Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai
Dubai, Aug 31: People of undivided Dakshina Kannada who live in cosmopolitan metropolis Dubai or have visited this global city must be familiar with the Fortune Group of Hotels that adorn the length and breadth of this city. However, many may not be aware that these chain of hotels are owned by someone who hails from this part of the coastal district. At 48, Praveen Shetty, who hails from Koteshwar Kundapur, has joined the list of people who have made the impossible possible having made it big in the hospitality industry in the Gulf region with his dynamic and visionary approach.
It has just taken not even 15 years for a Praveen Shetty to show his business acumen and brilliance and that too in a foreign land having taken over the mantle as Chairman and Managing Director of the company in 2001 at a rather young age. Today, Fortune Group of Hotels has emerged as one of the fastest growing groups in the competitive field of hospitality industry in Dubai. Under the dynamic leadership of Praveen Shetty the group is striving not only to strengthen its foundation but also to expand its business horizons. The group which has 8 hotels under its chain will add two more to its list by 2015 making it a chain of 10 hotels in Dubai and Fujairah.
Born on July 6, 1967, in Koteshwara, Kundapura Praveen Shetty had his early education in Governemnt Junior College at Koteshwara and graduated in BSc from Bhandarkars College Kundapur. It was the hotel industry that beckoned him and he got into it like a fish into the water. With the combined effect of hard work and unwavering commitment Praveen Shetty has reached the zenith of his success, a feat which is not easy to imitate.
Futuristic approach
The company has 3 four-star hotels, 3 three-star hotels and 2 hotel apartments. More than 1000 employees belonging to 12 nationalities are employed in these hotels making it one of the largest employees in the Gulf region. Needless to say a majority of the emplyees working for him are from undivided Dakshina Kannada district. Located in all the prime areas of Dubai and Fujairah, Fortune Gruop of Hotel has found a strong foothold largely because it is constantly striving to attain perfection and provide maximum satisfaction to its customers. The group also has kept abreast of the the changing global standards by adopting a futuristic approach in terms of hospitality, service, facilities, ambience and architectural brilliance. The cumulative effect of this means that the group has been able to win the confidence and trust of the people and and also the customer loyalty.
The central location of their hotels is another winning factor for the group. The jewel in its crowded plume is the Dubai Grand Hotel by Fortune lolcated at Al Quasis just 5 minutes drive from Dubai International Airport, providing hotel and furnished hotel apartments. Winner of the “Best Boutique Hotel” award given by MEHA 2014 (Middle East Hotel Award) this is an ideal destination for both the business and leisure travellers. It is a delight for gourmets as it offers a variety of delectable cuisine both Indian and western and is frequented by both business and leisure travellers.
Similarly the four star Fortune Boutique Hotel located in Burjnahar in Dubai is a classic blend of contemporary luxury with an unconventional milieu to make it an enticing destination for those who seek something distinctive. It offers 80 rooms and suites to suit the needs modern day customers. It is both chick and trendy a deadly combo which is simply irresistible. Another major attraction is the cuisine as the restaurants and bars dish up an assortment of cuisine that can gratify all taste buds superimposed with unlimited entertainment.
Rapid Expansion
The latest prized acquisition in its control is the 4-star Fortune Royal hotel at Fujairah. The other hotels of the group include Fortune Karama Hotel in Dubai, Fortune Plaza Hotel, Al Qusais, Fortune Hotel Deira, Fortune Classic Hotel Apartments and Fortune Hotel Apartments, Fujairah. It goes to the credit of the group that it was able to launch three hotels in a short period of 3 months. Dubai Grand Hotel was launched in April 2014, Karama Hotel in May 2014 and Deira Town Hotel in June 2014 making it a hattrick addition.
A go-getter that he is, Praveen Shetty is not the one to laze around in the glory of his past achievements. Armed with a farsighted approach he has been toiling hard to stabilize and expand his base. He has chartered a long-term approach of expanding his business horizon in sync with the growing stature of Dubai as a global city. The expansion plan will continue as two more projects of the company are in the pipeline and will become functional by early 2015 taking the tally of the hotels to 10.
In touch with roots
While his business stock has risen beyond everyone’s expectation Praveen Shetty has not forgotten his roots. Despite not being in his native place for nearly two decades he has maintained close ties with his homeland. Known for his munifecence Praveen Shetty has demonstrated his humane side by involving in lot of social initiatives and charity works aimed at the betterment of the society at large. He supports the “Spoorthdhama Ashram” an orphanage for children and for the homeless aged people. His generosity helps financing rehabilitation programmes for the blind, the spastic society and educational institutions like the Government Highter Secondary School at Kavady near Barkur. He has extended a helping hand for education of poor children and also for for poor families to get their daughters married.
Praveen Shetty took the singlehanded initiave to build the Mahalingeshwara Temple at his native place in 2008 and he also contributed to the Pouli of the temple. He built the Vakwady Dharmasthala Udhyoga Nigama Sangha and dedicated it to his grandmother. He also built a hall for school children dedicating it to his father’s memory. Recenbtly he has built a polst Office Building and a public bus stop in his native place. He has been a regular contributor to Kannada, Tulu and Konkani cultural programmes and organizations in Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi .
Recognising his selfless service to the society Praveen Shetty was awarded the Aryabhata international Award in 2011. He was also honoured by “World Bunts” in Mumbai in 2011 followed by bahrain Bunts in 2012. He is also the recipient of “Vishwamanav Award” for his social service. The list of his contributions to individuals, organizations, cultural institutions and for various ashrams, orphanages and towards building better infrastructure is endless. It is difficult to find an a cultural or social service field for which Prakash Shetty has not given his helping hand.
Despite his success and involvement in various social service and charitable activities, Praveen is quite unassuming and prefers to keep a low profile. He is a trendsetter who follows his instincts and is a role model and inspiration to many. Recently he celbrated his birthday on July 6, 2014 in a unique way i.e. by organising blood donation camp in association with Red Cross Society of India in his native place. He led by example when his family and he donated blood inspiring about 200 people of his village to donate blood at this camp.
In fact every activity be it cultural or social in his native place or even in the Gulf region where he has his business establishments, Praveen Shetty has shown his munificense which clearly underlines his altruistic nature and his steadfastness to stay attuned to his cultural moors. His success coupled with his aspirations to give back to the society which has given him so much, is something that needs to be appreciated and emulated.