Born and bought up in Vadodara, the hotelier & entrepreneur with a global vision, Raoof Dhanani not only carried the legacy of Dhanani Family ahead along with his three brothers but also imbibed the thorough responsibilities which came along with the silver spoon. As they say visionaries are made and not born, Dhanani proved the saying correct to the core. “Under hospitality, he is the MD for Sayaji Group & the Director of Barbeque Nation Hospitality Ltd. Under retail, he is one of the promoter of a famous ladies wear footwear brand- Catwalk and a premium lifestyle brand for men’s shoes and accessories- Roush.
The first stone of Sayaji Hotels was laid in Vadodara in the year 1990. The luxury chain gets its name while paying tribute to Maharaja Sayajirao from Vadodara, Gujarat. Starting from the Kala Ghoda circle with a generous inventory of 54 rooms, Sayaji Hotels now operates 13 hotels in the cities of Indore, Vadodara, Kolhapur, Bhopal, Pune, Raipur, Rajkot and Nashik. Sayaji Hotels is today India’s premier lifestyle hospitality brand renowned for its bespoke experiences, signature hospitality, and ushering new standards of opulence in the 4-star and 5-star hotel industry.
Dhanani believes that for a brand to be successful, it has to resonate with the changing trends and dynamism. Believing in this philosophy, he created and grew Sayaji into multiple line extensions, giving birth to various hospitality brands under one roof. Starting from Sayaji Vadodara in 1990, the brand grew in Indore & Pune. Post this, the group moved their focus for the expansion of an in-house restaurant called Kebabville (Sayaji Indore) and began with Barbeque Nation, in 2006.
In the era where hospitality industry is dominated by global players with deep pockets, Sayaji rejoices for having a strong league of loyal customers and repeat businesses. To give an outstanding customer experience, Sayaji Hotels has been the pioneer including USPs which are highly impressive in nature. They were one of the first hotels to usher guests in luxurious Rolls Royce (Ghost) & Audis. They were again one of the first to launch an automated bowling alley in a hotel (in Sayaji Indore). As an innovator Sayaji Hotels have also been the first to use i-Pods as a room control panel. In the near future they aspire to be India’s leading Hotel Company in providing a lifestyle experience via services.
An avid traveler & explorer by nature, Mr. Dhanani carries 28 stamps on his passport. Fond of world cuisine, his favorite TV show is Master Chef, as it interests him to see varied cuisine and plating around the globe. Despite being a foodie, he is also a fitness enthusiast. He often says, “Hospitality is an opportunity to show love and care.”
