Having launched six hotels in less than 20 months, Neena Gupta is something of an expert when it comes to London, Barcelona, Vienna, Gstaad and Paris. “I enjoy discovering authentic local experiences, nothing special – walking through the neighbourhood, visiting restaurants and small cafés,” she shares. “It’s always interesting to observe and learn from local cultures in our destinations.”
As the CEO of Miiro Hotels and Executive Director of Group Strategy and International Hospitality at InterGlobe Enterprises, Gupta travels extensively for work. “The idea is to move away from one-size-fits-all luxury, instead offering stays that are authentic, personal and rooted in the spirit of each place,” she explains of Miiro’s concept. “Luxury is not what surrounds you, it is what it awakens within you to be thoughtful and considered in every part of the guest journey.”
You were recently in Vienna. Why?
I was there for the opening of our new hotel, Miiro Spittelberg.
When were you there?
I was there for a week from 19 to 26 March. It was very mixed weather; there were some lovely sunny but cold days. It is a good time to be there in March as there are not as many crowds as in the spring and obviously winter which is the city’s busiest time from when the Christmas markets begin.
How did you get there?
I flew from India to Munich first, where I stayed overnight for work meetings and spent some time with the hotel team there before continuing to Vienna the following day for the Friends & Family days. We took a Swiss/Austrian airline connection. I travel Business Class mainly because I have frequent and long trips. It provides wider seats, a quieter environment, better wifi connectivity, priority boarding, baggage handling, and access to lounges. Most important are the lie flat seats as they help me sleep and stay alert for the work ahead. I do use lounges to relax and wait for the flight.
And you also went to Budapest in between, right?
Yes! I travelled to Budapest for work meetings before returning to Vienna to continue with the opening engagements. We have nine hotels in Europe, so I do my best to try and fit in travel to a couple of our locations when I am already there as I am based in India. Trips to Europe are 7-10 hours by flight, hence doing one long trip and multiple short stops as it saves energy and fatigue. Cities are close together so travelling is much easier and more cost-efficient and less mental resetting is required between trips.
