“Dream higher then convert them into reality by good planning, focused leadership, choosing the right people in the team, being technically sound, create a unique product concept, make effective sales and marketing strategies. ”

Editor: Tell us about your journey. How did it all start?

The inspiration to join hospitality came with natural instincts, though I belong to a defence family. Career journey started back in 2004 in Mumbai (with Renaissance Hotel & Marriott Executive Apartments as GSA food & beverage after graduating in BSc in hotel & hospitality management from IHM Bhopal in 2004), Lived school & college life with tremendous difficulties due to financial problems etc, being from a middle-class family.

With God grace I was lucky to win a scholarship from hotel & restaurant association from western India to support my studies in graduation, that was very helpful. Even it was very tough to survive in Mumbai due high living cost, while I was in my first job assignment with Marriott hotel in Mumbai after college, being paid on lower wedges, still, life moved on with positive intentions and self-determination & motivation fighting my own to succeed.

I always had a clear vision in my mind and dreams in eyes to live life with passion and lead the industry with my effective leadership. Then career moved in food & beverage specialisation from luxury to business segment of hotels like Trident Oberoi-Agra(Trainings), One & Only Royal Mirage hotel- Kerzner International, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Burj Al Arab hotel Dubai, Holiday inn hotel, Maldives, Kempinski hotel, Jordan, DoubleTree By Hilton, Gurgaon, Tux Hospitality headquarter, Noida, ITC fortune hotel division as corporate food & beverage manager). Being innovative, positive, honest, dedicated, open for change, supportive nature helped me a lot to succeed.

Finally, I am very grateful to God & people today, that I am living happily in life and serving industry as an effective hospitality leader, which was my one of the goal of life. I am currently managing a full- service hotel of 200 room in Bangalore as Zinc hotels Brand, a part of concept hospitality, for the same brand I have opened another 3 hotels in this same group in Udaipur, Jaipur & Agra too, as a success story incapacity of general manager.

Have a strong forte in pre-opening hotels apart from handling operations and sales & marketing. Professionalism, positive leadership, team engagement, relationship in industry & learning & coaching have been leading me to success.

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

Firstly, it requires you to have a lot of patience in this competitive world and to be a consistent performer toward your set goal. Being passionate & curious about things is equally important. In my mind success is linked with the one’s imagination, thoughts.

Dream higher then convert them into reality by good planning, focused leadership, choosing the right people in the team, being technically sound, create a unique product concept, make effective sales and marketing strategies. Make the best use of the latest technologies and online serves are recommended. and to create great incentive programs for your team and clients to upsell your product. And of course, relationships are very important to lead the path of success.

Editor: What are the attributes you look for while selecting or hiring? If someone wants to work with you, what should they do?

I strongly believe that positive attitude in a candidate is very important in hiring selection criteria for any company, along with strong communications, good interpersonal, technical & presenting skills, focus on any special awards and achievement counts. The one should have strong knowledge about their field of latest trends worldwide. I strongly recommend hiring companies to check employee feedback from their previous 2-3 companies for their genuineness. Someone who wants to work with me should have a smile on their faces and eagerness to learn and grow.

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

A huge increase in rooms inventory in the hotel industry in country over past few years cost going high for raw material/products which are used in hotels, online services high% commissions cutting down a good chunk of hotel GOP’s.

Editor: Tech is now an enabler for great hospitality. Can you share with us some of the tech that goes into creating your guest experience?

Tech app-based technologies doing wonder for the hospitality industry and can even go beyond expectations in future. Right starting from first step reservation to check out to guest feedback and more. Gathering data on the bulk level to use for hotels industry marketing and upselling purposes. Technology can play a vital role on a higher scale in dealing with hygiene & sanitation issues in the hospitality industry. Ie- thermal temperature thermometer, id scanners, check-in & check interface with hotel PMS, sanitiser auto dispensers, light sensors, camera surveillance, mobile interface with PMS, digital e menus, QR Code, digital payments & virtual reality technologies. Can provide touchless solutions to the industry as well.

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

1. Actually, the hospitality industry fraternity and government together to develop and then to promote our nation as touristic & destination wedding location. Where we have plenty of heritage sights, Holi places & wedding destinations in our country.

2. Hoteliers to promote go green places in surroundings & communities, by following eco environmental-friendly practices, the same will help us in the long run. As I strongly believe when nature supports everything works beautifully.

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