Lift additional restrictions: FHRAI urges States & UTs

With the number of positive cases steadily tapering off, FHRAI appeals to all the State Chiefs to immediately lift all kinds of restrictions imposed on hotels and restaurants. Currently, in many states, 50 per cent capacity restriction is continuing to be imposed on restaurants along with restrictions on the closing timings. In addition to this, wedding and social gatherings also have capacity restrictions, due to which the MICE venues are under severe distress.

“Yesterday, basis the COVID case trajectory across the country showing a sustained downward trend, the Centre has asked States and UTs to do away with additional restrictions. This comes as a big breather for the industry and we too urge the States to remove all restrictions on hotels, restaurants and MICE venues,” says Mr Pradeep Shetty, Jt. Hon. Sec., FHRAI. Keeping in mind the upcoming summer season, which is also considered as the domestic travel season, he added, “It is the next best holiday season for the hospitality industry after Christmas and New Year. This is an opportune window for the States to allow the hospitality sector to make the most of it.”

Kempinski Hotels signs management contract for prestigious luxury hotel in the heart of Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh

The Kempinski Hotels portfolio is steadily growing in the Middle East: With the signing of a management agreement for a prestigious luxury hotel in Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, another milestone in the expansion of the international hotel group has been set. The upcoming five-star Kempinski Al Qeshan Hotel is being built in a prime location in the heart of the Al Olaya business district on the famous King Fahad Road, which is home to banks, elegant restaurants and fine boutiques. The hotel with 150 elegant rooms and suites as well as ten serviced apartments is planned to be built and opened in approximately four years. With this luxury hotel, the owner is not only focusing on technical and structural sustainability, but also has included a full green façade in his plans. While one complete floor of the 35-storey building is reserved for an exclusive ladies' spa and one for a men's spa, guests can indulge in culinary delights in two high-class restaurants or admire the skyline of the metropolis from the rooftop lounge and terrace with pool of the luxury hotel.

Located on a desert plateau, the city of Riyadh is a place where old-world charm meets modernity and visions of the future: Alongside fortresses steeped in history, palaces, museums and colourful souks visitors will find skyscrapers in the thriving financial district, the country's best universities, state-of-the-art shopping centres as well as a growing arts and culture scene. As the economic, administrative and cultural centre, Riyadh is the most populous city in Saudi Arabia with 7.5 million inhabitants.

Hilton Invests in New, Industry-leading Continuing Education Benefit for Team Members through Partnership with Guild Education

Pic Credit Hilton

In a first for the hospitality industry, Hilton team members will be able to earn a vast new variety of educational credentials at no cost to them

 In an industry first, Hilton has announced a new educational benefit designed to empower its team members to continue to learn, grow and thrive. Through a new partnership with Guild Education, Hilton will provide its team members with a best-in-class continuing education platform to help them pursue and attain their educational dreams. 

Beginning this spring, team members at Hilton’s U.S.-owned and managed properties and corporate locations will be able to earn a vast array of new educational credentials debt-free as they pursue their personal and professional goals.

“At Hilton, we’ve been on a life-long journey to build an inclusive culture of continuous learning for all. We want work at Hilton to be one of the best parts of our team members' lives, and that means creating opportunities for continuous professional growth and development,” said Laura Fuentes, Hilton executive vice president and chief human resources officer. “This partnership with Guild Education – a first of its kind in our industry – is yet another way we will be able to better meet our team members where they are right now on their educational journeys and help them achieve their career aspirations.” 

The new continuing education platform will offer a robust variety of learning offerings, debt-free for all team members. These options include everything from high school completion, English-language learning, digital literacy, professional certifications in high-demand career areas such as culinary, business, data analytics and technology, and college degrees. 

A continued focus on growth through education is key to attracting and retaining top talent, now more than ever, which is why Hilton sought out best-in-class partner Guild Education. Guild has partnerships with the nation’s top universities and learning providers for working adults, offering more than 2,200 programs and the expertise to guide all learners through their educational aspirations and journeys. 

“Hilton is enhancing its commitment to creating a top work environment and a workplace of growth with its new education program,” said Natalie McCullough, Guild Education president and chief commercial officer. “We’re proud to partner with Hilton to provide their team members with career mobility opportunities that will give them the skills needed for the jobs of today and the careers of tomorrow.”

Hilton has developed a strong reputation as a purpose-driven company with a great workplace culture, driven by its team members. Amid one of the most challenging times in the history of the hospitality industry, Hilton continues to be recognized for its exceptional and resilient workplace culture and team member benefits. Great Place to Work and Fortune named Hilton #1 on the 2021 Best Big Companies to Work For® list and #3 on the 2021 Best Companies to Work For® list in the U.S. Hilton is the highest ranked hospitality company to appear on both lists, especially notable given the significant impact the pandemic has had on the travel industry. DiversityInc also ranked Hilton #1 on its 2021 list of Top 50 Companies for Diversity.

“At Hilton, more than 40 percent of U.S. team members have been part of the Hilton family for 10 years or longer. We are thrilled to be partnering with Guild Education to expand our efforts to support our team members in building lifelong, fulfilling careers here at Hilton,” says Gretchen Stroud, Hilton’s senior vice president of talent and inclusion. 

