & persistence. This will take you a long way.
13. Are you successful in this space? What’s unique about your leadership team?
-> We are fairly successful in this space and are successfully carving our niche in India & abroad. Our leadership team includes stalwarts from the large chains like ITC, Taj & IHG hotels. They really help us and contribute towards shaping the Company and taking the brand to the next level.
12. Why is your team perfect to solve the problems you’re tackling?
-> The team is handpicked and we see each problem as an opportunity to serve. It is cumulative hard work from each of the team member that is the reason behind our success.