Stephane Fabregoul, general manager of the soon-to-be-launched The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace, tells Punam Mohandas he looks to invigorating concepts to build up the brand.
What are your main responsibilities going to entail?
Along with my other duties, I’m also involved with my team in incorporating the cultural aspects into the strategic vision and alignment process to the hotel’s values.
It’s very challenging to be the brand ambassador; we are the face of the brand, and everything is communicated through us. Since we are part of the pre-opening, it is easy to lay out set standards and live up to the brand image.
Thus, we look forward to be an ideal example for all upcoming Westin’s in India in terms of quality, service, and innovations. And of course, my main responsibility is to be involved in every aspect of generating business for the hotel.
What was your job profile before this? How will it change in this role?
With 14 years of enriching experience with Europe’s and Asia’s leading hospitality chain – Le Meridien – I have been involved in bringing my expertise, innovative ideas, and the French culture, into the overall operations at Le Royal Meridien Mumbai, my previous assignment.
It was easy, as I had been with the brand from quite some time and was well versed with its core values and operational standards. On the other hand, in my new role it’s a big learning, especially when it’s a new brand with a completely fresh perspective.
There is a vast difference in working for a brand that is already built up, and a brand that is evolving; with the former, the set standards and procedures are all in place, whereas, in the latter, we need to start from scratch to ensure that we live up to our brand standards in all ways.
What qualities do you have that you think make you the right choice for this role? What is the most challenging part of your job?
I look to take concepts to invigorate and change the way we do business and build up the Westin culture. I love ways to re-invent the business and move away from the ‘comfort zone’ to newer challenges. I am a good listener; I believe that if I want to become a great speaker then I should first be a good listener.
To achieve goals and be someone who constantly gets things done, you’ve got to make it happen one way or the other. If I want that habit to grow across my team and become the norm, then, as a leader, I have to make things happen. I love to find solutions for challenging subjects.
My hotel is my second home, I want to welcome everyone to my hotel the way I do in my home. Yes, it’s a big challenge for any hotelier to be able to do so.
What’s your mantra for success?
My mantra for success is ‘success goes first to all my associates’.
Hyderabad is a dynamic city, and you have tough competition from established stalwarts such as Taj Krishna and Grand Kakatiya, not to mention the Novotel in your vicinity. What are going to be your business strategies?
Westin is a renowned international brand and has its distinctive lifestyle, where hospitality blends with a revitalising ambience and enhanced service values. Thus, we can leverage on our upscale premium brand, and also on other Starwood Hotels and Resorts brands with their best of loyalty programmes.
Additionally, we are situated in the heart of Hi-Tech City, the commercial hub of Hyderabad, with some major international organisations located in our neighborhood. It’s just not our business development managers who are in communication with clients; my senior leadership team and I too will personally visit our top corporates on a regular basis. This will definitely assure our corporates that we are always there to serve them as per their needs.
What do you see as the USP of your hotel?
We have many, such as an international brand name, which offers signature experiences, and speciality restaurants such as ‘Prego’, ‘Kangan’, ‘Taste’, and ‘Treats’. Our strength is also that, with 428-rooms, we are the largest five-star hotel in South India.
Additionally, our location within Hi-Tec City, our proximity to the domestic and international airports, to the Hyderabad international convention centre, and to large malls such as Inorbit and Hypercity, work in our favour.
What has been the most unusual experience of your career so far?
It’s an embarrassing yet funny incident that I had… I was going to an 18-storeyed building on a construction site in an external construction lift, with my boss, without telling him that I’m scared to go beyond even 20-metres.
Where in the world would you like to work the most and why?
It would be London and New York as they are the coolest and most happening cities in the world. I believe that no other place can match them historically, culturally, or in their pure vibrancy, style, and unique ambience.
How do you choose to unwind at the end of a long, hard day?
That would be at the golf course. The perfect way to rejuvenate my mind, body, and soul.
