The Claridges, New Delhi

The Claridges is sitting right here in Delhi. It’s an old place with a lot of history in the walls. You can feel it when you walk through the lobby. It isn't like those glass buildings they keep putting up these days. We have trees and gardens that have been growing for decades. Every morning, the staff gets the tea sets ready and makes sure the chairs are straight. It takes a lot of work to keep an old building like this looking decent. We see all kinds of people walking through. Some are here for a quick meal, others stay for a few nights while they do their business in the city. The noise of Delhi stays outside the gates mostly. Inside, it is quieter, though the kitchen gets pretty loud during the lunch rush. We don’t go for all that modern flashiness. It’s more about the heavy curtains and the way the light hits the hallways in the afternoon. People recognize us because we’ve been part of the landscape for so long. There is always someone polishing the brass or watering the plants. It's just a steady rhythm that hasn't changed much over the years. We keep things running because that’s what we know how to do. It’s not a complicated setup, just a lot of people working together to keep the rooms ready and the food hot for whoever stops by.