Prior to adding these new educational opportunities, Hilton already offered more than 25,000 online professional development learning courses. In addition, Hilton offers a comprehensive benefits package including mental well-being offerings, paid personal and parental leave, sabbaticals and GoHilton travel discounts. 

Hilton is actively hiring. The company has nearly 2,900 hotel job openings available in the U.S., with levels spanning entry-level through general manager, at all of its 18 brands.

For more information on Hilton’s partnership with Guild Education, its award-winning workplace culture and the many kinds of jobs available, please visit jobs.hilton.com.

Eclat Insights | Your No 1 Priority As A Leader: Choose The Right Metric, Make It Your Team's North Star.

Your No 1 Priority As A Leader: Choose The Right Metric, Make It Your Team's North Star.

Why is the North Star so special? The axis of Earth is pointed almost directly at it. During the course of the night, Polaris does not rise or set but remains in very nearly the same spot above the northern horizon year-round while the other stars circle around it. It marks the location of the sky's north pole, the point around which the whole sky turns.

Setting up your team's collective North Star should be your No 1 priority. Everybody's efforts should be in the same direction and everything should circle around it. 

A North Star metric is a measure that becomes both a goal and a direction for a team or an individual.

Consider the cardinal rule for hospitality: location, location, location. This rings true for hotels, resorts, restaurants, pubs and now even in the metaverse. Getting your location right can mean a world of difference in terms of revenue and business.

Once that is done, though, the same metrics cannot be applied to different businesses. If you are a business hotel, you might want to keep an eye on repeat customer metrics, but if you are a unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience resort, you may not want to worry about that metric. Same for Customer Lifetime Value or Preference Capture. 

Why have a metric?

A business hotel may want to measure the time taken for Check-In, as a measure of efficiency. The quicker, the better. According to business hotel operators, guests do not want to wait, they want a ready room on arrival and want to go straight to the room.  

A resort may also want to measure the time taken for Check-In but as a measure of warmth or relationship. The slower, the better. According to resort operators, guests do not want to wait, they want a ready room on arrival BUT do not want to go straight to the room. They want to take in the atmosphere, the setting, talk to a host, feel acclimatised, want attention etc. 

Both may want to measure 'Time Taken for Check In' but in a totally different way.

Questions To Ask Before You Set Up A Metric

Are you measuring a process or a person?

A process metric is independent of who is being measured. e.g. A room should be made ready from a dirty status in 30 mins. That is a process metric. Whether everyone on your Housekeeping team can do it, is a person metric. 

Do you want to ensure compliance or do you want to inspire performance?

Time taken to deliver a Room Service order is a common metric. Usually 5 mins for tea/coffee, 15 mins for snacks, 25 mins for meals etc. This is compliance.

Making sure the associate spends 5 mins in the room, setting up the table, serving the guest and ensuring they have everything they need. This is to inspire service. 

Can you measure it easily? Fairly? Will the measure remain the same irrespective of who measures it? No biases.

Warmth / Customer Centricity and other metrics can be confusing to your team because these are difficult to measure and depend upon the observer. Your team will only commit to measures that seem fair. 

A good example is 'errors in a ready room' or 'errors in a ready banquet set up'. This is something that can be self-monitored or done in pairs and is free of bias. Either something is as per standard/request or not. In the room case, a good checklist becomes the basis and in the case of a banquet, a Function Prospectus. 

Soft Measure or Hard Measure?

You would need to decide whether you want only hard, quantifiable measures or also soft, feeling measures.

Quantity and Quality of food prepared is a good example. You want your kitchen team to ensure that the time taken to prepare a dish is measured, the presentation is as per standards set AND it tastes good. 

Can the person improve because of the measure? Does the measure give out any intelligent feedback?  

This is where a lot of the metrics fail. If the measure does not help you or your team do a better job and work on the things that matter, then is it even something you should measure?

For example, let's take the most used metric for service organisations - NPS - Net Promoter Score. What is a valet, a room service order taker, a maintenance engineer, a commis supposed to do when the NPS falls for a quarter? or goes up for that matter?  

Are the stars aligned?

You cant have people pulling the boat in different directions. This is where the leader in you needs to take charge. Align everyone's north star, to the big one you are working towards.

What Is A Good Metric then?

• A good metric, a good north star, matters to the person, to the process, to the department, to the division, to the company, the stakeholders and the community.

• is personalised. It should be something that is a judgement/result of a large part of your team's work.

• is actionable. It should be something your team member can do something about. A good metric should be something she can act upon, and something that creates action/momentum in her.

• has some benchmarking, some logic in it.

• has the potential to have an exponential impact on work performance.

Real-World Examples

• A lot of hotels have Guest Relations Executives (s) or departments. I am amazed they are not measured on time spent with guests. This should be the no 1 metric, their North Star.

• Food & Beverage service staff should track a metric I like to call 'suggestion hits'. How many guests ordered the dish/drink/wine suggested by the wait staff? I do not mean how many ordered the highest priced dish, but rather, how many guests trusted the team and went with the suggestions offered by them.

Want to make this Insight WOW? 

This section is my north star! :)

• Have fun with this idea. Once you understand that you can drive performance and initiatives via a good metric, then develop as many as you need as a leader. You can run them weekly, monthly, quarterly etc. You can have competitions amongst your team members or teams.

