The Imperial, New Delhi

Even though the main hotel is famous, our spot here at B-133 in Dayanand Colony, Lajpat Nagar 4, is much more low-key. This is where a lot of the behind-the-scenes work for The Imperial happens. It’s a residential neighborhood, so it lacks the grand entrance you might expect. Instead, we have a regular door and a set of stairs leading to our workspace. We handle various administrative tasks and coordination that keep things running smoothly elsewhere. The office is often full of papers, folders, and people talking about schedules. Lajpat Nagar is always noisy and full of life, which you can hear even through the closed windows. We don't have the luxury of the hotel's lobby here; it’s just desks, computers, and a lot of lists. The work is steady and requires a lot of attention to detail so that nothing slips through the cracks. We take turns making coffee and trying to keep the place somewhat tidy, although that’s a losing battle most weeks. It feels more like a small family business in this office because we all know each other so well. We just get on with what needs to be done, whether it’s checking records or making sure the supplies are ordered. It’s practical, everyday work in a part of the city that never seems to sleep or even slow down for a minute. We stay busy with the paperwork and emails.