‘Focus on sustainable and memorable guest experiences’

Having launched the hospitality brand, The Fern Hotels & Resorts, Param Kannampilly is regarded as one of the most poignant and impactful professionals of the Indian hospitality industry. He has been affiliated with numerous hotel groups, having started his career with Taj Hotels. He also got associated with Spencer International Hotels, The Fariyas Hotels, The Leela Group, Raheja Group of Hotels and Kamat Group of Hotels. In 1996, he went on to set up and operate Asia’s first Ecotel - Hotel, The Orchid, Mumbai. Kannampilly is executive chairman, Concept Hospitality, a hotel management company that manages a portfolio of hotels, primarily under The Fern Hotels & Resorts brand. The company has over 100 operational and upcoming hotels across more than 90 locations in India. As of June 2025, The Fern Hotels & Resorts reached a milestone of 10,000 rooms across their Indian portfolio. Excerpts from his interview with Hemang Palan:

Published on:

16 Oct 2025, 9:08 am

How is the GST reduction expected to help the business growth of your mid-segment properties?

The recent reduction in GST is a welcome move that will significantly benefit the hospitality sector, especially the mid-segment category. At The Fern Hotels & Resorts, this change will make room tariffs more attractive for guests and improve overall occupancy levels across our business and leisure destinations. With lower tax rates, domestic travellers are likely to find mid-segment stays more affordable, encouraging longer stays and repeat visits. From a business perspective, this will help us drive higher volumes, strengthen our position in the organised hospitality space and create more value for both guests and property owners.

How are your premier segment properties across India gearing up for the upcoming winter wedding season? Do you foresee a spurt in the wedding business?

The winter season has always been a high point for weddings and this year, we are witnessing an encouraging surge in enquiries and bookings across our premier properties. At The Fern Hotels & Resorts, our teams, through Vivah by The Fern, have curated bespoke wedding experiences that combine elegant venues, sustainable décor and regionally inspired menus, ensuring every celebration is distinctive and memorable. We are also observing strong interest in destination weddings at our properties. The growing preference for intimate yet experiential celebrations, combined with a focus on sustainable and eco-conscious practices, continues to drive this momentum. Given the positive sentiment and increased spending on weddings, we anticipate a healthy uptick in our business this season.

What are your expansion plans?

In the coming year, we aim to further strengthen our footprint across major metros and Tier I and II cities under our various Fern brands, catering to both business and leisure travellers. Our focus remains on strategic expansion in key growth markets, where we see sustained demand for quality, eco-sensitive hospitality experiences. Alongside our urban expansion, we are also looking to enhance our presence in emerging leisure circuits and temple towns, which have shown strong tourism potential in recent years. These destinations are increasingly travellers seeking authentic, sustainable and culturally immersive stays.

When will all Fern properties be rebranded as Series by Marriott?

We are in the process of integrating all operational verticals of The Fern Hotels & Resorts with Series by Marriott, marking a significant milestone in our growth journey. The integration is now in its final stages. Following this, we will initiate the rebranding of our participating Fern Hotels under the co-branded Series by Marriott identity, ensuring a seamless blend of The Fern’s sustainable hospitality ethos with Marriott’s global standards of excellence. The first set of over 20 hotels is scheduled to transition by November 2025, with subsequent batches of properties following each month thereafter. This phased approach will allow us to maintain consistency and operational efficiency across all locations. We expect the entire rebranding and integration process to be completed by early next year.

How is an Indian reputed hospitality chain like yours gearing up to capitalise on the burgeoning growth of cruise tourism in India?

At The Fern Hotels & Resorts, we are not looking to enter the cruise tourism space. Our focus remains on strengthening our core hospitality offerings across existing and upcoming destinations, while continuing to deliver sustainable and memorable guest experiences that align with our brand ethos.