Exclusive Interview | Raoof Dhanani - Managing Director, Sayaji Hotels
/“The future of the hospitality industry is looking very bright and promising. Hotels can look forward to a robust demand.”
Tell us about your journey. How did it all start?
Sayaji Hotels Group commemorated its 33rd anniversary on January 7th. The first stone of the hotel was laid in Vadodara in the year 1990. Starting from the Kala Ghoda Circle with a generous inventory of 54 rooms, Sayaji Hotels now operates 22 Hotels in the cities of Indore, Vadodara, Kolhapur, Bhopal, Pune, Raipur, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Nashik. Today, Sayaji Hotels is India’s premier lifestyle hospitality brand renowned for its bespoke experiences, signature hospitality, and ushering new standards of opulence in the 4-star and 5-star hotel industry.
Share with us 5 skills that you think will be critical for a hospitality career in the future
Time Management, Multi-tasking, Industry know-how, Interpersonal Skills and Grooming are the five skills that I think are very critical for a hospitality career in the future.
What does the future look like?
The future of the hospitality industry is looking very bright and promising. Hotels can look forward to a robust demand. Sustainability and hygiene will always be a top priority.
Sayaji Hotels plans to expand its footprints nationally with properties opening soon in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan to mention a few.
Share some of your secrets in keeping an engaged, safe and happy team.
Employee recognition, transparency, positive work environment, team building activities, wellness programs are some of our effective trade secrets in keeping engaged, safe and happy team.
How do you think AI will impact our industry? Specific jobs, processes etc?
Artificial intelligence is playing a vital role in the hospitality industry. Revenue management, guest experiences, daily operations, fetching and sorting of data etc. can be managed easily with artificial intelligence.
Sayaji Hotels have also moved towards digitalization by introducing QR code payments, digital restaurant menus, voice control electronic devices etc. We will shortly be introducing advanced artificial intelligence based solutions in various areas of our hotels.
