1. You have had an incredible hospitality journey with The Oberoi group for 20 years as well as now- Marriott for 5 years, What are the two significant learnings did you gather throughout the same?
There have been significant life lessons imbibed and imparted along the way. If I were to narrow it down to a couple, it is that quite simply Hospitality has to come from the heart, it may sound clichéd but it is a fundamental truth, the more relationships you nurture with guests, colleagues, associates, the more enriching your path will be, professionally and personally. I also believe there is no shortcut to being a cut above the rest, it takes clarity of thought, focused intention, and resilience to make a significant impact and change that is long lasting.
2. Can you brief us on the evolution of the hospitality business of Hyderabad in recent times?
The infrastructural development in Hyderabad especially in Hitec city has led to large corporations operating with offices from Gachibowli and Financial District. The Mind space business park has become the epicenter of fortune 500 corporate houses. Business travel is steadily increasing and the quality of services are being innovated to being world-class. Hyderabad is a thriving business market and 2023 is certainly going to be a remarkable year.
3. How important is it for you to nurture young talent in the hospitality industry?
I am glad you asked this question because if there is a dearth, the industry is facing predominantly today, it is of talent. I personally believe, when teams you have trained and nurtured, become leaders, it is the finest legacy one can leave behind.Talent pool is not something that can be filled at will, at any cost. It requires years of invested training to ensure a steady flow.
4. What is the one piece of advice that you would like to give the young hotelier’s out there?
I would advise that they must invest in upskilling themselves through They must inculcate a mindset that is able to overcome situations and not give up prematurely.
5. At the age of 29 you had become the youngest GM, Has the industry drastically changed since then?
There has been incredible innovation over the years and I am truly oriented towards upgrading processes and systems to enhance productivity and efficiency. Sustainability is important to invest in as well. But, of course, at the core, it is still an industry that prospers on genuine care and whole-hearted service.
6. The upcoming Westin hotel in Hyderabad is scheduled to open in Feb-2023, being the first all-women-driven hotel, How proud do you feel to be a part of this initiative?
I believe an all-women driven hotel is a strong vision that is set to make a productive impact in all aspects. It is a win-win proposition that is certainly pitched to deliver results and set a benchmark. Gender diversity and inclusivity are values that only benefit work culture.
7. Hyderabad is known for its rich culture, and its reflection is visible in its local cuisine, Can you give us details on the F&B of a couple of your outlets that showcase the same?
The food and beverage landscape is prolific with influences that are from century-old legacies to global cuisines. Our restaurants imbibe the ethos of the city, with Kangan, our Indian specialty restaurant, that has Nizami and Peshawari delicacies to our all-day dining serving Hyderabadi favorites. Prego, our specialty restaurant serves the finest Italian cuisine that has been well-appreciated by our patrons
8. Being the only hotel holding green power in Hyderabad, The hotel heavily focuses on sustainability, How do you further wish to expand the same in the other hotels?
The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace is the only hotel that is green powered in the city amongst implementing a range of Sustainability initiatives. We have an on-premises Electric Vehicle charging zone, water bottling plant to eradicate single-use plastic and rain water harvesting. We plan to implement these initiatives in other hotels.
“Hyderabad is a thriving business market and 2023 is certainly going to be a remarkable year.”
Amitabh Rai, Cluster General Manager, The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace and Hyderabad Market – Marriott International.
9. Any two aspects which you would like to change/modify in the hospitality industry?
I would like to accelerate focus on innovative systems that help with high performance with least effort, to ensure man power is optimized. Training, upskilling, sustainable solutions are also areas that I would recommend more focus on.
10. The older hotels of Hyderabad reflect more on their culture through their architecture as compared to the modern ones, What a shift towards a modern design approach of the Indian hotels, According to you, is it a positive or a negative aspect?
Every hotel has its own positioning and design concept based on it being a legacy hotel, a palace, a resort or a modern business hotel. The Marriott Hotel and Convention Center at Tank Bund road in Hyderabad is 29 year old structure which legacy architecture.
Essentially, all hotels adapt the culture of the city in their own unique way, be it through paintings, artefacts, food and design.
