"Innovation can feel heavy; I prefer to think evolution!"

Arjun Baljee, President of Royal Orchid Hotels, on reinventing Royal Orchid and launching ICONIQA...

- Arjun Baljee, President of Royal Orchid Hotels, on reinventing Royal Orchid and launching ICONIQA...

President of Royal Orchid Hotels Ltd, one of India's leading hospitality chains, and the driving force behind ICONIQA Hotels & Resorts, the group's new-age upscale lifestyle hotel brand, Arjun Baljee is a second-generation hotelier with over 20 years of diverse experience across hospitality, real estate, technology, startups, and public-sector advisory.

Known for his visionary leadership, entrepreneurial spirit, and ability to translate innovation into business results, he began his journey with Royal Orchid Hotels in 2001 as part of the project implementation team. As co-promoter, he played a foundational role in growing the brand from two to 10 hotels within six years, culminating in a successful IPO in 2006. Over the years, his strategic foresight and execution have been instrumental in building Royal Orchid into one of the most recognised hospitality brands in the country, with a growing global presence.

He has also advised multiple businesses—ranging from new-age ventures to legacy conglomerates—across geographies. Notably, he served as Strategic Advisor to the Tourism Development Fund (TDF) of Saudi Arabia, a sovereign fund responsible for tourism infrastructure investments in the Kingdom. ICONIQA Hotels & Resorts — India’s first upscale lifestyle hotel brand by Royal Orchid Hotels — marks his most personal and transformative project to date.

You have nearly two decades of cross-industry experience— from hospitality and real estate to start-ups and public-sector advisory. How have these diverse experiences influenced your approach to building hotels?