Swosti Puri targets high-end tourists

Under the leadership of JK Mohanty, CMD, Swosti Group, the brand is not just building hotels, it is transforming the tourism landscape of Odisha. With the inauguration of Swosti Puri, the city’s first 5-star hotel, the brand’s focus on high-end hospitality and sustainable tourism presents a much-needed boost.

Nisha Verma

The hospitality journey of JK Mohanty, CMD, Swosti Group, began at Delhi University, where his initial plans for civil service gave way to a passion for hospitality. “I noticed the quality of hotels in Delhi and thought, why not bring that to Bhubaneswar?” he recalls. With a modest loan of `1 lakh from his mother, he opened the Swasti Grand in 1984. This marked the inception of a journey that would see the Swosti Group flourish into a leader in Odisha’s hospitality sector.

Now, the recent opening of Swosti Premium Beach Resort, Puri in 2024 marks a significant milestone in Odisha’s hospitality sector. “Most tour operators were saying Puri lacked high-end accommodations. With the new property, we have addressed that gap,” he says. The hotel offers world-class amenities, expansive banquet spaces, and the capacity to host multiple large events simultaneously. “This hotel has already hosted two major medical conferences with more than 700 attendees, and we have several weddings and conferences booked through the next year,” adds Mohanty. With the upcoming IATO convention scheduled to be held at Swosti Puri in 2025, the hotel is poised to become a hub for both leisure and business tourism, offering much-needed facilities for high-end travellers.

Filling the gap

Swosti Puri is not just a luxury hotel; it represents a strategic move to fill a void in Odisha’s tourism offerings, Mohanty emphasises. High-end tourists, who often skipped Puri in favour of Goa and other established
destinations, now have a compelling reason to visit. “Puri was lacking in good, premium accommodations. Now, with Swosti Puri, we can attract high-end tourists who have been going to Goa and other oversaturated destinations. We are creating an alternative that has everything—a beautiful coastline, rich culture, and now, top-tier hospitality,” he explains.

Infrastructure and promotion

Mohanty underscores the importance of robust government support. “The biggest challenge for tourism in Odisha is infrastructure. We need better connectivity, roads, and world-class tourist attractions to keep people in the state for longer,” he asserts.

Eco-friendly expansion

Looking beyond luxury, Swosti Group’s future is deeply tied to eco-tourism, claims Mohanty. His plans include new resorts in Satpada, Bhitarkanika, and Satkosia—exotic forest destinations that could position Odisha as a top eco-tourism destination. “These areas are rich in wildlife and natural beauty, but they lack quality accommodations. We are planning eco-friendly resorts,” he says.