--By Gaurav Aryal
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| Bhawani Rana Chairperson, Sneha Group |
The journey of Sneha Group of Companies began with the Nepalgunj based one star hotel - Sneha Hotel, as a family business of Asit SJB Rana. The hotel later expanded under the leadership of Bhawani Rana, Chairperson of Sneha Group. The hotel that started with 10 rooms has now grown into three star property with 65 rooms.
Rana says that the hotel is now the group’s flagship company. Later, new companies in freight business, travel and tourism and agriculture were also named after Sneha as the name turned out to be a lucky charm for the group. The name is used as brand in the group’s solo ventures. She reveals that the hotel is being upgraded to four-star category hotel with 75 rooms within a year. Likewise, the group is establishing a resort at Motipur of Bardiya district, near the Bardiya National Park. The resort will offer tourism packages including jungle safari and rafting.
The group has another ambitious resort project up its sleeves for Rara National Park as well. Rana says that land acquisition process is undergoing for this project and informed that the group will begin developing the project once the government gives green signal to its proposal. This eco-resort will have no concrete buildings thereby making it a truly eco-friendly resort. Rana says that the group plans to invest Rs 30 to 50 million in the project named as Sneha Eco Resort. The resort will have 20 to 25 rooms only.
Similarly, the group is establishing Sneha Culture and Entertainment in Kathmandu soon that will present various cultural shows for international tourists. . However, Rana did not disclose details of this project. Likewise, the group is also expanding its agro processing and production business that is running under the name Sneha Agro. The group is planning to enter herb processing and expand fisheries and banana farming . At present, the group’s banana farm spreads across 15 bighas of Bardiya. According to Rana, the group, as of now has invested Rs 20 million in the agriculture and herbs, Rs 250 million in the hotels and registers around Rs 150 million annual turnover from its various businesses.
The group is interested in developing cable car as medium of public transport in Kathmandu in partnership with other investors. The French expert has undertaken the responsibility to conduct feasibility study of the project. Rana says that the estimated investment has increased to around Rs 25 billion and the viability of the project will be known while the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is prepared.
Focus on Mid and Far West
The Sneha Group has focused its hospitality and tourism business away from oft-beaten destinations such as Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan. Rana says, “There were options for us to establish a project in Kathmandu Valley. But we decided to take the development out of the valley.” The group had thought of developing Sanepa Tower Hotel at Sanepa of Lalitpur in a land spread over eight ropanis. However, the group concluded to offer tourists with services in off the beaten routes and destinations. She believes that the new resort project in Rara would open up new possibilities to explore the surrounding areas that have remained virgin as of now. She says that Nepalgunj is developing as a transit point for visiting numerous areas in the region such as Kailash-Mansarovar, Khaptad National Park and Swargadwari. She feels that the lack of promotion of Bardiya national park is holding off the possibility of developing tourism in the area in similar ways as that of Chitwan.
Tourism Specialisation
It is not only the tourism and hospitality that the group has put its hands into. It was also operating Bardiya Sugar Mill that was closed down during the armed conflict. The group now is making plans to reopen this factory. However, the company’s main focus is on the service industry. . Rana says that this decision was made based on her and family’s interests. She recalls numerous instances when she was advised to invest in the hydropower sector.”But they could not lure me into that,” she says. “Tourism and service industry is where my interests and experiences are. So, we are expanding in this area and the soon to be established entertainment and cultural centre will be another addition to it.”
Serving the Right Market
Nepalgunj has become a transit point for visiting numerous tourist destinations in the Mid and Far Western Nepal. Be it domestic destinations like Dolpa, Jumla, Surkhet, Bardiya or few destinations located in Tibet like Kailash and Mansarovar. Nepalgunj is the point from where the journey begins. According to Rana, during the peak seasons, majority of clients residing at Sneha Hotel are the ones hailing from USA and Europe. She says that if tourism infrastructures can be developed and destinations in the region are promoted, the tourism industry can benefit the entire region. Recently, the number of Indian tourist is also significantly increasing, says Rana.
Apart from pleasure seeking tourists, the major clientele of Sneha Group’s hotel is made up of government officials and I/NGO and development workers. . Government and non-government institutions have set Mid and Far-Western region’s development as their priority. Consequently, their activities in the region have spiked over the years. Nepalgunj is the base for these institutions where numerous conferences and conventions are organised every month thereby contributing a large chunk of sales and revenue to the hotel business.
Unlike Pokhara and Chitwan, Nepalgunj offers little tourist attraction within the city. So, it has been acting as a one night transit. Rana feels that there are some religiously important places like Bageshwori temple within the city that can be promoted
to visitors.
Being one of the oldest hotels in Nepalgunj, Sneha Hotel has remained strong throughout its operation despite the increasing competition. Responding to the changing market scenario, the group plans to rename the hotel as Hotel Sneha: Rana Boutique Hotel. Rana says, “The region lacks boutique hotels. Hence this idea.”
| Turning Point During the decade long conflict, the business of Sneha Group was also affected as Nepalgunj happened to be in the close vicinity of the conflict area. While the sugar mill was closed down, Sneha Hotel was also forced to close for two months. Bhawani Rana, Chairperson of the group recalls those days as terrorising for entrepreneurs in the area. However, her group, with the hope of better situation, did not hesitate in making additional investments. She recalls that most difficult days during the conflict period were when the group had borrowed loan from banks and the conflict immediately escalated to its peak. Managing the Business Rana, who is also Vice President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), says she has been able to dedicate very little time to her business, as she has to spend most of her working hours at FNCCI. In her absence, businesspersons in the family and company’s managers look after the business. The group has employed 200 people in its hotel, agriculture and travel businesses. Rana says that staff of the group are sincere and hardworking and she recalls the incident where they worked at half their salaries when the hotel remained closed during the conflict period. The group has always treated its employees as family members and motivated them by listening and understanding their problems, by treating them professionally and by providing incentives. CSR The group is carrying out its social responsibilities through an organisation named Saathi Sanstha. The organisation has established a shelter for victims of women trafficking. Women in the shelter are provided with hotel management and other skill oriented trainings. Rana says that the organisation also tries offering them job placements. She shares that 15 women are trained annually by this organization. Similarly, the group also provides scholarships to needy children every year. |
