Tata Group knows it must do more to keep people safe as it grows. Chairman N Chandrasekaran made this clear while speaking to shareholders of Indian Hotels Company Ltd at its annual general meeting on Monday.
He did not shy away from the tough question on safety after the recent Air India crash. He confirmed that safety is under tight watch across all Tata companies now.
"In general, safety, yes, is a very, very big thing across the Tata Group. We have a group that we have formed with the CEOs of major companies to focus on safety and this is getting reviewed in every board," Chandrasekaran said.
He explained that the focus is not limited to hotels. New manufacturing sites and other Tata businesses are also under this safety plan. “We are building a lot of high-end manufacturing ... So we are very aware of the need for focusing on safety. So this is something that we are doing, and we need to do more,” he added.
Remembering Ratan Tata and Air India crash victims
Chandrasekaran opened the meeting with a moment of remembrance for those lost in the Air India crash and for Ratan Tata, who died last October.
"To lose a single person we know is a tragedy, but for so many deaths to occur at once is incomprehensible. Our thoughts are with them. I also would like to express a deep sense of loss on the passing away of Ratan Tata in October 2024.
"He was a truly uncommon leader, a distinguished business leader and philanthropist, and his remarkable vision and achievements shaped the Tata Group for multiple decades. He was a dear friend and the person whom I turned to for any guidance. In other words, we miss him very dearly," Chandrasekaran told the gathering.
Big plans for Indian hotels
While safety stays in focus, growth plans for Indian Hotels Company Limited have picked up pace. IHCL, which is India’s biggest hospitality firm, has an ambitious target for the next few years.
Sharing the outlook, Chandrasekaran said, “The intent is to achieve a total global footprint of 700 hotels by 2030 and double the revenues to cross ₹15,000 crore.”
It is not just talk. Last year, IHCL signed 74 new hotels and opened 26 new properties. The total count has climbed to 380 hotels.
Numbers tell the story
For the last financial year, IHCL reported standalone revenue of ₹5,145 crore and profit after tax of ₹1,430 crore. Consolidated revenue touched ₹8,565 crore with profit after tax at ₹1,908 crore.
The company’s consolidated EBITDA margin reached 38 per cent. It generated a free cash flow of ₹1,100 crore in 2024-25 and now holds a cash reserve of over ₹3,000 crore.
India’s travel and services resilience
Beyond hotels, the wider travel and services sector in India has shown grit even after the Covid shock. Chandrasekaran said the services industry is growing at a little over 8 per cent and foreign travel to India is inching closer to the 10 million mark each year.
He sounded upbeat about what lies ahead. “Future looks very strong and bright as the consumption in India keeps growing and the travels will continue to increase,” he said.
Tata’s roadmap is clear. Keep people safe, honour those who shaped the group and stay ready to grow.
He did not shy away from the tough question on safety after the recent Air India crash. He confirmed that safety is under tight watch across all Tata companies now.
"In general, safety, yes, is a very, very big thing across the Tata Group. We have a group that we have formed with the CEOs of major companies to focus on safety and this is getting reviewed in every board," Chandrasekaran said.
He explained that the focus is not limited to hotels. New manufacturing sites and other Tata businesses are also under this safety plan. “We are building a lot of high-end manufacturing ... So we are very aware of the need for focusing on safety. So this is something that we are doing, and we need to do more,” he added.
Remembering Ratan Tata and Air India crash victims
Chandrasekaran opened the meeting with a moment of remembrance for those lost in the Air India crash and for Ratan Tata, who died last October.
"To lose a single person we know is a tragedy, but for so many deaths to occur at once is incomprehensible. Our thoughts are with them. I also would like to express a deep sense of loss on the passing away of Ratan Tata in October 2024.
"He was a truly uncommon leader, a distinguished business leader and philanthropist, and his remarkable vision and achievements shaped the Tata Group for multiple decades. He was a dear friend and the person whom I turned to for any guidance. In other words, we miss him very dearly," Chandrasekaran told the gathering.
Big plans for Indian hotels
While safety stays in focus, growth plans for Indian Hotels Company Limited have picked up pace. IHCL, which is India’s biggest hospitality firm, has an ambitious target for the next few years.
Sharing the outlook, Chandrasekaran said, “The intent is to achieve a total global footprint of 700 hotels by 2030 and double the revenues to cross ₹15,000 crore.”
It is not just talk. Last year, IHCL signed 74 new hotels and opened 26 new properties. The total count has climbed to 380 hotels.
Numbers tell the story
For the last financial year, IHCL reported standalone revenue of ₹5,145 crore and profit after tax of ₹1,430 crore. Consolidated revenue touched ₹8,565 crore with profit after tax at ₹1,908 crore.
The company’s consolidated EBITDA margin reached 38 per cent. It generated a free cash flow of ₹1,100 crore in 2024-25 and now holds a cash reserve of over ₹3,000 crore.
India’s travel and services resilience
Beyond hotels, the wider travel and services sector in India has shown grit even after the Covid shock. Chandrasekaran said the services industry is growing at a little over 8 per cent and foreign travel to India is inching closer to the 10 million mark each year.
He sounded upbeat about what lies ahead. “Future looks very strong and bright as the consumption in India keeps growing and the travels will continue to increase,” he said.
Tata’s roadmap is clear. Keep people safe, honour those who shaped the group and stay ready to grow.
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