Manish Garg, General Manager, Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn, Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park on Year End Thoughts

What has been your most striking takeaway from the year 2023?

· Strategic Initiatives: To boost revenue, I diversified business models with Inventory Buy-out/Buy-down (IBT) and Permanent Extended Residence Management (PERM) programs, tapping into the lucrative extended-stay segment. This allowed us to cater to both transient and extended-stay guests seamlessly.

· Partnerships with Airlines: In this dynamic landscape, strategic partnerships, particularly with airlines, are no afterthought – they're the cornerstones of our journey. And with five key airlines already onboard, we're building a foundation for sustained prosperity.

· Visionary Strategies: I have implemented a risk-defying strategy that guarantees a minimum 25% occupancy at every month's start and it's proactive planning.

· Shortened Group Pace to a Four-Week Cycle: Implementing this strategy allowed us to capitalize on peak seasons with increased revenue while mitigating the risk of vacancies during off-peak periods ensuring year-round profitability.

· Prominent MICE destination: I have strategized a wide range of leading business events spanning across corporate, government, associations, BFSI, and social sectors. As a result, we earned a distinct reputation as the preferred MICE destination and received prestigious awards.

· Focus on Diversity and Inclusivity Initiatives: At Hilton, every voice is heard, I believe in building an inclusive workforce that reflects the vibrant tapestry of cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives that make our community thrive. I am proud to mention that 20% of our workforce are women and 12 individuals with disabilities playing vital roles and I have partnered with diverse NGOs to unlock new talent pools and create transformative employment opportunities for underrepresented groups. Our commitment to inclusion is a journey, not a destination.

What is your plan for 2024?

· Occupancy: Amidst the market fluctuation, policy changes, government transitions, market dynamics, and incoming business, my focus will be on building a foundation for long-term occupancy through strategic initiatives to achieve the same, I am proactively diversifying guest segments, optimizing pricing models, and forging lasting partnerships to ensure a stable guest flow. 

· Global Market Outlook: I will continue to track global economic shifts and monitor the development, particularly in North Bangalore, follow the evolving sustainability expectations, and leverage the insights to future-proof our hotel's success.

· Softer rates and stronger competition: We anticipate, softer rates and stronger competition and these are just signals for us to double down on our strengths, optimize operations, and craft compelling guest experiences.

· Technology Implementation: Technology will continue to play a major role in the hospitality industry, and this impact will only multiply in the future. We have adopted technology beyond regular websites and mobile apps to improve the guest experience, increase efficiency, and reduce costs

· Nurturing loyalty and expanding horizons: In 2024, our focus will be on nurturing our relationships and expanding our horizons. We are stretching across diverse industries, forging partnerships, and crafting tailored offerings to welcome diverse clientele

· Embrace complexity through precinct collaboration: In 2024, I'm trading rivalry for unity. Complexity won't be a hurdle, but a bridge. I believe collaboration will be the future, and will look forward to collaborating with possible allies.