Year-End Reflections - 2024

of

Vikram Cotah

CEO, GRT Hotels and Resorts

What Defines a Year Well-Lived?

?Is it measured by milestones achieved or by the quiet moments of growth and introspection?

Is it the applause of success, or the whispers of wisdom that guide us to live more meaningfully?

?In the grand journey of life and leadership, 2024 was a year of seeking balance—between ambition and gratitude, action and reflection, the tangible and the intangible. It was a year that asked: What truly matters?

?Leadership, after all, is not merely a role; it is a philosophy—a belief in the power of purpose to shape lives, businesses, and communities. It is about creating a legacy that transcends numbers and leaves behind something more meaningful: experiences, values, and transformation.

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Personal Reflections

?The rhythm of leadership often dances on the edge of chaos and creation, but true growth lies in finding harmony within.

?What Went Well- The Hits

?????????????????1.???????????? Growth in Influence

??????????????????????????????????? Built a thriving online thought leadership presence with a LinkedIn following of 42,000, fostering conversations on sustainability and hospitality.

??????????????????????????????????? Authored The Great Butterfly Effect, a testament to my passion for creating a sustainable future.

?????????????????2.???????????? Aligning Mind and Body

??????????????????????????????????? Embarked on a journey of physical well-being: a gluten-free, pescatarian lifestyle that reduced body fat from 22% to 15%.

????????????????? Honoured a consistent 6:00 AM routine with exercise and pranayama, strengthening both body and mind.

?????????????????3.???????????? Inner Fulfilment

??????????????????????????????????? Deepened my spiritual practice, finding moments of clarity and peace amidst the whirlwind of responsibilities.

?????????????????4.???????????? Recognition as a Thought Leader

????????????????? Appointed Independent Director for Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation and Chairperson of CII Southern Regional Tourism Panel, reaffirming my commitment to meaningful impact.

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What Could Have Been Better- The misses

?????????????????1.???????????? The Hospitality Expresso YouTube channel and podcast remain ideas awaiting action—a lesson in prioritizing the creative over the operational.

?????????????????2.???????????? Despite my mindfulness journey, sleep averaged 6.5 hours, falling short of achieving a true digital detox.

?????????????????3.???????????? Overthought my daughter’s future instead of fully celebrating her present success.

?????????????????4.???????????? Missed moments of travel and shared experiences with my wife—a reminder that time spent with loved ones is time invested in life’s most enduring wealth.

?????????????????5.???????????? Social welfare and charity commitments, though close to my heart, fell short of their potential impact.

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Professional Reflections

?2024 was not just a year of growing GRT Hotels but of redefining its soul.

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Highlights of the Journey- The hits

?????????????????1.???????????? Innovations in Hospitality

??????????????????????????????????? Transformed Sea Villas into the opulent Pandava Suites at Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay Mahabalipuram.

??????????????????????????????????? Introduced Biophilia Suites at Radisson Blu GRT Hotel, Chennai fusing sustainability with luxury.

??????????????????????????????????? Launched Grand Madurai and Grand Vijayawada, expanding the Grand by GRT Hotels brand.

?????????????????2.???????????? Sustainability as a North Star

??????????????????????????????????? Achieved 100% plastic-free operations and made every property pet-friendly and smoke-free.

????????????????? ? Reimagined hospitality with Great Being, a wellness initiative embracing sleep, nutrition, exercise , air , emotional well-being, social wellbeing and more.

?????????????????3.???????????? Deepening Guest Connections

??????????????????????????????????? Rolled out Great Guest-X, offering 26 curated guest experiences across GRT Hotels

????????????????? Launched Kalyanam by GRT Hotels brand , creating a one-stop destination for weddings infused with South Indian tradition and the seven vows .

?????????????????4.???????????? Empowering People

??????????????????????????????????? Initiated the WOW (Women on Workforce) program, aiming for 25% female representation by 2025.

??????????????????????????????????? Established the Great Bodhi School and Great Patashala to nurture talent and build future leaders.

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Opportunities for Growth- The misses

?????????????????1.???????????? An asset-light expansion strategy for faster growth of GRT Hotels , while promising, faced delays.

?????????????????2.???????????? Delegating responsibilities effectively remains a challenge—a reminder of the strength in empowering others.

?????????????????3.???????????? Time spent mentoring the leadership team could have been deeper and more impactful.

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2024: A Year of Questions, Growth, and Purpose

?As the year closes, I find myself asking:

???What more can I do to harmonize professional ambition with personal peace?

??How can I lead with greater empathy, creating not just results but ripples of meaning?

??What will define my legacy—not in the eyes of others, but in the quiet moments of self-reflection?

?2024 was a year of bold steps in sustainability, well-being, and innovation. Yet, it was also a year of personal lessons—a reminder that leadership is as much about building organizations as it is about building oneself.

?As 2025 dawns, the path is clear:

To deepen impact, embrace growth, and balance the tangible with the soulful, ensuring that both life and leadership are lived with purpose, joy, and presence.

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Here’s to living every moment fully, for that is the true measure of a life well-lived.

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