TBM Staff - Mumbai
May 31st marked the twentieth anniversary of the launch of the first property under the Lemon Tree Hotels umbrella. The 49-key Lemon Tree Hotel in Udyog Vihar, Gurugram (then Gurgaon), opened its doors to guests in 2004. Over the past two decades, the company has grown to become one of the largest hotel chains in India, owning, leasing, managing, and franchising over 100 hotels with a cumulative inventory of over 10,000 rooms, both in India and abroad.
Patanjali G. Keswani, Chairman and Managing Director, Lemon Tree Hotels, reflected on the company’s journey, stating, “We’ve come a long way from when we launched Lemon Tree Hotel, Udyog Vihar. In the past twenty years of our operations, we have strived to provide value and make a difference in the lives of our internal and external stakeholders, including our team members, guests, investors, shareholders, owner partners, and vendors.”
He continued, “These twenty years of operational excellence are a testament to the dedication, hard work, and resilience of every single team member who has stood with us over the years. Today, I would like to thank each member of the Lemon Tree family who has been a part of this journey, through numerous ups and downs, to help us to reach this momentous milestone.”
The Lemon Tree journey began 20 years ago when Patanjali G. Keswani envisioned the first hotel that the company would build in September 2002. It took a little less than two years for Lemon Tree Hotels Limited to open its first hotel in May 2004. Since then, the company has witnessed numerous milestones, including going public with a successful IPO, expanding internationally, launching over 100 hotels, and building numerous brands to cater to guests’ varied tastes and requirements.
Throughout its operations, Lemon Tree Hotels has focused on offering opportunities to individuals with disabilities and people from the economically/socially weak segment. Currently, 13% of Lemon Tree employees are from this disadvantaged segment of the population. The company has been recognised for its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, having received the National Award for ‘Best Employer of Persons with Disabilities’ in 2016 & 2011 and a third National Award in 2012 for being a ‘Role Model in providing a Barrier-Free Environment to Persons with Disabilities’.
To mark the occasion, the company held celebrations across all its hotels and the corporate office in New Delhi.
