Exclusive Interview | Sanjit Kumar Thakur, Cluster Training Manager - Saurashtra, Sarovar Hotels Pvt Ltd
/“My heart always yearned for the glitz and glamor of the hospitality world. It was a pivotal moment when I had to choose between heeding my inner calling or fulfilling the expectations placed upon me by my family. In the end, I followed the voice within and took a leap of faith by applying to hotel schools.”
Tell us about your journey. How did it all start?
Coming from a long line of military service, the expectation to carry on the tradition naturally fell upon me. With my grandfather and uncle,cousin brother serving in the Army, and my father proudly Ex Army, it seemed only fitting that someone in our family would continue the legacy in the Defence. However, destiny had other plans, and I found myself unable to meet the stringent requirements of the military. Nevertheless, my journey led me to a remarkable opportunity in hospitality.
My heart always yearned for the glitz and glamor of the hospitality world. It was a pivotal moment when I had to choose between heeding my inner calling or fulfilling the expectations placed upon me by my family. In the end, I followed the voice within and took a leap of faith by applying to hotel schools.
As fate would have it, I secured a place in one of the top hotel schools in the country, IHM Kolkata 2011, and from that point onward, there was no turning back. It was during the rigorous industrial exposure training, an aspect that many dreaded, that I discovered my unwavering passion for this industry. I had the privilege of training at some of the best hotels of Taj, Oberois, Radisson,Accor and Marriott which served as a defining moment, reinforcing my conviction that hospitality was my true calling. Throughout my time at IHM Kolkata, the principles of leadership formed the very core of everything I pursued, both within and outside the institution.
With my graduation in sight, I embarked on the next phase of my career as a Management Trainee in Food & Beverage Service with Radisson Hotels. Working diligently, I swiftly rose to several positions, honing my skills and acquiring invaluable experience. Eager for new challenges and a chance to move into the world of luxury hospitality,Seeking to broaden my horizons and gain international exposure, I embarked on a new adventure with Accor Hotels in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. Different role in F&B Service allowed me to immerse myself in a diverse and vibrant hospitality landscape, expanding my knowledge and skill set. I then joined one of the industry’s pioneers, that time it was known as Swiss Hospitality and now Accor took over, and I take immense pride in being part of the team that propelled the palace to the pinnacle of success.
Currently, I work as an Multi-Property Cluster Training Manager with Sarovar Hotels & Resorts. Joining this market leader has been a privilege, as I continue to contribute to their legacy of excellence. Each day, I strive to make a difference in the industry, creating unimaginative unique experiences while upholding the values of sustainability and innovation. In 2019 I joined the Hotel Management College as F&B Lecturer at Westin College of Hotel Management and I somehow developed an interest towards training & public speaking.
My journey thus far has been one of constant growth and learning, driven by my unwavering passion for the world of hospitality. As I look toward the future, I am excited to embrace new challenges and opportunities.
What do you think it takes to succeed in this industry?
Passion and constant urge to learn, develop and adapt. Hospitality can be one of the most challenging job roles given the dynamics of how different a day can be to another. It’s a very demanding and highly satisfying job only if you enjoy doing it. It can be equally frustrating if you don’t have the passion for it. Hospitality has been constantly evolving and incorporating more Tech to streamline our daily operations and to keep up with the world adapting more into Tech, AI and Robotics. However, human touch will always remain a key driver in hospitality. For some, this evolution can be challenging if you are not ready to learn and adapt.
I start my day early on by reviewing and analysing the feedbacks on various platforms. Get to the morning meeting and discuss the overall operational plan with the leaders. Deep dive into the feedback and how we can improve. Meet and greet with the guests and assess the general feedbacks and expectations out of the conversations. Look up to my calendar and attend all other scheduled operational meetings. Check and prioritise my To Do list for the day. Carry out random inspections and speak to a lot of team members on a daily basis. Keen eye for detail is of utmost importance as a Training Manager. Innovation is the unique part of my job title.
How do you think AI will impact our industry?
Metaverse has become a popular buzzword. It would be very interesting to see how Metaverse technology could revolutionise the way that people engage with the hospitality industry. Imagine a scenario where you can explore a hotel in virtual reality (VR) while you sit in your home on the other side of the world.
By creating 3D versions of real locations, metaverse will create new ways for people to choose accommodation, activities and experiences. It is still in its very initial stages and the technology isn’t really available to provide a full blown metaverse holiday yet but it may well exist in years to come.
What does the future look like?
Hospitality never lost its oldest trend, all about people and being hospitable and yes, we have also evolved as an Industry to place ourselves in becoming one of the choicest professions. Some of the trends impacting us in growing as a profession are:
Sustainability and Community Welfare: Today’s Hospitality is about mindful use of a resource and cooperating and cohabitating as neighbourhoods within communities.
People-Centric: Hospitality is taking synonyms such as empathy, care, and happiness. This is making us a place to be whether as a guest or as a colleague.
Experiential Travel & Wellness: Hospitality is also getting connected to Wellness and a healthy lifestyle. We are thinking in the direction of giving Healthy food and recreational activities which are beneficial to a Healthy lifestyle.
Multi-tasking: Hotels recognise people who are versatile and can offer more than one skill to make the Guest and Colleague experience seamless.
