Sumit Mitruka

Founder & CEO at Summit Hotels & Resorts | Building affordable luxury in India’s hidden gems

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

If you own a hospitality property anywhere across the Northeast and you want to scale it, I want to meet you.

We are neither an acquisition fund nor a chain looking to flag your property. We are an operating team that helps property owners do three things.

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

When a destination grows popular, I hope local livelihoods grow with it. Tourism should create opportunity beyond hotel gates.

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

The best part of any festival is having the entire family together under one roof!

I have always believed that festivals have a beautiful way of bringing people closer. No matter how busy life gets, these occasions give us a reason to make time for our loved ones, revisit traditions and enjoy moments that often get lost in our everyday routines.

The past few days have been filled with prayers, laughter, delicious food and the warmth of being surrounded by family.

As Diwali celebrations come to a close, we also celebrate Bhai Tika, known as Bhai Dooj in many parts of India, an occasion dedicated to the beautiful bond between brothers and sisters.

India is such a diverse country, and I find it fascinating how one occasion can be celebrated in so many different ways. Every region brings its own customs, food, rituals and stories, yet the emotions behind these celebrations connect us all.

Personally, I feel family traditions become even more meaningful with time. As responsibilities grow and everyone gets occupied with their own lives, these occasions remind us to make time for the people who matter.

Seeing different generations come together, participate in rituals and carry forward traditions is something I truly cherish.

Looking back, I realise that the most memorable moments are often the simplest ones, sharing a meal, laughing over old memories and enjoying each other’s company.

Festivals may last a few days, but the memories we create with family stay with us for years.

#bhaitika #bhaidooj #diwali

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

In hospitality, consistency is harder than a grand gesture. A good breakfast every day matters more than one spectacular evening.

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

While someone is fighting for their life, desperately waiting for an ambulance, someone else has booked one for a routine check-up, simply because it is free.

Imagine the consequences of such misuse.

Unfortunately, this is the kind of situation Blinkit’s free ambulance service is now trying to prevent.

Introduced under Deepinder Goyal’s leadership to make emergency medical assistance accessible, the service has reportedly been used for routine hospital visits.

Now, a ₹2,500 charge has been introduced for non-emergency trips, while emergency assistance remains free.

Reading about this was disappointing, especially because I understand what it means to build a business around serving people.

While building Summit Hotels & Resorts, I have always encouraged our teams to put guests first and extend help wherever possible.

Over the years, I have seen our colleagues go beyond their responsibilities to accommodate a guest’s request or help someone facing a difficult situation. Such gestures come from a willingness to serve, and I would never want our teams to lose that instinct.

Yet, when people begin exploiting that generosity, organisations are eventually forced to introduce restrictions, making things difficult for everyone.

In the case of an ambulance, the stakes are much higher. An unnecessary booking could delay medical assistance for someone whose life depends on it.

I appreciate Deepinder Goyal’s initiative, and it is unfortunate that measures like these have become necessary.

We expect businesses to be compassionate, accommodating and socially responsible. Surely, we owe them some responsibility in return.

A society where every act of generosity requires safeguards is one where we all stand to lose.

#leadership #hospitality #socialresponsibility

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

I've come to see restraint as an important business skill. Not every available property is the right property.

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

A guest travelling with parents has different needs from someone on a quick weekend trip. Good service recognises that difference.

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

Pricing a hotel room is never just about what the competitor across the road is charging.

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

Some of the strongest hospitality ideas come from conversations with the front desk, kitchen and housekeeping teams.

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

When a guest returns, I want to understand what brought them back. That's more useful than celebrating a single good review.

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

I want our properties to feel connected to their destinations. A hotel in Varanasi shouldn't feel interchangeable with one in Sikkim.

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

Every new hotel adds rooms to a portfolio. It also adds responsibility to the people who keep it running.

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

In a hill destination, the weather can rewrite the day's plan. Your team needs judgement, not just a checklist.

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

As a hotelier, I pay attention to small inconveniences. They're usually the first signs of a bigger operational problem.

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

Guests remember how you responded when something went wrong. That moment says more about hospitality than any brochure.

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

What if I told you that opening just 1 hotel could transform the future of an entire village?

For the past 18 years, I have believed that hospitality has the power to do far more than welcome travellers. It can introduce destinations to the world, create livelihoods and bring economic opportunities to communities that deserve greater recognition.

Having built Summit Hotels & Resorts across the Himalayan region, I have seen how much potential lies beyond the popular tourist circuits.

