Chapter 9Rohit Ravi
1Appaswamy Real Estate, Chennai, India

Find the supply and demand imbalance
The Maldives is one of the most beautiful places on earth, consisting of almost 1200 islands. As a nation originally led by kings and queens, these islands came to prominence as the perfect stop on the way to India from Europe.
Nestled to the southwest of Sri Lanka, this island nation is a slice of paradise. After the influence of colonial powers began in the sixteenth century, the people of this beautiful island chafed under the rule of various European colonial leaders until finally shaking free of British rule in 1965. The British maintained an air base on the island for another 12 years, but with their departure, this nation has begun rebuilding its reputation as the ultimate global vacation destination.
With an aim to expanding beyond fishing and traditional tourism, the Maldives have entered the twenty-first century with an eye toward luxury tourism. That’s where our next Titan, Rohit Ravi, has managed to develop one of the most awe-inspiring hotels in the world, the St. Regis Vommuli Resort.
The Foundation
Real estate is in my blood. My family has been involved in real estate development ever since my grandfather founded the company in 1959, at a time when there was no organized player in southern India. At the time, the real estate market was quite fragmented, and he saw ...