Exclusive Interview | Manjusha Anand, Executive Housekeeper, Della Adventure & Resorts Pvt.Ltd
/ Editor HospemagTell us about your journey. How did it all start?
With a sudden drift from his wish that I should teach and preach the upcoming generation to‘She should become a Chef’, my father thrusted me in the hands of Anjuman-I-Islam’s A.K. Hafizka Institute of Hotel & Tourism Management Studies. A non-interested me, started taking interest to survive in this industry and I see through the world today as an Executive Housekeeper, not as a Chef!
Creativity, Innovations would have come across as a chef too, no doubts! But the ‘eye for detail’ in me felt more at home in the Housekeeping profession, with its endless avenues for offering guest delight through decor & interiors being an icing on the cake!
What do you think it takes to succeed in this industry?
You gotta be ‘SPEAR headed’ to succeed in this industry !
Self Motivated - As you climb up the ladder of hierarchy you really got to be Self-Motivated, you would hardly find anyone motivating you. It drives oneself to keep going even in the face of set-backs, to take up opportunities and to commit to what you want to achieve!!
Patience and Perseverance - Patience gives you the ability to accept or tolerate delays, problems or sufferings without becoming annoyed or anxious.
Enthusiastic - You should be enthusiastic about your own ideas and bring the energy to makeit infectious! Your enthusiasm should equally contribute in infecting & influencing others to participate in your idea to mutually benefit!
Staying Abreast - Staying abreast of new developments is an ongoing job with substantial risk and rewards and will help you to stay ahead of the curve!! It is very important to make sure you know all the most recent facts about a subject or situation. By being aware of the latest developments in your industry, you can anticipate changes and take proactive steps to adapt to them thus mutually benefiting!
Rhythm - Follow your own Rhythm of Life ! Listening to your heart & living a life, from a perspective that aligns with your wants & needs!
What does the future look like?
With AI overtaking the generation, the future looks very much promising only for the ones who could leverage this technology. The industry has to cope up with incorporating these new AI initiatives in their menu of experiences offered to the guests, the back end jobs, for analysing, forecasting & all such similar repetitive tasks, else may remain far in the competition.
Wellness Experiences is another important focus in the hospitality industry and is shifting from just physical health to a more holistic approach encompassing mental and emotional health as well. Industry will cherish if their designs consider these!
The above and any such aspects that will push the Guest delight a notch above are what the industry should always focus on!
What are the attributes you look for while selecting or hiring?
Integrity - Something that’s got to be naturally inborn - as it cannot be trained or taught! The rest of the attributes can be trained & edified!
What is your favourite interview question & why?
Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
To understand whether the candidate has a clear vision & how determined he/she is!
Why do you think you are suitable for this job?
To understand the unique qualities skills & experiences possessed by the candidate that he thinks will help in contributing more to the table.
Share some of your secrets in keeping an engaged, safe and happy team.
- Keep it ‘Happening’ - No matter what you are doing, keep it Happening & enjoyable!
- Keep it Different n allow space for Guesses! As whats new this time! Monotonous environment will be boring! - It can be new learning, different way of conducting briefing or debriefing! Conducting a training session etc. The objective is retention ! So it should be special & memorable!
- Keep regular small outings even if it is a cutting chai at a dhaba! - Remember, they are away from the family & they ought to feel like family with u & the team! Care for them like your own family!
- Don’t be dead serious with work - Bring in some Cheers with Peers Moments!!
-Grow with them ! Remember if only they grow with you, they ought to cherish everyday spent with you! You yourself would grow, only if others grow!
- Do not micro mange your team! Train them right & give them freedom to explore their learnings!
The pivotal turn came in 2011 when I assumed the role of Head Housekeeper at Denis Private Island in Seychelles, marking a significant milestone in my career. Throughout my journey, I’ve had the privilege of spearheading the opening of three notable pre-opening projects, encompassing housekeeping and laundry management. These ventures spanned across two international locations and one in India, each adding a distinctive chapter to my professional repertoire.
To succeed in the hotel industry first you have to be passionate and stubborn. Believe in yourself, just focus on your goal with consistency.
I am thankful to Mr. Leo Baekeland for inventing plastic, but I would really like to see world without plastic.
I think passion, patience, perseverance and people are the key to success in this industry. While the first three are your personal traits as an individual but when it comes to people, then, the ability to build a great team that helps you grow is equally important. So for me it’s the 4 Ps.
Work with international brands in your home country: Gaining experience with renowned international hotel brands within your home country can provide valuable exposure to global standards, operations, and career development opportunities. It can serve as a steppingstone towards working abroad in the future.
Keep regular small outings even if it is a cutting chai at a dhaba! - Remember, they are away from the family & they ought to feel like family with u & the team! Care for them like your own family!
The team is the most important part of our work! We can’t do anything without our team or our vendors. They are the extensions of our ideas and work. We need to trust our team giving them the right responsibilities, and the right gratitude, so they feel 100% involved in the projects. We have to make them feel special and precious, because they are.
To succeed in the hotel industry, it takes exceptional customer service, attention to detail, hard work, efficient operations, and continuous improvement.
Whatever you do, look at it as a calling and a purpose and not as a job.
Be consistent, even passion gets lost after a point.
Have a strong moral compass, if the compass doesn’t point true north you end up cheating yourself.
“Welcome is not just a word, it’s our philosophy!” — Trinh Quan Huy Philip
My favourite interview question is asking about a challenging situation that the interviewee faced and how they arrived at the solution.
Our competitive advantages include a beautiful location, incredible programming, fascinating food, and beverage selections, and, of course, a kids club designed for today’s youth to enjoy themselves carefree.
Hospitality is a people-centric industry and I believe people are the key asset that plays a vital role in the industry. Our purpose as a brand is “We care for people so they can be their best.” And it is imperative to understand every individual by having a culture in place keeping the team engaged, and motivated so that they can showcase their best to our Guests.-Suresh Kapoor
I never hire people who want to be led; instead, I look for leaders who can lead others -Hemant Kumar Singh
“You need to think like an artist and work like an army officer.” To Get Success in Hospitality.-Saurabh Gahoi
Opportunities don’t happen, WE create them- Nawaf Abdelaziz Nayef Hassan
Always do believe that you have skills and willingness to adapt to work-Ahmed Naseem Beyya
Conscientious, Compassionate, Persistent, Resilient, and above all the Attitude is what makes a difference in one's success.-Ankush Verma
Editor: What can we expect in the coming year?
The industry will bounce back after the Pandemic people will travel again and will once again be confident in discovering and exploring new places, cultures, and people. FIFA World cup 2022 will be held in Qatar and many fans from all over the world will experience true Qatari Hospitality during their stay in Qatar. It is a big showpiece world event and everyone is excited. Growth in the hospitality sector in Qatar will continue to increase locally, regionally, and internationally.
Editor: Two things you would like to change in the industry.
Industry needs to start looking at the sustainable operating procedures in a bigger way than what it is right now for customers and employees.
Multiskilling: I want to change the mind-set in terms of functionality of operational departments by introducing the service design concept of multi-skilling rather than specialisation in certain areas.
Standardization can no longer be the norm in Hotel Industry