• You can let your team tell you what they should be use as a metric. Try it, you will be amazed at the ideas you receive.

• Reward, Reward, Reward. Consistently, without fail, reward the team when they meet the metrics and when they show the courage to follow their North Star.

• Use the North Star as a decision-making tool. In the example about Guest Relations, if you do decide that Time Spent With Guests is what you want them to aim at, then you will have to work with them to either reduce, manage or remove all other tasks that take them away from that metric. You may need to train them in the art of conversation, dining etiquette, etc. All these decisions become easy once you know your North Star.

• Make sure your North Star aligns with your team's. Too many managers are busy getting the team to work on stuff that contributes to their performance and bonuses. Work with your team on what will bring them rewards. Make their success your North Star.

As always, thank you for reading. I am happy to help you set up your personal North Star or your team's. Write to me at p.bedi@eclathospitality.com and let's create that shiny thing in the sky, together. 

Prabhjot

Bedi

is an Hospitality Ideator. A process innovator, trainer, and professional speaker, he has worked with the Taj Group of Hotels, conducted training programs for hospitality leaders, launched a National Council Accredited Hospitality Institute as Principal, successfully launched and sold three hospitality businesses. He now assists hospitality leaders and educators in creating superlative services and products. He also edits the very popular www.hospemag.com - the largest hospitality career e-mag

Visit Maldives | MMPRC BEGINS A DESTINATION ONLINE TRAINING TARGETING THE INDIAN MARKET

MMPRC (Visit Maldives) begins an Destination Online Training targeting the Indian Market with 2HUB. The program will be conducted from 16th February to 16th May 2022.

2HUB is an online B2B reseller platform that aggregates Asia's largest portfolio of travel experiences for Travel Agents to discover, compare and book tours around the world with offerings of 40,000+ tours in 60+ countries.

For the Destination Online Training conducted with MMPRC, 2HUB will create a dedicated online platform to provide the latest and up-to-date information about Maldives’ tourism sector to travel trade professionals working in the Indian market. The information related to the destination will be available for the members of 2HUB, including tour operators and travel agents, by logging in to the website. This e-learning platform is flexible and allows members to join in at any time, anywhere, to know more about Maldives and what it has to offer to tourists.

Through this program MMPRC aims to familiarize travel trade professionals working in the Indian market with the latest information on measures taken in our resorts, hotels, guesthouses and liveaboards, and the unique experiences available in Maldives for travellers from this market. This is a great platform to market the destination as a safe haven, promote the unique geographical formation of the scattered islands which allow natural social distancing for travelers.

Over 500 travel partners from India are expected to participate in the program during the three months of the campaign. These travel trade partners interact directly with 120,000+ high potential travelers, thus the campaign opens the opportunity to boost bookings and arrivals from this market to the Maldives. This campaign will help reinforce India as the fastest growing source market for the Maldives.

The Destination Online Training is conducted in line with the marketing strategy for the Indian market to strengthen Maldives brand in this region and create greater appeal to the travelers. It focuses on creating awareness about the activities that can be enjoyed by luxury travelers from India, including those traveling for romantic, honeymoon, family vacations as well as business purposes for MICE activities and events.

India is the top source market to the Maldives during 2021. 13,947 travellers arrived from India in 2022 so far. This places India as the 3rd largest market to Maldives tourism, with a market share of 8.1%. India was the largest market in 2021 with over 278,740 travellers and a market share of 22.6%. Similarly, India was the largest market in 2020 with an arrival figure of 62,960 and a market share of 11.3%. MMPRC has been participating in fairs and exhibitions and holding several activities for this market in order to maintain destination momentum and further increase arrivals from this market. This includes virtual and in-person activities such as major marketing campaigns with stakeholders, webinars, roadshows and familiarization trips

Want to work in maldives

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Appointment | Ramnik Choudhary joins Raffles Udaipur as Director of Sales & Marketing

Raffles Udaipur, Accor’s first hotel under this brand in India, has appointed Ramnik Choudhary as Director of Sales & Marketing. He has over 20 years of experience in sales, hotel pre-openings, marketing, loyalty, revenue and distribution. He was previously Senior Director of Airline Sales and Business Support at Accor Hotels and brings with himself a strong skill set and proven abilities to lead teams towards the achievement of organizational goals.

Choudhary is a planner and strategist acknowledged for strengthening hotel operations to lead in highly competitive markets and delivering innovative strategies and solutions. With a strong focus on revenue-generation and materializing business in a robust yet competitive environment, Choudhary has successfully launched over 20 hotels across India so far. He also played a key role in significantly improving performance at The Imperial Hotel early on in his career.

Bacardi Announces Its First Ever India-Made Innovation – Good Man Brandy

Bacardi India, the largest international spirits company in the country by volume, today, announced its foray into the brandy and IMFL (Indian Made Foreign Liquor) category with the launch of Good Man - the company's first-ever innovation made in India for Indian consumers. Strengthening its brown spirits play, Bacardi India is focused on disrupting the premium brandy segment by offering India's modern-day consumers an unparalleled experience with this latest innovation. Aged for a minimum of two years in oak casks, this premium blended brandy is the perfect amalgamation of grain spirit with premium French and Indian grape brandies.

