Kamat Hotels (India)  (KHIL) was incorporated on March 21, 1986 by Late Mr. Venketesh Krishna Kamat and his associates with the main object of setting up and running of hotels and related business. The company obtained the Certificate of Commencement of Business on March 31, 1986.

Kamat's is now a large hospitality group with interests in Luxury Hotels, Budget Hotels & Restaurants, Family Leisure & Sports Clubs, Travel Business, Catering & educational Institutions, Departmental Stores and of course Restaurants.

KHIL is a Public Listed Company and the group entered into a business contract agreement with Plaza Hotels Private Limited for a period of 30 years with effect from  April 1, 1994 and took over THE Kamat Plaza, a four star hotel near the Santacruz Airport.

The management of The Kamat Plaza Hotel decided to expand the project immediately after its Public Issue in 1994. It was decided to upgrade the project to a Five Star property. The company hired the services of an architect Mr. D. M. Upasni and an interior designer -Lynn Wilson from USA, (ranked among the top 10 in the world).

Marketing being an important aspect of the Hospitality Industry, the management decided to position the property differently. Thus was born a brand, unknown so far in the continent of Asia - a green hotel - environmentally sensitive - right from brick to paper and taking care of every little guest need at the same time. Since eighty seven percent of international travelers do patronize green hotels, the management decided to tie up with an International Firm- HVS ECO SERVICES of - HVS INTERNATIONAL, NEW YORK. The company was hired to undertake - specific environmental programs, designed to lower operating costs and increase revenues and evaluate the hotel's environmental performance in various areas.

Needless to say - The Orchid, as it is aptly renamed, was awarded the prestigious 'ECOTEL' Certification' by HVS ECO SERVICES, USA, which is the hallmark of environmentally sensitive hotels. The hotel thus becomes the first hotel in Asia to obtain the coveted certification.

The Orchid has employed a high powered team of professionals from the industry and it opened its doors to public on World Tourism Day - 27th September 1997. It has been well received both in the domestic and international market and has enjoyed very high average occupancy from the start having well appointed rooms and suites with luxurious 5 star facilities. 

Business area of the company:

The company is engaged in the hospitality business and is having Hotel, Resort & Restaurants

The hotel brands of the company include:

• Gadh- 'Fort Jadhavgadh' (Built in 1710 by Pillaji Jadhavrao) is the first in a series of heritage forts scheduled in Maharashtra and the rest of India. Situated in the beautiful rolling hills located 22 km away from Pune.
• Orchid- The Orchid - An Ecotel Hotel is Asia's first certified eco-friendly five-star hotel and world's only Ecotel to be certified as ISO 14001.
• VITS- KHIL has launched the VITS hospitality experience in Aurangabad, Nagpur, Pune and plans to open twenty more locations in the next five years.
• Lotus- Lotus Resorts is a new offering in the leisure segment wherein the resorts all have proximity to water bodies.

Achievements/ recognition:

Certification' by HVS ECO SERVICES, USA, which is the hallmark of environmentally sensitive hotels.