As a frequent traveller jetting inside and outside India for the past 30 years, fashion designer Sanjay Malhotra would always be on the lookout for hotels and guesthouses which respected his identity as a gay man. However, the lack of options in India where gay men could experience a safe, welcoming and nonjudgmental space without fear of discrimination and harassment compelled him to take matters into his own hand.
Enter Mister and Art House, a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel in India which opened in 2017 to cater exclusively to gay and bisexual men. Located in the posh area of South Delhi, this bed-and-breakfast boasts luxurious and high-end bedrooms which are super-stylish, extremely comfortable, and contain vintage artworks and antiques for patrons to admire and purchase.
Whether they are domestic tourists or international visitors, guests at Mister and Art House can enjoy a calm and welcoming space where they can relax and unwind. The property has five en suite rooms which come with toiletries, personal care products, coffee and tea kits, bathrobes and slippers, personal lockers, free Wi-Fi, wine bars, and even an in-room cocktail station. The on-site art gallery has an inspiring collection of extremely rare and handpicked art collected from all over India and South Asia. Alongside homoerotic paintings and sculptures which you won’t find anywhere else in the world are 100 per cent organic, all-natural, and handmade skin and bath care products and essential oils for discerning tourists.
The clientele is mostly made up of seasoned travellers and professionals from all over the world who are usually in their fifties. When they arrive at Mister and Art House, travellers can advantage of Malhotra’s other travel offering: Indjapink. This men’s-only travel company designs bespoke travel experiences for tourists going anywhere in South Asia. They host exclusive vacations for single and coupled men, as well as those travelling in small groups. This venture too was started due to Malhotra’s desire for gay-friendly travel companies and businesses.
His businesses embody the values Malhotra cherishes most: compassion, kindness, an endless pursuit of perfection and striving for excellence in whatever they choose to do. There are plans in the offing to open guesthouses in Goa, Kathmandu, Pokhara, Colombo and Galle. But more importantly than that, Malhotra hopes to see his values permeate society and organisations everywhere in South Asia.
“An organisation must work towards making a commitment to not making assumptions about one’s gender, sexual identity or marital status. Society needs to be more accepting of the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s about accepting colleagues and co-workers as they are, and judging them on the basis of what they contribute to the greater good, not whether you approve or disapprove of the identity they embrace, or whether they make you comfortable or uncomfortable,” they say.
"Sexual orientation and gender identity are integral aspects of ourselves and should never lead to discrimination or abuse. We must have safe, welcoming and nonjudgmental spaces for gay men to stay [at] and interact with [the] local gay community without fear of discrimination, harassment, [and] embarrassment, where they can be who they truly are."
Mister and Art House is located at D3, Greater Kailash Enclave II, Greater Kailash, New Delhi 110048. Single occupancy stays begin at INR 4,850 per night.