A meticulously crafted blend of woody flavors, fruity notes of pear, apple, a rich palate of raisin, drizzled with sweet vanilla and honey, this liquid is enjoyed neat, on ice or with a mixer. Good Man celebrates the new-age consumers who seek to be the best version of themselves, enabling them to further find the courage to stay on their quest for individuality.

Speaking of the launch, Sanjit Randhawa, Managing Director, Bacardi India, said, “We are excited to announce Bacardi India’s foray into the premium brandy segment with the launch of Good Man. Our aim is to grow the business five folds by 2030, and this launch reiterates our commitment to the market. It fortifies our premium portfolio as we continue to capture a larger share of the brown spirits category. It’s also a major step to strengthening our presence in the country, with this being the first in-house brand created in the market, specifically with the Indian consumer in mind.”

Ayaesha Gooptu, Head of Innovations, AMEA (Asia Middle-East and Africa) at Bacardi, who’s been overseeing all the innovations across the region, said, “With innovation at the very core, Bacardi has always evolved and introduced new products to provide outstanding experiences to consumers. In line with that, Good Man, too, aims to offer an enhanced drinking experience to the discerning Indian consumer. It is an important launch in the portfolio, from the 'Year of Innovations' perspective and we are very optimistic. Initially, we will focus on understanding consumer sentiment and then we will take this brand to more markets."

India is the largest brandy market globally, with 39% of the world’s consumption, and it’s the second-largest category in the country. While the brandy category is growing at 3% in the country, the premium brandy category is growing at a much faster rate at 16%. With the introduction of Good Man in India, Bacardi is set to become the only international spirits player in the premium brandy segment, thus reinforcing its commitment to grow and diversify in the highly competitive Indian market.

India remains an important market for the company, and it falls within the top 10 priority markets worldwide. Leveraging Bacardi’s strong global and local leadership in premium spirits brands across categories, combined with the upward trend in India’s premium spirits market, the launch of Good Man aims to seize the opportunity and create a contemporary, bold brand for modern-day consumers. As with every innovation and campaign, Bacardi has forayed into this segment keeping consumers at the core, considering their changing preferences as well as acknowledging their growing appetite for new experiences.

“Consumers across the country, are open to experimenting more in their drinking choices and are seeking more premium experiences. Good Man, with its international lineage, aims to inspire this new-age Indian drinker to find their true voice, express their true self, and enjoy a drinking experience that is frankly a cut above all the rest. Now that’s a spirit to cheer too!’’ said Zeenah Vilcassim, Head of Marketing, Bacardi India.

The southern states currently hold nearly 98% of the country’s overall brandy market share, and keeping this in mind, Good man has first been introduced to consumers in the South. It is available on shelves across Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, and Pondicherry

New Openings | Ginger opens a new hotel in Greater Noida

Ginger opens a new hotel in Greater Noida

Ginger expands its footprint with the launch of a new hotel in Greater Noida, National Capital Region (Delhi-NCR). Designed on the lean luxe philosophy, the hotel offers a co-existence of contrasts through dynamic spaces, seamlessly blending the lines of work and play.

Commenting on the opening, Ms. Deepika Rao, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Ginger Hotels, said, “We are very excited to launch Ginger Greater Noida. This is an important business location in the National Capital Region. With the opening of this hotel, Ginger now operates more than 650 keys in Delhi-NCR.”

Ginger Greater Noida is strategically located near Pari Chowk, with convenient access to the India Expo Mart, commercial centres, Greater Noida Sports Complex and the upcoming Noida airport. The hotel offers 72 rooms, Café Etcetera – the all-day diner offering a mix of global and local cuisine, and two conference rooms with a capacity to accommodate over 100 guests.

Greater Noida is a hub for major corporate houses, automobile, and telecom companies. It also houses Buddh International Circuit, the Indian motor racing track.

With the addition of this hotel, Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) will have 16 hotels across brands in the Delhi-NCR region, including one under development.

Appointment | Shyam Kumar is the new General Manager at DoubleTree by Hilton Agra

He was earlier the Director of Operations at Conrad Bengaluru, actively participating in the hotel’s success and strengthening the team

DoubleTree by Hilton Agra has appointed Shyam Kumar as its new general manager. A passionate hotelier with over 21 years of experience believes that hard work and discipline are secret ingredients to success. 

Kumar started his career as an operations trainee and worked with Sarovar Park, ITC, Shangri-La and Marriott before leaving India for higher education to New Zealand in 2005.

Before joining DoubleTree by Hilton Agra, Kumar was the Director of Operations at Conrad Bengaluru, actively participating in the hotel’s success and strengthening the team. He has also worked with Starwood and Marriott with some of his assignments as Director of Food and Beverage at Shangri-La Bengaluru, managing the city’s largest F&B space of 10 outlets.

Kumar also had the opportunity to be part of Hilton’s prestigious Shine 2 program, which made him learn and understand the skills required for the new roles and challenges. He lives with his wife Sudha and his two children, seven-year-old daughter Harika and 4-year-old son Shanmukh. Fitness, music, and books keep driving him during his free time. He also likes exploring heritage and spiritual sites.