Our mountains are home to extraordinary landscapes, cultures and villages that the world is yet to discover, and I want Summit to play a role in changing that.

Today, I am excited to announce the opening of Summit Mystic Resort & Spa in Samthar, under The Off Beat Collection!

Located approximately 90 minutes from Siliguri, Samthar is a beautiful Himalayan village perched above the Teesta River, offering panoramic views of Kanchenjunga, the Dooars and the Siliguri plains.

Through this launch, we are introducing travellers to another hidden treasure of the Himalayas while creating opportunities for the people who call this place home.

The potential for the local community is immense because it means more livelihoods for local youth, more business for farmers, drivers, guides and small entrepreneurs, and greater recognition for a destination that deserves to be on the tourism map.

For me, opening a hotel is only the beginning.

The real achievement will be when Samthar becomes a destination travellers seek out, local businesses flourish and families find more opportunities to build their futures closer to home.

As Summit continues to grow, I want our success to be measured by the destinations we help develop and the communities that prosper alongside us.

Welcome to Summit Mystic Resort & Spa, Samthar!

#summithotelsandresorts #theoffbeatcollection

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

I think we underestimate how much a local employee can teach a hotel team about the destination they're serving.

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

I believe the real strength of any community lies in how we come together when someone needs help.

It’s encouraging to see businesses taking responsibility beyond their services and profits.

When people and organisations work collectively, we can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.

[Deepinder Goyal @deepigoyal]

I started Zomato with a spirit of service. Blinkit Ambulance is what that spirit of service looks like today.

In the last 2 years, we have served ~20,000 emergency cases (~42,000 cases in total). We haven't charged a single rupee for any of them. And we want to keep it that way.

With everything free, a growing share of bookings are for routine checkups, hospital visits and hospital-to-home transfers, trips that an Uber or private transport could have handled just as easily. Every such booking keeps a fully equipped emergency ambulance with paramedics off the road when someone's life may depend on it.

So we are making a change from now onwards: Emergency transfers – free, as always. Non-emergency transfers – ₹2,500, charged after the trip. Broadly in line with what private ambulances charge. This money goes to Eternal Foundation, which runs these ambulances and will help us scale them even further.

We hope that this charge will dramatically drop the usage of our Ambulances for non-emergency cases. 10-minute ambulances have saved and can save thousands of lives, and we need to keep them available for emergencies that need them the most.

One more thing. Scaling high quality ambulances is hard. The biggest bottleneck is trained, empathic paramedics. Our training academy is scaling as fast as we can without compromising on quality, and @albinder and team are committed to bringing Blinkit Ambulance to all major cities in India in the next 2-4 years.

Stay well, and I pray you don't need us. @sparsh_sehgal – I wish your grandma a speedy recovery, and I am so glad we were able to be there on time.

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

When someone visits our home, we naturally want them to feel welcome, comfortable and cared for. We look after the little things, make sure they have everything they need and hope they leave with wonderful memories.

I have always believed hospitality should feel the same way.

While building Summit Hotels & Resorts, I have seen how much a journey can mean to different people.

• A family taking a long-awaited holiday together.
• A couple celebrating a special milestone.
• A traveller visiting the mountains for the very first time.
• Someone simply looking for a peaceful break from everyday life.

Every guest arrives with a different story, and we have the privilege of becoming a small part of it.

As Summit continues to grow, I have been thinking about the kind of hospitality company I want us to become and the values I want every member of our team to carry forward.

With this thought, I am delighted to introduce The Summit Way: A Culture of Kindness & Generous Hospitality.

Our purpose is simple: Making Every Journey Better.

We aspire to become India’s most loved and trusted hospitality company by offering safe, clean, comfortable and memorable stays, with fair pricing, genuine care and the warmth we extend to guests in our own homes.

For me, this philosophy begins with our own people.

I want every employee, from our leadership team to those working behind the scenes, to feel respected, supported and valued. When we care for our people, we create an environment where they can extend that care to every guest.

We have ambitious plans to grow Summit, and I want our values to grow stronger with every new property we open.

Years from now, I hope people remember Summit for the comfort they experienced, the kindness they received and the memories they took home.

Through The Summit Way, we want to instil kindness in our hearts and express generosity through our actions, making every journey a little better.

#philosophy #hospitality #guests

@SummitHRPL

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

A full hotel is satisfying. A full hotel with healthy margins and happy guests is the real achievement.

[Sumit Mitruka @sumit_mitruka]

Before approving an expansion, I'd want to know what happens to demand on an ordinary Wednesday in the lean season.