ECHOES – hotel in Ahmedabad is very unique social enterprise.

it was established on 21st November

2019 by different partners. One of them is VIRAJSINGH JADEGA who is basically from the Gandhi
Dham, Kachchh. Now he is shifted in Ahmedabad for last couple of years. He did their MBA in
international marketing from Pune in 2006. ECHOES hotel is also present in other cities like Delhi,
Kolkata and Bangalore. The unique quality of ECHOES is that all their staff is deaf and mute. They hiring
trained staff from different NGO’s like Sai Swayam Society-Delhi, Andhjan Mandal- Ahmedabad etc.
In NGO’s, they only get basic training and etiquette. The restaurant provides them 10 days training in
which they teach that how to greet and interact or communicate with the customers, body language,
facial expression, how to recognise the dish (veg or Nonveg) etc.

The idea behind starting this restaurant is to give oppor

As we see that mute and deaf people are working in the backend like washing and cleaning of the
hotel or restaurants. Here Echoes wanted to give opportunity for those people where they are into
centre. Echoes created the whole different system in their outlets that can help these people to
communicate with customers. There is approx. 22 people working in the restaurant with one manager
in the floor who can speak and hear. So, that if any customers have any issue o, they can
communicate with him. And also, they provide accommodation to their staff. They created a unique
system in their all outlets which are as follows: -

In every table, they provide one small diary which contains the 3 columns i.e. Dish Code, Quantity,
and Customization. When customers arrive at the restaurant, they have to write the code of Dish
which he/she wants with number of quantities and if any customization required. After writing the
order, customers have to switch on the light which is kept on every table, so that waiters can see it
and come to collect that order. After collecting the order, waiter goes to the cashier who then enter
the order in their computer. So, that’s how whole process is going on.

The struggle and the challenges they faced are as follow: - The main challenge they faced in initial
times is funding. They need investors for their new business idea, after facing many challenges they
found investor. Other problem they faced is location, rent. Initially it is hard to give training to the
people who can not hear and speaks, they have to make them understand in their language.
Sometimes it happens that waiters are unable to understand and communicate with customers or
miscommunication happens. Other than that, is people thought that it is marketing gimmick of having
deaf and mute waiters. But the actual thing is they never promote their restaurant on the basis of
their waiters. Customer will come to know about these deaf and mute waiters only after entering into
the restaurant.

Mainly Echoes believes in providing good food quality, authentic taste, environment which attracts
customer to come again to their restaurant. This is the thing that makes them to survive in the market.
They are more focused into the north Indian food and they have the best authentic taste of north
Indian food in Ahmedabad as per them.