Exclusive Interview | Anusha Sharma, Hospitality Trainer, Fledge Institute of Aviation & Hospitality

Introduction- Anusha Sharma – a proven outreach expert, a prominent motivator, an efficient  Accommodation Operations guide in Hospitality.

Glad to share about my journey that started after I graduated in Distinction from Nagpur University and was selected for the Post Graduate Diploma course in Hotel Management -IHMCTAN Dadar Bombay,  completed my training from Siddharth Hotel New Delhi, and the first job with Taj Group of Hotels at “ The Taj Ambassador Hotel “. 

Successfully climbed each step of the growth ladder with full enthusiasm and rigor. Availed the opportunities of learning as floor Housekeeper at the Taj Ambassador, as Public area supervisor at The Bristol Hotel- Gurgaon under the guidance of Mrs. Padmaja Rao, as Housekeeping Executive at the Surya Hotel- New Friends Colony, as Assistant Housekeeper at The Taj Mahal Hotel – Man Singh Road New Delhi. 

Wanted to grow higher and chase my dreams of designing and chose to enroll myself in a reputed course of Interior Designing from Ex-in Kalkaji, New Delhi.  Completed many projects successfully as Interior Designer under an Architect at Vasundhra Enclave New Delhi.  

My thought process matured after designing few layouts on my own as a freelancer.

 After getting married till being a mother, I had to be in school education as my mother-in-law wanted me to do the same. 

I could find a very good breakthrough at my own place after marriage when the First-star Hotel opened up at the capital city of Chhattisgarh- Raipur under the leadership of Executive Director of Babylon Group of Hotels Mr.Vinod Madra and joined as Housekeeper,  was soon given the post of Executive Housekeeper. 

Being married to a Development sector specialist, the workplace was never stable. Each project took him to different places in the country. Sacrificed my growing career and moved along with him to Jodhpur along with my little son who was very much emotionally attached with his dad.  Jodhpur the beautiful heritage city of Rajasthan gave me an entry to a Heritage resort of Jodhana Heritage and within one and a half years of exposure, I was offered the post of Corporate HouseKeeper to guide all the eight properties of Jodhana Heritage. 

Again a sacrifice was up on my way as my husband was with another project in Mumbai. Soon in a year, his Ph.D. placed me at IRMA Campus Anand where no five-star hotels were on my way which showed me the path of being an Academician. A Master’s Degree in Tourism Management was destined for me. Thus became an Academician of the Hospitality Industry. After CVM’s C.Z Patel College, Teamlease skills University chose me to be a guide for their hospitality students. Soon after a year, we could reach back to our own residence city Raipur and within two years I was the Head of Hotel Management College 

Editor: What do you think it takes to succeed in this industry?

I think sensible use of touch, taste, smell, listening, and sight along with a vision of mutual growth of self and the organization takes anyone to succeed in this industry.

Editor: What according to you can trainees do while they are training at hotels to make it a win-win for them and the hotel unit.

Trainees can surprise you with amazing and outstanding work provided you brief them properly on all your priorities and then delegate with authority at certain stances, also give them some space where they can open up and share all their learnings and experiences. This space can act as an eye-opener to find loopholes in different segments of the organization. 

Editor: What are some of the trends you see impacting the hospitality industry?

In the Hospitality industry, many organizations are always short of faithful and loyal staff who can stand by them whenever in need due to some of the inhumane trends that they work on.

1.Very high extended hours of work for industrial trainees with less space to open up.

 If the students are not briefed properly prior to their industrial training schedules, then as per the trends followed in most of the hotels, the training completion certificates may not be received by all the participants, you may come across many drop-outs.

2. Un Planned training schedules for the industrial trainees, bring in a feeling of “Just using only for the sake of organization” Industry is hardly bothered about their exposure in all the segments of the organization. Most of the trainees are just used for Hotel banquet functions and are given less exposure in specialty restaurants and kitchens in the case of F& B students. On the other hand, Accommodation students have mostly used in public area Housekeeping and Bell desk and very less exposure in servicing the rooms and in assisting the front office counter staff. 

Students are not able to taste the essence of serving the customers with pride, which is the real fun in the industry. And so is the reason why most of the Hotel Management graduates are not in the Hotel Industry.

Editor: Two things you would like to change in the Industry?

• The industry does not allow the possible core strength of village students and their parents to peep in and feel the ambiance of the Hotel Industry.  The hotel industry can get very high potentially loyal employees- both boys and girls from villages whom they can mould as per their needs. But as the parents are not fortunate enough to visualise the essence of the industry, they do not allow their children to pursue the course. Hence they are required to import staff from other states. 

The hotel industry could not build a respectable image in the eyes of village residents – who can actually be the prospective core strength for the industry within the state.

• I would like to bring change in dealing with cooked food and wastage.  Eatable but waste for hotels should be made available for most needy people. Hire one person with a bicycle who can carry eatable waste from kitchens every 3 hours and make it available for most needy people as a CSR activity.

Editor: What do you expect the industry to do to support academics?

The industry should be ready to send their staff for interactions with their prospective employees  at least once from each segment of the hotel

The industry should sponsor some activities in the college where students get the feel of belonging with the Industry.