Chandan Pandey, Co - Founder & COO at WB Hotels & Resorts

in conversation with Prabhjot Bedi, Editor, hospemag

Prabhjot Bedi: How did it all start?  Share with us your journey as a hotelier?

Chandan Pandey: M.Sc in Hotel Management from Annamalai University and Alumnus of NIT, Mumbai. One of the youngest General Manager in the Hospitality Industry. Having worked length and breadth of the country from north to down south. More than two decades of hospitality experience with a phenomenal drive for result excellent networking expertise in hotel operations, technical service, owner relations, administration and Asset management.

Worked as General Manager –Conventions for The Orchid Pune with 410 keys & one lakh sqft of banqueting space. Worked with other leading brands such as MERCURE Dwarka as VP – Asset Management, Wyndham Hotels, Sahara Star, Mumbai, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts as General Manager.

Started with –Days Inn, Vashi By WYNDHAM after passing out from Naval Institute of Technology in the year of 1999 as Hotel Operation Trainee.

PB: You have been both an employee and an entrepreneur. Which one is tougher? Tell us a little about your entrepreneurial journey.

CP: Overall in the industry for more than 22+ years now. I have enjoyed my employee journey since form very beginning stated heading as hotel GM. Which help me become a decision-maker and had a lot of learning as a business head.

Once decided to become a business owner it is very challenging and full of uncertainty, I was very firm about what I want to achieve and worked very hard to built the WB Hotels from scratch.

PB: What would you say are the most significant changes you have seen in the industry from the time you joined it as a young hotel management graduate?

CP: Now industry has transformed from brick and mortar business to technology.Yes, man industry to how we can work together with industry, shifting from Attitude to Aptitude Industry.

PB: What has changed forever due to the pandemic? What habits, rituals, services?  

CP: Industry move from offline to online. Buyer behaviour is changing they want to feel everything virtually before buying.

PB: What are the 3 things young managers should remember while managing or working with owners?

CP: The manager is responsible for EBITDA, not GOP.

Should give clear direction to the business with proper strategies long term and short terms.

Should have very sound knowledge of business (Operation + Cash Flow) Ultimately hotel is the most important among three stakeholders (Hotel / Employee/ Owners).

PB: Share the journey of Westbridgeworld.  Where the brands headed?  What is coming next?

CP: Westbridge idea was to become a Third-Party Management Company to manage the international branded hotel as an operator. The journey started in the month of June 2019 with a 5-star stay taken on a long lease for 9 years in Kochi, Kerala. We were about to convert as Howard Johnson by WYNDHAM.

Due to COVID, we have to change our business module and unrest in 2-star segments. We saw an opportunity and created an online co-branding brand first time in India. WB brand born in October 2020.

We are looking to brand one lakh rooms by March 2024. Presently having 100+ Hotels, 2100+ Rooms, 35 Locations, 17 States.

Launching franchise brand in three segment

WB Inn- B N B Brand

Brand Standard: Minimum 15 Rooms /All Room with attached bathroom (WC) /All Room A/C, Room Size: 120 sgft onwards / Entire process tech-based, self-check-in/check-out, OTP based room lock, High-Speed Internet / Smart TV / Entire area secured with IP Camera Guest amenities as per 4-star standard / Lobby level will have a vending machine, guests can buy for themselves on market price. ADR 2000/-

WB Economy- Room + Restaurant

Brand Standard: Minimum 20 Rooms/ Size: 140 Sqft onwards other facilities common in all brand Since there is a restaurant in the brand vending machine will be removed.

WB Comfort – Room+ Restaurant+ Banquet

Brand Standard: Minimum 30 Rooms /Size 180 Sqft onwards other facilities common in all brands. One Restaurant seating capacity of 1.5 times of total rooms / Banquet facility of 2 times the number of rooms.

PB: Personally for you, what excites you about this industry, still?  What makes you proud to be a hotelier.

CP: Hospitality is one of the largest employers and 9% of GDP comes from hospitality. As an industry, we give job opportunities to the neediest with minimum educational qualifications with carrier growth. Hospitality has seen hotel GMs who started as stewards.

Job creator / Foreign exchange earner of GOI.

Being a hotelier is a passion, it is not a job.