Patanjali (Patu) G. Keswani
Chairman & Managing Director
Lemon Tree Hotels
Lemon Tree Hotels
Patu Keswani graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT Delhi in 1981. He subsequently received his Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from IIM Calcutta in 1983.
Patu joined the TATA Administrative Service (TAS) in 1983 and worked with the TATA Group for 17 years. His last assignment was as Senior Vice President of the Taj Group of Hotels.
He subsequently worked with management consulting firm, A.T. Kearney Inc. as an Associate Consultant and Director in their New Delhi office.
Anticipating the enormous yet latent demand for mid-market and economy hotels in India, Patu promoted Lemon Tree Hotels in late 2002. He is currently the Chairman and Managing Director of Lemon Tree Hotels Ltd. which owns and operates 87 hotels in 52 destinations with ~8,400 rooms and ~6,400 employees as of October 2022. Lemon Tree Hotels listed on the National Stock Exchange of India and Bombay Stock Exchange on 9th April 2018.
Patu is focused on offering opportunities to Indians with disability and people from the economically/socially weak segment. Presently ~13% of Lemon Tree employees are from these disadvantaged segments of the population. Lemon Tree Hotels has been presented the National Award by the President of India for ‘Best Employer of Persons with Disabilities’ in 2016 & 2011 and a third National Award in 2012 for being a ‘Role Model in providing a Barrier Free Environment to Persons with Disabilities’.
Patu is a member of the Sector Skills Council for Hospitality, Travel and Tourism (NSDC). Patu was until recently also the Chairman of the Skills Council for Persons with Disability (SCPwD), as well as a member of the University Grants Commission and a member of the Board of Governors of IIT Delhi.
Patu has been awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by his Alma Maters – IIT Delhi in 2011 and IIM Calcutta in 2012. Patu received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 by IIHM (International Institute of Hotel Management) and IHC (International Hospitality Council). Patu was inducted into the IATO (Indian Association of Tour Operators) Hall of Fame in 2019; the ‘Hotelier India’ Hall of Fame in 2012 and into the FHRAI (The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India) Hall of Fame in 2010. He received the Excellence Award (inclusion/diversity) at Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Awards 2018.
Patu is a first generation Indian entrepreneur. His father was an Indian Railway Service officer and his mother a doctor in the Indian Army. He was previously married to Sharanita. They have two children, a son Aditya and daughter Nayana. Patu lives in New Delhi.
Patu is focused on offering opportunities to Indians with disability and people from the economically/socially weak segment. Presently ~13% of Lemon Tree employees are from these disadvantaged segments of the population. Lemon Tree Hotels has been presented the National Award by the President of India for ‘Best Employer of Persons with Disabilities’ in 2016 & 2011 and a third National Award in 2012 for being a ‘Role Model in providing a Barrier Free Environment to Persons with Disabilities’.
Patu is a member of the Sector Skills Council for Hospitality, Travel and Tourism (NSDC). Patu was until recently also the Chairman of the Skills Council for Persons with Disability (SCPwD), as well as a member of the University Grants Commission and a member of the Board of Governors of IIT Delhi.
Patu has been awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by his Alma Maters – IIT Delhi in 2011 and IIM Calcutta in 2012. Patu received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 by IIHM (International Institute of Hotel Management) and IHC (International Hospitality Council). Patu was inducted into the IATO (Indian Association of Tour Operators) Hall of Fame in 2019; the ‘Hotelier India’ Hall of Fame in 2012 and into the FHRAI (The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India) Hall of Fame in 2010. He received the Excellence Award (inclusion/diversity) at Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Awards 2018.
Patu is a first generation Indian entrepreneur. His father was an Indian Railway Service officer and his mother a doctor in the Indian Army. He was previously married to Sharanita. They have two children, a son Aditya and daughter Nayana. Patu lives in New Delhi.