Le Meridien

Down here in Kochi, the pace is a little different. We are situated in a spot that gets a lot of that coastal breeze, which is nice when the sun is out. It’s a local team we have here. Most of us grew up around this part of Kerala. We aren't really into the high-pressure corporate culture. We just like to get our work done and make sure everyone who comes through our doors is treated okay. The building has that Kochi feel to it—sturdy but clearly affected by the salt in the air. We spend our days managing things and making sure the details are sorted. It’s not always easy, especially when it’s monsoon season and everything gets a bit damp. We have a small staff room where we sit and eat together. We talk about local news or whatever is happening in the town. We don't have a fancy mission statement or a list of goals on the wall. We just know what needs to be done. Whether it’s helping a guest or fixing a problem in the back, we just handle it. It’s a simple way to work, but it’s been working for us for a long time. People around here know us, and we like it that way. It feels more like a community than a business sometimes, which is just fine by us.