As Heritage Village Resorts & Spa, Manesar celebrates 30 years milestone, Arjun Sharma reflects on brand’s journey driven by core ethos of unwavering passion & purpose.
HT Bureau
As Heritage Village Resorts & Spa, Manesar celebrates its 30th anniversary, how would you describe this moment?
It is truly emotional moment for the brand and all of us. This is not just the anniversary of a resort—it is the celebration of a vision, a dream and an unwavering commitment. The journey of Heritage Village Resort, Manesar, began with the passion of my father, Late Inder Sharma, a man whose life was defined by travel and hospitality and never-ending grace. His dedication and belief in his son, built the soul of this property.
A 25-year-old went to his father with this dream and vision. The father trusted the instinct and the father and son worked hard in tandem to build it—a perfect story!
Every legacy has its share of trials. What were some early challenges you faced during this journey?
Oh, there have been a plenty. To begin with, just after opening in March, we faced a harsh monsoon and discovered that the contractor’s waterproofing was not up to the mark. As a result, we had to temporarily shut down the entire resort completely just four months after opening. It remained closed for nearly six months. That was a major blow to the business. Another hurdle we faced was the extremely high interest rates from the Tourism Finance Corporation of India—around 21–22 per cent in those days. We worked only for them. And let’s not forget the challenge of retaining manpower—back then, Manesar felt like in the middle of nowhere. But we never gave up on our dream and nurtured with passion. Perseverance and a deep belief in the purpose kept us going.
What was your original market positioning and how has it evolved over the years?
We initially focused on inbound travellers, positioning the resort as a relaxing stop on the Golden Triangle circuit. Over time, we pivoted to transform that triangle into a “Golden Square,” creating an immersive experience that went beyond tourism into leisure, weddings and corporate stays.
We expanded in 2008, adding 63 rooms, eight suites and even a honeymoon suite with a private pool. Our conference facilities were upgraded to host over 200 delegates, along with breakout rooms, lush lawns and multiple gardens capable of hosting up to 1,000 guests.
The result? A resort that now thrives as a destination for MICE, weddings, wellness retreats, weekend getaways and a destination still for the inbound travellers on their return from Jaipur.
Sustainability seems deeply rooted in your journey. Can you elaborate?
Sustainability has never been an afterthought—it’s been part of our DNA since day one. We used the rat-trap bond wall system, reducing brick consumption by one-third and improving insulation. Much of our original woodwork was crafted from reclaimed wood, saving around 200 trees. We adopted rainwater harvesting, recycled discharged water for irrigation and embraced CFL lighting and recycled paper early on.
This ethos has been supported passionately by our team, who translates sustainability from a concept into daily practice.
Let’s talk about the Heritage Village Resort & Spa Goa—it was ahead of its time, was it not?
Very much so. On August 14, 1997, we launched India’s first all-inclusive resort in Goa and still only a model designed specifically for charter tourism. Guests could pay once and enjoy everything—accommodation, meals, drinks and entertainment.
It was a bold concept back then, but it worked brilliantly. We still offer that as an option to all our guests, 25 years down the line.
How did Heritage weather the storm of COVID-19?
The pandemic was our industry’s greatest test. No revenue. No movement. But we held on to our values. Not a single job was lost. Not one salary was cut. It was hard but the right thing to do. We quietly marked our 25th anniversary with a Satsang for Guruji, which reminded us of our resilience and faith during trying times.
How did the post-COVID-19 revival take shape?
The revival marked a turning point—a wave of transformation that redefined the property for a new era. Fresh vision, strong leadership led by Shekhar Sawant, and a collaborative spirit helped us rethink our spaces, refine our offerings and embrace a more wellness-oriented, experience-driven approach. From aesthetic transformation to personalised guest journeys, we emerged stronger, more relevant and deeply aligned with what today’s traveller truly values.
The Select Group has expanded its footprint well beyond resorts. What is the larger vision?
Absolutely, while hospitality remains a core part of our DNA, the larger vision has always been about building exceptional lifestyle experiences—whether through travel, retail or real estate. A recent key milestone in that journey has been the creation of Nexus Select Trust, India’s first publicly listed shopping centre Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), developed in partnership with Blackstone. This REIT comprises 18 world-class malls across 14 cities, totalling over 10.04 million square feet of retail space. It also includes commercial office assets and two premium hotels—Hyatt Regency Chandigarh and Oakwood Residence Whitefield Bangalore. Of course, the iconic Select Citywalk, which we built as a family and a partnership, is part of the REIT—this portfolio is expanding as we speak. Apart from that, we are also working on a new hotel in Goa and Jaipur as part of Select Hotels.
Would you ever consider entering into a partnership venture with an international brand?
We have proudly and resolutely built our journey as an independent brand, and that independence has given us the freedom and flexibility to craft unique, exquisite, meaningful experiences for our guests. It’s a space that we value deeply. That said, we are not averse to the idea of exploring a soft franchise model, provided it aligns with our ethos.
If a partnership adds genuine value, helps us expand our capabilities, and enhances the guest experience without diluting our core identity, we are open to it. It’s about synergy—not scale for the sake of scale, but thoughtful growth that resonates with who we are and what we stand for.
A personal moment that stands out across this 30-year journey.
Without a doubt, the most cherished moment was having Guruji visit the resort and quietly sharing a cup of coffee with him. It was a moment of stillness, grace and profound blessing for us.
In a journey filled with a series of milestones that experience remains the most personal one. My roots are well grounded in travel and tourism—having started my professional journey with my father’s company, SITA World Travel, and later bringing TUI into a joint venture through Le Passage to India, a business I proudly and passionately built.
From there, the journey evolved—leading to the creation of one of India’s most iconic shopping destinations, Select Citywalk, along with my sister Neeraj Ghei and partner Yograj Arora, and eventually as said before, merging it into India’s first shopping centre REIT in partnership with Blackstone. All of this has truly been by his grace.
Finally, how would you describe Heritage Village Resorts in one line?
A celebration of Indian warmth, legacy and innovation—crafted with profound love and sustained by purpose.
“We have proudly built our journey as an independent brand, giving us the freedom to craft unique, meaningful experiences.”
“We are working on a new hotel in Goa and Jaipur as part of Select Hotels.”