Sayaji Group of Hotels launches #SurakshitWithSayaji campaign in midst of the wavering pandemic

Sayaji Group of Hotels launches #SurakshitWithSayaji campaign in midst of the wavering pandemic

The five star luxury hospitality brand Sayaji Group of hotels recently launched its #SurakshitWithSayaji campaign. This campaign aims at highlighting the safety measures and the COVID protocols followed at properties across nation to ensure a delightful stay experience for its guests. The campaign also highlights the prompt idea of staycation and how the brand is prepared to cater its guests to have a healthy vacation in home away from home. Sayaji Parivaar since inception is known for its ‘Your’s Truly’ hospitality that is unmatched and is beyond serving just experience.

Brand along with its sister concerns Effotel and Enrise are gaming up to expand swiftly and very rapidly across the nation and #SurakshitWithSayaji campaign is just a step towards ensuring the country the level of responsibility brand is coming up in the nearing times. Sayaji hails its origin from Vadodra back in 1980’s when Mr. Sajid Dhanani launched this dream brand with customer satisfaction as its only motive, a true ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ attitude that has been incorporated in the brand from day one of its inception

Commenting on the launch of this #SurakshitWithSayaji campaign, Mr. Raoof Dhanani, Managing Director, Sayaji Group of Hotels said; “We have made visibility in due course of time running a slow and steady race. Customer experience and satisfaction is our only motto and we at all times thrive to achieve that alone. With #SurakshitWithSayaji campaign we have tried to achieve one more milestone to ensure our guests that the brand would never compromise on their hygiene and safety facilities and will keep their well-being above all priorities. Looking forward to cater more and more new guests always, Your’s truly, Sayaji.”

VITSKamats Group launches VITS White House Boutique Residences Vadodara

VITS Hotels have strengthened its presence in Gujarat with the launch of VITS White House Boutique Residences Vadodara. This unique 49-apartment luxurious property is situated on Vasna-Bhayli Road, Vadodara's posh residential locality. It’s in close proximity to the major highways, airport, and railway station and hence patrons can conveniently access the property through various modes of transport. Based on a European Architectural theme, the building's entrance facade replicates that of The White House.

Announcing the launch, Mr. Abhijit De, Vice President, Vitizen Hotels Limited said, “We are delighted to announce the launch of VITS White House Boutique Residences in Vadodara the cultural capital of Gujarat. This is our fifth VITS property in the State with other hotels located at Dwarka, Ankleshwar, Somnath and Morbi. Vadodara with its vibrant culture attracts a large slice of tourists for both business and leisure. VITS White House Boutique Residences with its strategic location, striking décor, and contemporary amenities is ideal for guests looking for comfort and extended stays in the city”.

Appointment | Hotel Renest Tirupati appoints Nagesh Rao as General Manager

He will develop procedures, implement effective cost control measures and design training programs to maximize profits

Nagesh Rao has joined Hotel  Renest Tirupati as General Manager. He will be responsible for developing procedures, planning & implementing effective control measures, designing and implementing training programs. He will also identify and resolve problems-reversing negative trends, controlling costs and maximizing profits.

Rao is a competent professional with an experience of 25 years in the hospitality industry. He has worked with leading hotels of the IHCL Group in India and Yemen, Le Royal Meridian at Chennai, and more. An exemplary communicator, he has strong skills in forging business partnerships, leading cross-cultural teams and establishing beneficial relationships in the industry.
In his free time, Rao loves playing cricket and chess. He is also a talented singer.

Appointment | Joydeep Acharya joins JW Marriott Kolkata as Executive Housekeeper

Accentuating guest experience at the hotel, he will contribute his expertise in the property's financial administration, operating statements and payroll progress reports

Joydeep Acharya, a result-oriented professional with over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, has joined JW Marriott Kolkata as Executive Housekeeper. During his stints at international brands, including Swissotel, The Ritz Carlton, Starwood, ITC Hotels, Intercontinental Hotel Groups and The Oberoi Group, he demonstrated diligent attention to guest experience and feedback. His primary responsibilities included managing human resource activities assuring patron contentment and effective communication across departments.

With a proven track record of exceptional teamwork, Acharya is a graduate of Hotel Management from Mangalore University. He began his career at The Cecil, Shimla- Oberoi Hotels and Resorts in 2001. Later, he was an integral part of the pre-opening team at The ITC Sonar- a Luxury Collection Hotel.

After eight years at The ITC Hotels, where he successfully handled several managerial roles, Acharya moved to Le Meridien Ahmedabad as a Housekeeping Manager. He later worked with Crowne Plaza, Bangalore and The Ritz Carlton Bangalore, joining Swissotel Kolkata in 2018 as an Executive Housekeeper. Acharya was the Group Cluster Head of Housekeeping and Laundry at Sparsh Hospitals Group before joining JW Marriott Kolkata.

In his current role, he will accentuate guest experience at the hotel, understand how departmental activities affect the financial goals and objectives of the hotel, contributing his expertise in the financial administration of the hotel, operating statements and payroll progress reports. He will play a vital role in elevating the hotel’s market profile and increasing employee engagement to help the property reach its pinnacle. 

Joydeep believes that there are always long-term prospects for his future endeavours. He will work closely with the hotel’s leadership team to positively impact and achieve overall hotel goals and offer the guests a truly memorable experience.

