Aditi Balbir, the Founder and CEO of V Resorts, is a dynamic and confident entrepreneur with a strong background in education and professional experi
Aditi Balbir, the Founder and CEO of V Resorts, is a dynamic and confident entrepreneur with a strong background in education and professional experience. She holds a degree from JMC, Delhi University, a postgraduate degree in Law from Symbiosis, and an MBA from ISB Hyderabad & Fuqua, Duke University. Before establishing V Resorts, Aditi worked with prestigious companies such as Barings Private Equity and McKinsey and Company, gaining valuable management and business leadership experience.
Her achievements have earned her recognition globally, including being selected as one of Dell Foundation’s 200 most powerful women entrepreneurs in the world in 2016. She also received the Young Women Business award from CNBC TV 18 in 2017 and the WEF 17 Award for “Exceptional Women of Excellence 2017” for her entrepreneurial initiatives. Aditi’s accomplishments also include being listed among the Fortune 100 Most Powerful Women in Asia in 2017 and being shortlisted for an Eisenhower Fellowship.
She has played a role as a jury member for the Outlook Traveler awards and has received accolades such as the Smart CEO Startup 50 and Safari India Best Professional in Hospitality. Aditi’s commitment to empowering women in business is evident through her involvement with the Cherie Blair Foundation, where she mentors and guides women in entrepreneurship programs worldwide.
The idea behind V Resorts was to provide unique travel experiences by standardizing services for boutique properties. V Resorts was the first player in the market to understand the needs of boutique properties and tailor their services accordingly. Aditi recognized that people preferred staying at boutique properties over 5-star hotels, which was the driving force behind V Resorts’ establishment.
The company offers travelers the opportunity to explore remote and undiscovered locations in India, allowing them to immerse themselves in local communities. From sampling local cuisine to experiencing regional arts and crafts, culture, and traditions, V Resorts enables visitors to embrace the diversity of India. V Resorts introduced a unique model of community involvement in running boutique properties, often referred to as the “Circular Economy,” which has been recognized and awarded by UNWTO for its “Community Impact.”
V Resorts operates more than 150 properties across 21 states in India and has expanded its offerings to include destinations in Europe, London, and Rome. The company aligns with the Central government’s pro-tourism policy, focusing on tourism’s role in employment generation, economic growth, and skill development within local communities. V Resorts is committed to environmental sustainability, emphasizing water conservation and utilizing technologies like solar systems.
Aditi also introduced her new venture, ‘Veekends.com,’ launched on March 15, 2021. This platform specializes in eco-friendly properties, catering to the growing demand for sustainable travel experiences. Veekends.com provides travelers with a comprehensive view of eco-friendly properties worldwide, along with ratings based on 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 100 sub-indicators. It simplifies the complexities of understanding a property’s eco-friendly parameters, making it easier for customers to make sustainable travel choices.
Regarding the team behind V Resorts, Aditi highlighted the dedication and uniqueness of her employees. As many of them were from the local communities, they received extensive training in hospitality skills. V Resorts established a training institute in 2014, offering both on-the-job and off-the-job training. They also provided opportunities for employees to visit other hotels to learn about industry best practices. Aditi emphasized the importance of engaging the local community fully, including creating economic opportunities for unemployed family members of male staff members. V Resorts employs approximately 3000 blue-collar workers and 100 white-collar employees.
Aditi shared insights into the customer experience at V Resorts. Initially, they started with a limited-service model but received poor reviews on platforms like TripAdvisor. They realized that Indian customers preferred to be pampered and did not want a self-service approach. Therefore, they shifted to a model that offered all services to the customers, leading to improved reviews and an average TripAdvisor rating of 4.2 across their 200 properties. Customers appreciated V Resorts’ offbeat locations and their strong connection with local communities, making these factors a top priority in customer reviews.
In terms of investments, V Resorts has raised a total of $10 million, while Veekends.com is currently operating as a bootstrapped venture. Some of the initial seed funding for Veekends.com came from investors who were associated with V Resorts.
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