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Upon completion of my management
course facing lots of challenges, I
became an assistant manager in
Banquet in Taj Palace. My commitment
and smart work made me excel and
was placed in various Taj properties for
about 6 years.
Oberoi and Taj were my thresholds.
Oberoi taught me professionalism
and Taj taught me how to work in
challenging situations. When my
friends were still studying and playing
cricket I was a step closer to living my
dream job.
After 3 years I started feeling the
passion for the industry and my
dreams evolved and I decided to
continue with the hospitality industry.
I feel I live and die with it. It was
merely an accident that I joined the
hospitality industry, but this accident
has changed my life.
Today I am asking my second daughter
to join the industry as I have found
that she also has the same passion as
I have and she will excel. Truly, this is
an amazing industry. But any job you
choose in the world, you need to have
the passion, commit to hardworking,
and then excelling the job is an art by
itself.
Tell us about your experience in
the hospitality industry
After joining Oberoi and Taj Group
Hotels, totally 9 years I took over as
General Manager of Kodai International
Hotel, Kodai Kanal in Tamil Nadu.
Got married and took over a rundown
property at Kottayam in Kerala and
developed the property for 2 years and
later moved on as a General Manager
for Sealord hotels in Kochi and then
Sangam Trichy as General Manager.
Created another great property in
Tanjore and supported them for 2.5
years.
I had done a project in Guruvayoor
called Sopanam Heritage and from
there I took over UDS Kovalam with 32
rooms and then worked for it 8 years
and handed over the property with 208
rooms and left to start my own venture
called Raj Hospitality Management
consultants based at Banglore. 5
years I ran a property near Bangalore
Bangalore called La Classic Attibele
and then took over other few projects
in Tamilnadu, Kerala, and Gujrath.
Later I took over as CEO of UDS
group of hotels in 2016 again to
develop it to a better form; from
Kovalam to Trivandrum, UDS flight
catering, Backwater resort in Alleppy,
Hill station project in Wagomorn and
then the Catering College and the
Convention center in Trivandrum.
During my 36 years of experience, I
have had a few achievements of mine
which I always say we need to think
out of the box, Tallest sandwich in
the world, Tallest Christmas cake in
the world.,150 heart shape desserts,
Elephant Wedding, Elephant Buffet,
Underwater CEO Conference, Blue
Ramp for Physically challenged kids,
celebrity Chef for 5 years are some
of them. I wrote a few books on
management and cookery.
I have done My MBA in 2006 and
keep doing something different and
try out the uniqueness in everything I
do. Won many awards for excellence
and also an honorable doctorate in
Bangalore.
What is the biggest challenge as
a CEO for a group of a reputed
hotels and resorts chain ?
Continuously changing Consumer
demands is a big challenge.
Understanding the customer need is
a key factor in the Hotel industry. We
have to be flexible depending on the
trends which have made customers
be more value oriented than brands
oriented.
Competition within the Hotel
industry and alternatives like Airbnb
and online consolidators are other
major challenges.
Improper and ineffective marketing
effects sales and brand recognition.
Even though old marketing practices
are still effective to an extent, to
achieve a competitive edge, digital
platforms are undeniably vital. Efficient
energy management along with social
and environmental sustainability
is the other major concern of the
hotel Industry. Shortage of trained
personnel, lack of expertise and poor
customer satisfaction are also will be
the challenges in the future.
What do you like most about the
industry ?
It would be better off asking me to
define the purpose of life or explain
astrophysics because there is no clear
and certain answer to that question.
The hospitality industry allows you to
develop yourself – professionally and as
a person. With time and commitment,
you learn others due to the variety of
colleagues, clients, and situations that
will put you to the test.
Probably the most important matter
is that you – literally – take care of
people. This is debatable, but my
experience tells me it takes empathy
and commitment to put another
person’s needs and desires ahead of
your own – while keeping a smile on
your face.
I am truly excited even today as
every day I feel I have the opportunity
to do better and better and I have been
given another day by God to prove my
caliber. The sky is the limit to show
your talent and you can keep excelling
yourself.
Finally, the reason why I love
hospitality so much is simple: its fun
– as in enjoyable. All the dynamics,
shifting with different responsibilities
and the feeling you have when you
start training and end up in a managing
position, it’s more than satisfactory
at the end of the day. And it does not
stop with the customer-facing part of
the hotel, you have the opportunity
to meet and socialize with people
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