Akash Roy Saigal

General Manager

Ramada Plaza JHV Varanasi

• Winner of Luxury Hotel of the Year, Uttar Pradesh, India – Luxury Travel Guide Asia & Australasia Award 2016

• Certificate of Excellence – Trip Advisor Awards 2016

• Runner-Up: 2nd Place in Special Recognition Award, Renovation Engagement - Wyndham Hotel Group EMEA Summit 2016

Editor: Tell us about your journey. How did it all start?
Akash Roy Saigal: After completing MBA in marketing, it was a hard task in those days to get
into any industry for a fresher.
Somehow, I got a job to work as a salesman in a company dealing in carpets, handicrafts &
other heritage items. I had a very short stint as an assistant to experienced sales professionals.
They taught me to read the mind of the customer while showing carpets to prospective buyers.
After a great struggle, I got the job I always wanted, I got a break in the hotel industry in the sales & marketing division. Having no background in hotel management, this break gave me a kickstart in the understanding of the hotel business.

Editor: What do you think it takes to succeed in this industry?
Akash Roy Saigal: To me ‘Attitude’ is everything. Along with working in sales & marketing
department for 10 years, I gradually grasped the knowledge of hotel operations. God has been kind and gave me an opportunity to lead a hotel/property and I happen to be in a role of a GM for the last 8 years.

Editor: What are the attributes you look for while selecting or hiring?
Akash Roy Saigal: As mentioned above – ‘Attitude’ is everything to me. If the candidate has the
right attitude and may have not attended a professional hotel school or not having a great work
experience, I select attitude above technical knowledge and education.

Editor: What according to you can trainees do while they are training at hotels to make it a
win-win for them & the hotel/unit?
Akash Roy Saigal: I have come across many youngsters during their training and post
completion. When I check their product knowledge about the hotel/department they are working
in, very few are adept with basics about their department. For eg, if a trainee is working in the
Front office department and has been assigned a duty to complete the A&D register, very few
will remember the columns the register has. Trainees get a great opportunity to understand a
hotel product and should utilize in understanding their own department and use their leisure
time to understand other departments as well. Trainees happen to choose the same line of
specialization in which they had undergone their training without understanding their true
potential.

Editor: Tell us a little about your average day
Akash Roy Saigal: I start with the morning meeting with all departmental heads. After completion of follow-ups and miscellaneous paperwork, I take a round of the property to ensure that housekeeping and maintenance issues are addressed. I try to squeeze in time to meet few guests upon their check-in/check-out and take a first-hand feedback. Post lunch I personally go along with my key departmental heads to check 4-5 rooms. In the evening the entire sales team and the F&B team have a debrief session to discuss the queries and potential business.

Before leaving for home I take a round of the restaurant to check the quality of our buffet and other F&B offerings.

Editor: How do keep abreast of all that is happening in hospitality?
Akash Roy Saigal: Social media, hospitality magazines, F&B/Culinary Exhibitions & shows keep me abreast of what is new in the industry. Additionally, whenever I am traveling to any metro city, I try to visit new restaurant & hotels to check out what are the latest trends.

Editor: Two reasons why this industry is awesome!
Akash Roy Saigal: This industry gives you unlimited reasons to learn new things, meet new people, and try new food innovations. Once you are part of this industry it is impossible to live without it.

Editor: Two things you would like to change in the industry.

Akash Roy Saigal: I don’t think that we should change the industry since it is loved the way it is. However, with technology innovations, we need to be abreast about it. There should be a Governing body to control the inventory for every city. With more inventories adding up, newer hotels offer low prices to sustain their cash flow which invariably affects the earning potential of competitive hotels.