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Dr. Vikram Vithal Kamat is an Indian entrepreneur, hotelier, restaurateur and author, best known as the Founder and Chairman of The VITS Kamats Group, which operates the VITS hotel chain, the iconic Vithal Kamats vegetarian Highway restaurant brand and Kamats Legacy. Under his leadership, the group became the first and one of the only listed mid-market hotel and a restaurant chain in India. The company Vikram Kamats Hospitality won the BSE award in 2007 for best performing Listed Company on the BSE.
Dr. Vikram Vithal Kamat, born on 16th October 1985, is recognized as a Leading Indian hospitality entrepreneur. Notably, he played a significant role in the financial turnaround of Kamat Hotels (India) Ltd (KHIL) between 2006 from when he was appointed Director to Eventually being the MD of Orchid Hotels Pune and Executive Director for Kamat Hotels India Ltd. till 2014. During this period, he setup the Orchid Mumbai’s expansion to 364 rooms, Orchid Pune, Fort Jadhavgadh, Lotus Resorts and notably executed and completed the entire Orissa growth strategy. Notably he executed multiple projects in record time with Orchid expansion in 24 months, Orchid Pune a 400-room hotel in 24 months and setup from scratch the entire Orissa expansion comprising 5 hotels and Locations in just 2.5 Years. Post the global meltdown and Lehman crisis the entire hospitality industry reeling from excessive Debt, cause major downturn and stress for Kamat Hotels India Ltd. Which he was able to turn around completely. After the successful turnaround, the setup his own listed company in 2014, following his focus and passion of Kamats Restaurants and the Mid-Market Hotels chain VITS. He has a strong focus on Finance, Marketing and Innovation. He always says he’s a Third generation Hotelier, But first-generation Businessman. With the experience of debt, finance and Crisis, he learnt that focus on Business is more important than the hospitality.
Today as the Promoter and Managing Director of Vikram Kamats Hospitality Ltd. has over 100 units across India and Internationally, with over 3500 employees and a gross Systemwide turnover of over Rs. 500 Crores.
2. Early Life & Education
The Son of Famous Hotelier, known for Orchid Hotels and Sustainable and Eco-friendly Chain of Hotels in India. Launching Asia’s First Eco Friendly Chain in 1998 in Mumbai. His Mother Vidhya Kamat, grounded and provided nurturing values while his father built the business. He has 2 siblings Vishal Kamat, his older brother and Vidita Kamat his younger Sister.
Dr. Vikram Kamat started his education in Cathedral and John Connon till the 12th and passed out in 2003. While being a mediocre student, he excelled in certain subjects with keen interest in Acting, Drama and Public Speaking. During his time in school he has won numerous best actors, debates and public speaking awards.
After which he studied at the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Mumbai, graduating as a Gold Medalist and top of his class for the All-India National Council exam. Again, winning numerous awards for public speaking debates and also won Mr. Malhar the annual competition and Won the Stand-Up Comedian Event by Vir Das. He also appeared, in numerous plays including Something completely Different by Akshay Sethi and then in Quassar Padamsees – A view from the stage which had enormous shows right from NCPA , Prithvi and shows across Bangalore.
He then earned a Master’s in Hospitality Management from Pune University, followed by a Doctorate in Business Administration from George Washington University, USA.
A very avid reader, disciplined and focused on management skill, he exhibited an ability to get along with people and make them aligned to do things. His ability to connect and humility and grounding like travelling by BEST Bus to school and Train to Catering college IHM each day.
He is married to Dr. Vidhi Kamat, also an accomplished Hotelier. and has 2 children, Vyom and Vedista Kamat.
3. Career / Business Development
● He originally Interested in the Oberoi Hotel Mumbai during the IHM Mumbai in 2003-2006.
● He also completed a Stint working under the Sales team at the Orchid Hotel Mumbai during this time. During which he in short time contributed significantly to the sales including the Launch of Mahindra Scorpio at the Hotel and also Deals with Svarovski Crystal.
● He Joined Kamat Hotels India Ltd and was responsible for the Konkan (Maharashtra Expansion) successfully setting up various hotels at Goa, Aronda, Tarkarli, Near Chipi Airport, Belgaum and Amboli Ghat.
● After the successful launches he was made Executive Director in 2007.
● As Executive director he rolled out successfully the expansion of the Orchid Brand including at Mumbai Expansion, Pune, Bhubaneshwar, Puri.
● He was the managing director for the 440 rooms hotel Orchid Hotels Pune Pvt Ltd a subsidiary of Kamat Hotels India Ltd. He successfully constructed the project and resolved the dispute with Unity Infrastructure Ltd and made the project in Record time and operationally successful to reach over 100 crores turnover.
● The Fort Jadhavgadh was also an example of a challenging project completed and successfully executed by him (covered in the Afternoon and Courier Article). The Fort was made under the Architect Karan Grover and did record sales. It was Maharastras First and only Fort Hotel and the only case of a Maratha Fort By Shivaji Maharaj and his Descendants to be converted into a Fort Hotel.
