OT: Why Pondicherry? Dimitri Klein: It was a kind of spiritual call; a call for change. I came
OT: So how did you develop an interest in heritage resorts?
Dimitri Klein: When Dilip Kapur of Hidesign showed me an old property he owned, I suggested that he convert it into a heritage boutique hotel. He said, “You do it!” I set up Le Dupleix and then Promenade, in partnership with Kapur, in Pondicherry (renamed Puducherry). Around that time, I bought land and decided to start my own place, The Dune, a beach resort just outside Pondicherry.
OT: From an ad agency to heritage resorts — how did you make the connection?
Dimitri Klein: My mother was an interior designer in France. I grew up in this atmosphere, with good furniture, an artistic ambience, lots of culture. I get this talent from my mother. Also, as a graphic designer, I was already designing posters and record sleeves in my old job.
OT: You collect antiques as well. The Dune has a section devoted to restoring antiques.
Dimitri Klein: Yes, my parents were both collectors. I spent my childhood in antique shops. I guess I am carrying on the tradition. I have extended this passion to my hotels. I use antique furniture but also antique building material, from pillars, columns and beams to doors and windows. I specialise in restoring old buildings.
OT: Tell us about your restoration work.
Dimitri Klein: We work with Niels Schonfelder from a Chennai-based design and architecture company called Mancini.com. We have restored over 25 buildings across Tamil Nadu. We often work with Intach and take their advice. One of our latest projects is the Lycée Francais [high school] building in Pondicherry. In Tanjore, we recently restored an old townhouse and converted it into a resort. We are also restoring the iconic Madras Club in Chennai.
OT: What’s your most important contribution to the way people travel?
Dimitri Klein: What I have done is a drop in the ocean. But I think that the main change is that we are bringing a different model of hotel into South India in terms of environmental consciousness and heritage protection. Guests feel better in mind and body and spirit when they stay with us.
OT: How do travellers respond to your efforts?
Dimitri Klein: It’s fantastic when guests come and tell me that they grew up in these settings but did not ‘see’ them. They tell me that in my resorts they can see their own culture in a different way. “We need to preserve it,” they say and that feels wonderful.
OT: What’s next?
Dimitri Klein: We are working on something in Kochi. Then we plan to be in Sri Lanka with two resorts — one hill and one beach. Wherever we go, we will preserve and highlight local culture and local values.
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