Bill Marriott steps down as chairman of Marriott International

His son, David Marriott, will replace him in the role, which Bill had managed for almost 37 years

J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr. is stepping down as chairman of Marriott International after 37 years with his son David replacing him in the role. Bill Marriott also previously served as CEO before stepping down in 2012. He will shift to a new role of chairman emeritus.

David Marriott joined the company in 1999 and was elected as a director in 2021. The change will come into effect immediately after the company’s upcoming 2022 annual meeting.

The Marriott board also announced it had elected Bella Goren, the former chief financial officer of American Airlines as an independent director of the company, effective March 1, 2022.

“On behalf of the board and the hundreds of thousands of people who wear a Marriott name badge around the world, I’d like to thank Mr Marriott for his outstanding leadership throughout his tenure with the company. He is truly an industry icon,” said Tony Capuano, CEO of Marriott International. “I’d also like to congratulate David Marriott on being elected Chairman of the Board. Not only does he have tremendous operational experience from his career at Marriott, but hospitality is in his DNA. I look forward to working alongside him for years to come.”

Appointment | Abhishek Singh joins Courtyard by Marriott Gurugram Downtown our Executive Chef

Courtyard by Marriott Gurugram Downtown has appointed Abhishek Singh as its Executive Chef. He brings with him extensive 16 years of hospitality experience and has worked with hospitality brands across the country including Taj, Hilton, Claridges, Leela, Hyatt, Radisson. Prior to joining Courtyard by Marriott Gurugram Downtown, he was the Executive Sous Chef at JW Marriott Aerocity.

Hailing from Lucknow, Chef Singh is an alumnus of IHM Lucknow and has been a part of an array of pre-opening teams including Radisson Blue Towers – Delhi NCR. His food philosophy has always been to use farm fresh, sustainable and locally sourced seasonal produce.

Chef Singh firmly believes that the key to creating a memorable dining experience is to focus on quality further ensuring customer satisfaction. His forte lies in Indian and Western cuisine and he will be magnifying the menu at Courtyard Gurugram by curating dishes from different parts of the country. 

Appointment | Nisha Kumari join Fairmont Jaipur as Head Chef of Zia restaurant

She has trained with Albert de Mun Paris VII and represented India in the Young Chef Olympiad 2016 between 67 countries

Fairmont Jaipur has appointed Chef Nisha Kumari as the Head Chef of its recently launched ‘Zia’ barbeque restaurant. With over five years of experience, she has trained with Albert de Mun – Paris VII and represented India in the Young Chef Olympiad 2016 between 67 countries. She is also the winner of Super Chef 2015 in Bangkok. Her love for the aesthetic presentation of food and beverage makes her a perfect fit for Zia. 

Commenting on the announcement, Rajiv Kapoor, General Manager, Fairmont Jaipur said, “We are delighted to have Nisha join to spearhead the operations at our newly launched barbeque restaurant – Zia. With her immense passion for aesthetics and love for global culinary, she will play a crucial role in enhancing the skills of our team and further elevating the dining experiences for our well-traveled guests. She brings to the table her rich expertise in introducing unique food preparation techniques and will drive our vision to delight our guests with a plethora of delectable delicacies.”

Nisha has honed the art of creating thoughtfully curated recipes and handling the preparation of elaborate meals for her guests. Her proficiency in menu planning, inventory management and extensive knowledge of global culinary trends will help create an unparalleled dining experience at Fairmont Jaipur.

‘Zia’ that translates to ‘light’ in Arabic, is a brand-new barbeque restaurant at Fairmont Jaipur. Taking inspiration from the grills of Mughal era as well as authentic American barbeque trails and set amidst lush citrus garden, the restaurant lights up magically when the gleaming moonlight shines above and creates a spectacular dining experience for guests, right under the stars.

Appointment | Ronan Fearon appointed as the General Manager JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort & Spa

Ronan Fearon is appointed as the General Manager at soon to launch JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort & Spa

JW Marriott, the global luxury hotel brand is pleased to welcome Ronan Fearon as the General Manager at the soon-to-launch JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort and Spa, a very anticipated opening within Marriott International’s luxury brand portfolio in India.

From joining the company over twenty years ago as a graduate trainee in the UK, Fearon has helmed marquee leadership roles across three continents with the hospitality company. His appointment as the General Manager of the new Resort will witness Fearon in an all-encompassing role responsible for positioning the hotel as a defining benchmark in luxury hospitality in the region.

Fearon is a graduate of Shannon College of Hotel Management, Ireland, and completed a post-graduate MBA in the UK. He has held hotel leadership roles in Sales and Operations as well as been an advocate for Operational Innovation and Six Sigma during his time with Starwood Hotels.

Fearon is an enthusiastic leader bringing energy to those around him. He is focused on targets both financial and qualitative and has a passion for people and their development. Amongst his several noteworthy experiences in the luxury and hospitality sector, Fearon's most recent role was at Le Meridien Dubai Cluster in the United Arab Emirates. Before which, he was the General Manager of the legendary Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers and Complex Hotel Manager at The Westin/Le Meridien Mina Seyahi and inaugurated the luxurious St Regis Mauritius Resort and worked in the Starwood corporate office in Brussels, Belgium. A highlight in his career was the successful launch of St Regis Brand in Mauritius – the first of Marriott International’s luxury brands in Africa and the Indian ocean.

