Rattan Keswani, Oberoi old hand, to start own venture

Rattan Keswani, president-Trident Hotels of the East India Hotels (EIH) group, otherwise popular as Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, is parting ways with the company after more than three decades.

An EIH spokesperson said Keswani will start a new venture.“He is moving out of Oberoi Hotels & Resorts to start a new venture. We have not appointed anyone in his place as yet.”

Keswani could not be reached for a confirmation.

But hotel industry sources said he has already put in his papers and is serving the notice period till April-end.

Keswani joined the group as a student of the Oberoi School of Hotel Management in 1981. Except for a brief stint with Holiday Inn Worldwide in 1987-88, he has been an ‘Oberoi executive’ throughout his career. 

For the ‘Bikki’ Oberoi-promoted hotel group, Keswani’s resignation will mark the second high-profile executive exit in a year. In April 2011, Liam Lambert had stepped down as president.

Interestingly, no one has replaced Lambert since then, making some believe the management’s view of the top two executive positions might be changing.