The CEOs of big hotel companies love to talk about white space: the gaps in their portfolios where there is room to squeeze in new brands.
Marriott's Starwood acquisition created a 30-brand behemoth. Others are following suit and adding to their rosters in the hope of grabbing bigger market shares.
At the other end, there are hotel companies like Oberoi, where the scope is much more limited.
Founder Mohan Singh Oberoi took over his first hotel in 1934 and the company has added properties at a slow and steady pace ever since — but always with an eye on the past.
"I realized that it was not good enough to keep launching new ventures if old ones were allowed to suffer. Too often efficiency and high standards once established are taken for granted," Oberoi once wrote.
The idea of cautious growth seems pretty quaint in today's travel industry, but a lot of firms would do well to heed Oberoi's advice.
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