On his appointment as the General Manager of the new property, Ronan Fearon, commented, “I am excited to continue to grow my career with Marriott International and to join the South Asia family in launching the stunning JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort & Spa. Initially, I was impressed by the resort property itself and the stunning vista over the championship golf course and Nandi Hills. And whilst I was equally captivated by the presence of the JW Marriott brand and Prestige Group in the country, it was truly the warmth and friendliness of the Indian people and their approach to hospitality which has set my heart alight. I am looking forward to working with a talented team towards taking the brand to newer heights of unparalleled luxury hospitality.”

Fearon is an avid golfer and tennis player. He loves travelling especially when it can include one-of-a-kind experiences with his family. Hence his vision for the property is to attract individuals, families and groups to this part of the country that otherwise would have gone to other states or overseas and to be Marriott International’s most successful opening in 2022.

Marriott News | Marriott International Reports Fourth Quarter 2021 Results

Fourth quarter 2021 comparable systemwide constant dollar RevPAR increased 124.5 percent worldwide, 143.6 percent in the U.S. & Canada, and 83.3 percent in international markets, compared to the 2020 fourth quarter;

• Fourth quarter 2021 comparable systemwide constant dollar RevPAR declined 19.0 percent worldwide, 15.3 percent in the U.S. & Canada, and 28.2 percent in international markets, compared to the 2019 fourth quarter;

• Fourth quarter reported diluted EPS totaled $1.42, compared to reported diluted loss per share of $0.50 in the year-ago quarter. Fourth quarter adjusted diluted EPS totaled $1.30, compared to fourth quarter 2020 adjusted diluted EPS of $0.12;

• Fourth quarter reported net income totaled $468 million, compared to reported net loss of $164 million in the year-ago quarter. Fourth quarter adjusted net income totaled $430 million, compared to fourth quarter 2020 adjusted net income of $39 million;

• Adjusted EBITDA totaled $741 million in the 2021 fourth quarter, compared to fourth quarter 2020 adjusted EBITDA of $317 million;

• The company added more than 86,000 rooms globally during 2021, including approximately 43,000 rooms in international markets and a total of over 18,000 conversion rooms. Net rooms grew 3.9 percent from year-end 2020;

• At year end, Marriott’s worldwide development pipeline totaled 2,831 properties and roughly 485,000 rooms, including approximately 19,000 rooms approved, but not yet subject to signed contracts. More than 202,000 rooms in the pipeline were under construction as of the end of 2021.

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) today reported fourth quarter 2021 results.

Anthony Capuano, Chief Executive Officer, said, “The 2021 fourth quarter capped off a year that showed the incredible resilience of people’s desire to travel and the appeal of our broad portfolio of 30 global brands. We experienced significant progress in global RevPAR[1] recovery in 2021 despite the emergence of new variants and ongoing headwinds from the global pandemic. By the fourth quarter, global RevPAR was 19 percent below 2019 levels, a 40-percentage point improvement from the decline in the first quarter of the year. Global average daily rate (ADR) nearly recovered to pre-pandemic levels in the 2021 fourth quarter, while occupancy came in at 58 percent, down 12 percentage points versus 2019. Leisure demand continued to shine in the fourth quarter, with slower, yet continued improvement in business transient and group demand.

“Each of our regions saw meaningful continued RevPAR recovery in the fourth quarter compared to the third quarter, with the exception of Greater China, where recovery stalled due to their zero COVID policy. In the U.S. & Canada, RevPAR declined 15 percent compared to fourth quarter 2019 levels versus a 20 percent decline in the third quarter compared to 2019. Compared to 2019 levels, our international hotels posted a 28-percent RevPAR decline in the fourth quarter, a 12-percentage point improvement from the third quarter. While Omicron caused a temporary setback in global demand recovery in January, especially for business transient and group travel, new bookings across customer segments have rebounded to pre-Omicron levels. We are optimistic that the global recovery will progress meaningfully throughout 2022.

“Our development team had a strong 2021, signing approximately 92,000 rooms, of which more than 50,000 were in international markets and more than 40 percent were in the upper upscale and luxury tiers. During the year, we added more than 86,000 gross rooms to our distribution, a new annual record, 21 percent of which were conversions. We were pleased to post 3.9 percent net rooms growth for 2021, exceeding our previous expectations. With our momentum around conversions and our industry-leading pipeline, we are bullish about our ability to increase our footprint over the next several years. For 2022, we expect gross rooms growth approaching 5 percent and deletions of 1 to 1.5 percent, resulting in anticipated net rooms growth of 3.5 to 4 percent.

“While we are keeping an eye on the continued impact from Omicron, we look forward to the day when we reach a new normal where the impact from COVID-19 on travel has essentially disappeared. In the meantime, we continue to focus on driving revenues, controlling costs, maximizing cash flow, and improving our credit metrics. Assuming no meaningful setback in the global recovery, we could begin returning cash to shareholders later in 2022.

“As I finish my first year as CEO, I could not be prouder of how our associates have managed through this crisis. They have worked tirelessly to serve our guests, support our owners and franchisees, and assist each other. I am incredibly optimistic about Marriott’s future and look forward to continued recovery in 2022 and the prospects for meaningful growth in the coming years.”