● At 22, he launched the VITS 4-star premium business-hotel brand (founded in 2007 as a separate entity from the Orchid chain). The first Hotel was at Belgaum and then expanding to various locations like Aurangabad, Mumbai, Thane, Latur Silvassa, Daman, ………. In the subsequent years.
● After the successful expansion of Kamat hotels India Ltd, and successfully setting it up for its glory and success, Vikram decided it was time to focus on his real passion of Mid-Market Hotels and the Food Chain Kamats . and in February 2016, VITSKamats Group went public via. Vidli Restaurants Ltd on the Bombay Stock Exchange, making it one of the first and only hospitality chains to list on the SME exchange. It broke the record at the time with strong oversubscription of over 7 times. It remains the only Listed Hotel chain along with a successful restaurant chain. He was and remains the Youngest ever hotelier to list a hotel and /or restaurant company at the age of 29.
● Operates over 20+ hotels, restaurants and F&B outlets and also runs a hospitality training academy (KHAS) under the “Earn and Learn” model (launched 2022). A strange believer in the practical skills take people ahead rather than pure bookish knowledge. Also focused on being a job giver. With the practical experiences launched KHAS – Kamats Hospitality Academy of Skill.
4. Notable Brands, Products & Projects
● First Listed company to launch franchising in India for south Indian restaurants in professional manner
● First to do the Red Green logo for highways
● Focus on toilets and clean open Kitchens
● Standardized and Professionalized with training for south Indian on Highways
● Completed the Case of Orchid Vs Royal orchid
● Unity vs Kamat hotels and got the entire Matter resolved from ICICI bank the principal lender and did the CDR.
● Made Maharashtra’s largest cocolumnless hall in Pune at 60,000 Square feet and hosted events like Honey Singh, Dhundli Yadein Singer Neha Bhasin (Big Boss fame), Dj Aqueel, did Punes Largest New Years with over 7500 People and also did highest ever sale at 52 Lacs in 5 hours.
● First to Introduce premium Vegetarian South Indian dining as a chain. Also, first to introduce banana leaf dining from catering to Fine dining experience. In 2022 After which the Benne Dosa and whole host of other south Indian premium chains tried to copy and popped up.
● Kamats Restaurants: Heritage vegetarian dining chain (since the 1950s), currently with ~20 + (Highway Restaurants)
● Kamats Legacy: premium South Indian dining, launched in Mumbai (Nariman Point 2023, Vashi & Malad 2024, Mira Road latest in mid-July, 2025)
● Others: Urban Dhaba, Wah Malvan, PepperFry—vegetarian-centric theme restaurants.
● KHAS Academy (Kamats Hospitality Academy of Skill): India’s first “Earn and Learn” hospitality-training program launched in 2022, with ~150+ students trained within first 18 months.
● Author of over 6 Books
5. Recognition & Awards
● Honored as “Iconic Personality in Hospitality” by the Governor of Maharashtra in March 2023 for contributions to social infrastructure and the hospitality industry; Vithal Kamat also won “Best Highway Restaurant Chain” at FCIC West India Edition, February 2023.
● Multiple awards received under his leadership including HT Media, Golden Spoon awards and others for brands within the group.
6. Media Coverage & Public Perception
● Featured extensively in hospitality magazines and interviews (e.g. Corporate Citizen June 2024, KISH Magazine, Hospemag), recognized as a pioneer in branded F&B mid-market positioning, innovation, and talent training.
● Publicly quoted emphasizing the group’s F&B-driven DNA (“hotels are restaurants with rooms”), focus on operational consistency, loyalty programs and culture-based partnerships.
7. References
1. Corporate Citizen, “Legacy of Excellence,” June 2024.Instagram
2. Hospitality News / Hotelier India press reports, January 2025 funding.Hotelier India+2Hospitalitynews+2kamatsindia.com+2
3. Kamats India investor pages and board bios (education, role) as of 2025.vitshotels.com+7kamatsindia.com+7kamatsindia.com+7
4. VITS Hotels “About Us” and database of properties and milestones (2025).Instagram+7vitshotels.com+7Facebook+7
5. Hospemag exclusive interview, January 2023 insights into his philosophy.www.hospemag.me
6. LinkedIn posts (Nariman Point, Vashi, Malad, Mira Road launches) mid-2025.ETHospitalityWorld.com+2corporatecitizen.in+2kamatsindia.com+2
7. Darshana Shah Show podcast, July 2025.YouTube
8. External Links
● Official VITS Kamats Group website https://www.vitshotels.com/
Kamats India site https://www.kamatsindia.com/
Dr. Kamat’s Socials – INSTAGRAM – https://www.instagram.com/drvikramkamat/
LINKEDIN – https://www.linkedin.com/in/vikram-kamat/
FACEBOOOK – https://www.facebook.com/vikram.kamat
TWITTER (X) – https://x.com/DrVikramKamat
