Patu Keswani


Patu Keswani is the chairman and managing director of Lemon Tree Hotels.

Early life and education

Patu Keswani completed his education at St. Columba’s School, New Delhi. He received his bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi in 1981 and subsequently his Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from Indian Institute of Management Calcutta 1983.

Career

Keswani joined the TATA Administrative Service in 1983 and worked with the TATA Group for over 15 years. His last assignment was as senior vice president and chief operating officer of the Taj Group of Hotels. In mid 2000, he joined management consulting firm, A.T. Kearney Inc. as director in their New Delhi office.
Keswani promoted Lemon Tree Hotels in 2002 and is the Chairman and Managing Director of the company, which owns and operates 80 hotels in 48 cities with 8000 rooms and over 8000 employees. Lemon Tree Hotels listed on the National Stock Exchange of India on 9 April 2018 .
Keswani has focussed on offering opportunities to Indians with disability. 20% of Lemon Tree employees are from this disadvantaged segment 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’. Lemon Tree Hotels was ranked 12th amongst the best large workplaces in Asia by the Great Place To Work Survey of 2018.
Keswani is also the Chairman of the Skills Council for Persons With Disability. He is also a member of the Sector Skills Council for Hospitality, Travel and Tourism and the Sector Mentor Council for the Hospitality, Travel and Tourism Industry. Keswani was until recently also a member of the University Grants Commission and a member of the Board of Governors of IIT Delhi.
Keswani has been awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by his Alma Maters - IIT Delhi in 2011 and IIM Calcutta in 2012. Keswani was inducted into the FHRAI Hall of Fame in 2010 and into the ‘Hotelier India’ Hall of Fame in 2012.
Keswani's 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. Keswani lives in New Delhi.