Nitin Mongia on His Boutique Villa in Alibaug

Editor's note: This interview was originally published in 2012. Market conditions have evolved considerably — Alibaug's profile as Maharashtra's premier weekend retreat has grown dramatically since the opening of the Atal Setu bridge — but the insights on running a boutique villa rental remain as relevant as ever.

Nitin Mongia, world champion yachtsman, Arjuna Award winner, and owner of a boutique villa in the Alibaug area of Maharashtra, speaks to Holiday Home Times in an exclusive interview about his property, his passion for food, and his future plans.

The Interview

Please tell us something about your background — personal and professional.

I started working in the stock market whilst in my second year of college, essentially to earn some extra money. My passion in life has always been sailing and cooking. I have travelled extensively for various international championships; travelling on extremely small budgets we would invariably end up cooking our own meals, and I found that cooking was the best way to unwind after a stressful day of racing on the water. After winning the World Championship in 2003, I was wondering how many more years I would sail — though I am still sailing — and had to start looking at various options to settle down. I started a catering company in Mumbai which was quite successful, but my heart was set in Alibaug, which was our weekend home that I built with my own hands from scratch.

Can you tell us a bit about the property and its history? When did you acquire it?

The land was bought way back in 1988 by my father, a Commodore in the Navy, with the intention of building a home to live in after he retired. It is located just 3 km from the jetty in Mandwa and is very easily accessible from Mumbai by ferry or speedboat. The property was named Ccaza Ccomodore after my father, who wanted to run a weekend dhaba and a Black Tiger Pub (after his favourite cheroot).

The construction started in 1992, was delayed, and was finally finished in 1994. By then the family was living and working in Mumbai and it became a weekend home.

When and why did you decide to turn your property into a holiday home? How did you start out?

I found a huge gap in the market where the only option for people to stay in Alibaug was at a five-star hotel or at friends' places. We decided to provide a fully serviced luxury private stay for guests, where we catered to customised meals, full-time housekeeping service, and so on.

It would be a place with all the luxuries of a hotel and the comforts of a home. The entire place was refurbished — all rooms, bathrooms, a new swimming pool was built, full backup generator, cable TVs. I also made a large central kitchen which can cater for the guests' meals and handle day trips and brunches for up to 120 people. I also started a takeaway and catering service for homeowners in Alibaug. It started off as a weekend business but has now grown into a seven-days-a-week operation, with even the locals ordering in. We are looking at opening a café in Alibaug too.

How much involvement is required from you as the owner to successfully run this business?

As most of my work is centred in Alibaug, I am very hands-on and obsessive when it comes to perfection. I spend roughly four to five days of the week in Alibaug, morning to evening.

I decided to take the holiday home one step further and make it luxurious and fully serviced. It does increase operational costs, but the new-age traveller does not want to get out for a holiday and lift a finger. We cater to that — with gourmet meals one could find in a fine dining restaurant, to foot spas and massages, we cater to every need of the guest.

What makes your property unique? Why should travellers rent your property?

Many people build a property around location. I have built it around my food. The food is a big part of what we do, and we get the same guests coming back up to five times a year with large groups of different friends. We have guests who have hired speedboats to come for the day just to eat our quiches. The food is completely preservative-free and sourced from nearby to ensure freshness and quality.

Our property is a fully serviced villa with all amenities. It is a completely private stay for the guests — they do not have to share the space or pool with anyone else.

What is the present level of activity in the real estate sector of Alibaug? Would you recommend it as a location for holiday home buyers?

The cost of land has gone up drastically, so if you have a place it makes sense to use it. To purchase a second home and then let it out would not work economically in the way it did a decade ago.

That said, Alibaug's profile has changed enormously in recent years. The opening of the Atal Setu — the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link — in January 2024 has been a game-changer. What was a 90-minute-plus journey from South Mumbai by road, or a ferry-dependent trip, can now be accomplished in well under an hour by car. This infrastructure improvement has dramatically widened the pool of potential visitors, increased property values, and cemented Alibaug's position as Maharashtra's premier weekend retreat destination.

Prime land in and around Alibaug now commands a significant premium, and rental demand from Mumbai's professional class has intensified markedly since 2020. Buyers considering entry into the market today should focus on proximity to the main beaches, quality of access roads, and availability of reliable service staff — all factors that determine the commercial viability of a rental property in this market.

What kinds of guests are suitable for staying in a holiday home?

I don't think there is a specific category of guests for a homestay. There is definitely a shift from people going to stay at a hotel to coming for a homestay or B&B. With kids and maids, going to a five-star can rack up quite a bill at the end of the day, but more than costs, I think people want their own space and privacy. The children can play close by without being watched constantly. The adults get a proper holiday.

What is your philosophy for running the property? Do you have any set rules?

I look at it from the point of view of the guest. If I were the guest, how would I like my experience to be — everything must be perfect. At the end of the day, someone getting out for a holiday wants a holiday. So from the time the guest arrives to departure, the staff is ready to cater to their every need.

Over the years we have put many policies in place — a pet policy, no smoking in rooms, cancellation and refund policy, check-in and check-out timings, tea/coffee and extra meal policies. One has to cover everything possible to cater to the mindset of the traveller so that there is no room for misunderstanding or miscommunication.

How do you build the trust that a particular guest is right for your holiday home?

When we started, we completely personalised the space given out to the guests. We built a separate villa for the family to use. Right from photographs to personal items, everything was removed. The guests arriving feel they have come to a private villa for a stay, not a home.

How do you ensure that guests are trustworthy?

That is a tough one, but we have a 100% advance payment policy so that takes care of the payment part. The rest you have to handle as and when it happens.

Have you had any high-profile guests? What are important things to keep in mind while handling them?

Yes, we have had some high-profile guests. Privacy. Privacy. Privacy.

Have you added any amenities on the luxury side? What are you looking at next?

Table tennis, badminton facilities. The speciality remains our teas and coffees.

We are looking at a luxury sailboat to do sailing charters and stays on board — an experience to remember.

What are your top tips for other vacation home or homestay owners?

• Be absolutely clear on what you provide and what is charged.
• Deliver on what you have promised.
• Payments for bookings — always 100% in advance.
• Put all your policies in place and email the guest with the same.
• Remember the guest is always right, but not at the cost of misbehaving or misusing your property.