From humble beginnings in Shimla, Mr. Chander K Baljee, hailing from a hotelier family, founded Regenta and Royal Orchid Hotels, a now prominent hotel brand in India. His journey started with a small restaurant in Shimla, followed by his first hotel venture in Bangalore after leasing ‘The Stay Longer Hotel’ and transforming it into Harsha. The turning point came in 1985 with Hotel Royal Orchid, his first 5-star venture near the old Bangalore airport.

Rapid growth followed with the addition of four hotels by 2004 and expansion into cities like Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Pune. The successful IPO in 2006 marked another milestone, raising Rs 130 crore. 

“We've done so much! Actually, we've been pioneers in innovation,” he said about the innovative concepts he had implemented in his brand that turned out to be a game changer in the industry. “We were the first hotel to introduce cable TV in the country. I remember approaching a startup company called Nelco to install it for us. It took them a couple of months to experiment and get it set up. In those days, there were VCRs instead of cable; we had three VCRs and played tapes. In this way, we undertook many unique and pioneering endeavours,” he added.

Not only being the first hotel to introduce cable television, but also the Regents & Royal Orchid Hotels has become the first brand to introduce a free buffet breakfast. “This move has been a game-changer; guests are happy and satisfied, and we face fewer morning complaints related to service. We were also the first to offer free WiFi in hotels,” he said. 

Over the years, they've introduced many innovations with the guest in mind and are continuing to do so.

Today, Royal Orchid Hotels operates 12 hotels across major cities, focusing on high-quality, affordable accommodation. With plans to expand into markets like Mumbai and Ahmedabad, Royal Orchid Hotels stands as a testament to Mr. Baljee’s vision and perseverance, continually striving for greater achievements in the hospitality sector.