At Eight Continents Hotels & Resorts, our dedication to providing exceptional value and memorable experiences is at the core of our operational philosophy. This commitment is manifested through our comprehensive approach to hospitality, which focuses on personalized service, unparalleled amenities, and sustainable practicesMy journey in the hospitality industry is deeply rooted in a passion for service excellence and a commitment to our family's entrepreneurial legacy. At The Fern, Goregaon, I've embraced these values to shape a vision centered on quality and sustainability.
Read MoreArjun Waney and Danny Meyer, I admire them the most. Arjun and Danny are more than just restaurateurs – they’re architects of experiences.Read MoreLaunching something new is exciting because it’s like a clean canvas on which you can give your vision shape and physicality and turn it into a reality. Hospitality projects require a lot of hard work to shape a vision into reality, and it’s a creative process.
The fact is that hospitality and real estate projects have a long gestation cycle, but they are also generational assets that keep giving you returns over many decades. So yes, they are exciting because we do like to think long-term.
“You need to think like an artist and work like an army officer.” To Get Success in Hospitality.-Saurabh Gahoi
Read MoreAn aspiring hotelier should be experimental while conceptualizing properties in order to create something unique from the existing ones-Deepak Agarwal
Read MoreGo for everything, learn about every department and then find out where you didn’t feel as if you were working. That will be your future calling.- Mr.Sarbendra Sarkar
Read MorePassion for Food is the only way to succeed in the Food Industry, To deliver that passion on the plate comes with a lot of scrutiny and effort.-Debaditya Chaudhury
Read More“We will always look to onboard people who have the passion and hustle and want to play a role in growing this exciting brand”
Editor: Congratulations on SaffronStays reaching a milestone: 200 private vacation homes across India. How did you celebrate this win?
We would like to celebrate this achievement by hitting the 300 homes milestone at the earliest :). At present, we have 260+ homes and we are hoping to reach the 300 mark very soon. We want to continue growing at a rapid pace through quality additions and our target is to onboard at least 15-20 homes on a monthly basis.
Editor: What does this scale mean for the business? What is the next target, 1000, 2000?
The branded villa and homestay segment is still fairly nascent in India and the sky is the limit when it comes to our growth. Our nation’s distinct cultures and geographies allow us to target several markets so as to grow in a sustained and unique manner. We do intend to grow our portfolio beyond 1000 homes, but it is important that we add these numbers while preserving the quality of our portfolio in a manner that adds value to all our existing and future stakeholders.
Editor: Frugal seems to have been your mantra so far. Is that about to change?
Yes, we have been careful with the monies entrusted to us as a Group, and that is how it should be. That hasn't, however, stopped us from making quality investments in resources, be it people, the product or technology. Going forward, we shall continue to raise our standards across the board and shall make suitable strategic and quality investments as required.
Editor: What is next? Are there more 'spices' to be discovered? Are any new verticals in the pipeline?
Variety is the spice of life! We recognize that all guests are not the same and similarly all homes are not the same. So, we segmented our audience as per their traits and personalities, thus giving each guest a persona they are most likely to fall under. Understanding our guests, their needs, their moods, requirements, reasons to get away, watering holes, lifestyle choices, etc., we've managed to customize our product and service for each such persona. With this insight, we’ve followed a 'House of Brands' approach. Each home on our network is now either a SaffronStays home, Signature Home, or an X-Series home. Each home has a story, a vibe, and a personality. Once we understand this, we can market it to the right audience. One size does not fit all. For Eg: Our newly launched Signature Series homes are for well-heeled guests looking for unparalleled experiences, aesthetically designed private villas & estates, and curated signature experiences like Al-fresco brunches, and dinner by a river, kayaking & boating, authentic farm-to-table experiences, and so on.
Editor: What are some of the services you provide that owners love at the moment? What more can they expect in the future?
Our strengths lie in the ecosystem that we have created that ensures a consistent and hassle-free experience for both our guests and homeowners. We have evolved from being a premium, recognized distribution setup to an Operator that also manages the home, allowing the homeowner to relax, knowing the home shall be maintained in a ‘mint fresh condition’. Our new brand architecture allows us to utilize the right tactics to promote each home while, at the same time, being commercially efficient from a CAPEX and earnings front. The distinct brands ensure that all homes within a certain portfolio are consistent and of a similar level, something that is always appreciated by homeowners. Furthermore, our new contracts provide a high level of transparency and information upfront which is extremely important to our homeowners and us. Our constant efforts to evolve on the technological and service front (incl. making F&B a real business driver) are also efforts that receive a lot of positive feedback from existing and potential homeowners.
Editor: Are you hiring hotel management graduates/ freshers? If yes, what can they do to work with you, and what kind of roles they can look forward to?
Our team is quite diverse in the sense that it includes hospitality graduates, general marketing and sales specialists, and even a good mix of engineers, amongst representatives from other domains. A diverse culture across domains is a big plus for us as all our team members bring a unique perspective to the table, allowing us to build a strong knowledge base within the Group. The one common thread is that these are hungry and motivated individuals who have bought into the vision of the Founders and the Group as a whole. Our people are what makes us and our existing levels of motivation and excitement stem from their passion for wanting SaffronStays to succeed at the highest level.
In terms of future roles and ways of being a part of the team, I genuinely believe that we are in a very privileged position as an organization. Despite the pandemic, we have grown significantly and continue to do so. That gives us an opportunity to help provide employment and build careers across India. The pandemic was challenging for many people, and we can hope, as a Group, to turn those challenges into opportunities for others.
We look at ‘shop floor level hiring’ for homes right through to young, intelligent graduates as well as experienced minds across different fields. These could include individuals who are not content with their current profiles, people looking to change industries, those affected by the pandemic, and parents looking to reboot their professional endeavors. We are always looking for outliers, those who do not necessarily follow the norm, and those who have the hunger to prove to themselves and others that they can make a genuine difference in one of the largest industries in the country.
Bottom line!! We will always look to onboard people who have the passion and hustle and want to play a role in growing this exciting brand.
Editor: Your favorite interview question and why.
I don’t have one favorite question per se. I do however like to understand the mindset of the individual in question, understanding their journey to date. Given the competitive environment that we exist in and the extent to which we want to scale, it's important that people want to join SaffronStays for the right reasons. Every candidate need not have understood the industry fully or have bought into the Group vision as yet, but I am looking for motivated people who want to genuinely make a difference, and, can add value to the team. Hence, the 'why SaffronStays?' is something that I like to ask. It makes me understand whether that person will eventually align with the company's vision and that it's not ‘just another gig’ from the offset.
Achieving balance means being intentional about how I allocate my time. Whether it’s dedicating myself to work, spending time with family, or enjoying a round of golf, I ensure that I remain present in whatever I’m doing.
By thoughtfully combining modern trends with our traditions, we ensure our guests feel at home while we remain grounded in our culture and values.Parixit Pai Fondekar, serial entrepreneur and the founder of the Kamaxi Group, headquartered in Goa, in an interview with Hospemag.me, shares insights into how the Group has grown into a multifaceted organisation serving various sectors including cruise line staffing, culinary education, maritime training and incubation. Fondekar highlights the Group's commitment to helping individuals navigate the tourism and hospitality industries, positioning the Kamaxi Group as a key player in India's journey toward a skilled and inclusive future.
Adapting, Adjusting, and rediscovering new things with the right consistency and effort is the way to succeed.-Prasuk Jain
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