Every new concept requires a little getting used to. Take Santro, the small car from Hyundai. I remember someone telling me that it looked like a cockroach! Unconventional looks notwithstanding, it has gone on to become one of the most successful small cars in India. So, when someone told me that indiOne the Smart Basics hotel launched by the Tatas "is like a hostel", I knew better than to take the bait.

IndiOne lost its first points when I found that the car park was not sheltered. Though from, the outside the hotel looked a little like a hostel,the lobby dispelled that impression. The effort put into projecting an image of space, style and utility was clear. In place of the usual highly-polished reception desk, there was a designer counter with an attentive assistant behind two flat-screen monitors. Overlooking the lobby was Square Meal, the smart restaurant.

The ultra-silent and roomy Mitsubishi lift, the electronic door locking system, the flat-screen TV in the room—all pointed to hi-tech simplicity. The bright colours, subtle lighting and geometric shapes in steel added to the futuristic look, flearnt my first lesson: don't compare indiOne to a five-star hotel. It belongs to a new and different genre of hotels. I hadn't had breakfast. So I looked up the directory for room service. There was none.

"You will have to come down to the lobby for your breakfast, sir," said the voice on the phone. A hotel without room service? "Some people wonder why there is no room service," says Sheela Nair, chief operating officer. "But when we point out the hygiene issues, they are convinced. Besides, descending to the lobby for a meal encourages social interaction among the inmates, something that is lacking in other hotels." The rule is relaxed when someone is ill.

While the absence of room service (read bits of food in the room) keeps cockroaches away and helps in long-term maintenance, it is just part of the cost-cutting exercise. Sealed windows (keep dust out), soap/shower gel dispensers in the well-fitted bathrooms and the absence of carpets (the floors have wood finish) help in reducing maintenance staff and cost. Yet, the rooms lack nothing. Air-conditioning can be controlled with a remote.

A neat bed, clean sheets, bath towels, a wardrobe, half-a-litre of complimentary mineral water in the mini-fridge and a work space make for a comfortable stay. The common facilities include a well-equipped gym and a 10-seater meeting room. Sorry, no swimming pool. The room tariffs are the USP of indiOne Rs 900 for a single room and Rs 950 for a double room. Bookings through the Internet (www.indiOnehotels.com) are cheaper by Rs 50.

But Nair holds that the hotel's patrons are not budget-sensitive. "We have CEOs of companies coming to stay with us," she says. Going by the "tremendous response", indiOne plans more Smart Basics hotels' in other metros and mini-metros across India. But I did have a suggestion (besides the shelter for the car park) to make: have food/snacks available at all times of the day at Square Meal.

One question that remained was why the hotel chose Whitefield, which is 25 km from the central business district, as its location. Won't travellers miss out on Bangalore experiences like MG Road and pubs? "Our location is not about distances," says Nair. "It is about the catchment area. This is where we have the business." Checking out, I felt the curious similarity between indiOne and Tata's small car, the Indica. It is value for money, but for that price you cannot expect better thigh-support in the rear seat. Can you?