Fourth Quarter 2021 Results
Marriott’s reported operating income totaled $635 million in the 2021 fourth quarter, compared to 2020 fourth quarter reported operating loss of $128 million. Reported net income totaled $468 million in the 2021 fourth quarter, compared to 2020 fourth quarter reported net loss of $164 million. Reported diluted earnings per share (EPS) totaled $1.42 in the quarter, compared to reported diluted loss per share of $0.50 in the year-ago quarter.

Adjusted operating income in the 2021 fourth quarter totaled $578 million, compared to 2020 fourth quarter adjusted operating income of $148 million. Adjusted operating income in the 2020 fourth quarter excluded impairment charges of $44 million.

Fourth quarter 2021 adjusted net income totaled $430 million, compared to 2020 fourth quarter adjusted net income of $39 million. Adjusted diluted EPS in the 2021 fourth quarter totaled $1.30, compared to adjusted diluted EPS of $0.12 in the year-ago quarter. The 2020 fourth quarter adjusted results excluded income tax benefits of $74 million ($0.23 per share), impairment charges of $88 million after-tax ($0.27 per share), and loss on asset sales of $4 million after-tax ($0.01 per share).

Adjusted results also excluded restructuring and merger-related charges, cost reimbursement revenue, and reimbursed expenses. These items totaled $38 million of after-tax profits ($0.12 per share) in the 2021 fourth quarter and an after-tax loss of $185 million ($0.57 per share) in the 2020 fourth quarter. See pages A-3 and A-13 for the calculation of adjusted results and the manner in which the adjusted measures are determined in this press release.

Base management and franchise fees totaled $737 million in the 2021 fourth quarter, compared to base management and franchise fees of $379 million in the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year increase in these fees is primarily attributable to RevPAR increases due to the ongoing recovery in lodging demand. Other non-RevPAR related franchise fees in the 2021 fourth quarter totaled $186 million, compared to $133 million in the year-ago quarter, aided by higher credit card and residential branding fees.

Incentive management fees totaled $94 million in the 2021 fourth quarter, compared to $44 million in the 2020 fourth quarter. The year-over-year increase was split evenly between the International and U. S. & Canada segments.

Contract investment amortization for the 2021 fourth quarter totaled $19 million, compared to $38 million in the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year change largely reflects impairments of investments in management and franchise contracts recorded in the 2020 fourth quarter.

Owned, leased, and other revenue, net of direct expenses, totaled a profit of $33 million in the 2021 fourth quarter, compared to a $27 million loss in the year-ago quarter, and reflects the ongoing recovery in lodging demand.

Depreciation, amortization, and other expenses for the 2021 fourth quarter totaled $54 million, compared to $71 million in the year-ago quarter. Expenses in the 2020 fourth quarter included $22 million of impairment charges.

General, administrative, and other expenses for the 2021 fourth quarter totaled $213 million, compared to $183 million in the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year increase primarily reflects higher compensation and legal costs.

Interest expense, net, totaled $91 million in the fourth quarter compared to $105 million in the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year decrease is largely due to lower debt balances.

Equity in losses were $0 million, an improvement of $87 million year over year, largely reflecting impairment charges recorded in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) totaled $741 million in the 2021 fourth quarter, compared to fourth quarter 2020 adjusted EBITDA of $317 million. See page A-12 for the adjusted EBITDA calculation.

Selected Performance Information
The company added 120 properties (20,440 rooms) to its worldwide lodging portfolio during the 2021 fourth quarter, including over 3,500 conversion rooms and approximately 10,000 rooms in international markets. Twenty-three properties (4,955 rooms) exited the system during the quarter. At year end, Marriott’s global lodging system totaled 7,989 properties, with more than 1,479,000 rooms.

At year end, the company’s worldwide development pipeline totaled 2,831 properties with roughly 485,000 rooms, including 1,008 properties with more than 202,000 rooms under construction and 98 properties with approximately 19,000 rooms approved for development, but not yet subject to signed contracts.

In the 2021 fourth quarter, worldwide RevPAR increased 124.5 percent (a 124.9 percent increase using actual dollars) compared to the 2020 fourth quarter. RevPAR in the U.S. & Canada increased 143.6 percent (a 143.9 percent increase using actual dollars), and RevPAR in international markets increased 83.3 percent (an 84 percent increase using actual dollars).

Balance Sheet and Liquidity
At year-end 2021, Marriott’s net debt was $8.7 billion, representing total debt of $10.1 billion less cash and equivalents of $1.4 billion. At year-end 2020, the company’s net debt was $9.5 billion, representing total debt of $10.4 billion less cash and equivalents of $0.9 billion.

Investment Spending
Marriott anticipates that full year 2022 investment spending will total $600 million to $700 million. Total investment spending includes capital and technology expenditures, loan advances, contract acquisition costs, and other investing activities

ITC GARDENIA, BENGALURU ACCREDITED THE LEED ZERO CARBON CERTIFICATION BY USGBC

ITC GARDENIA, BENGALURU ACCREDITED THE LEED ZERO CARBON CERTIFICATION BY USGBC

ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru has been accredited yet another distinction by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council), making it the third hotel in the world to achieve the LEED Zero Carbon Certification, after ITC Windsor, Bengaluru and ITC Grand Chola, Chennai.

ITC Hotels’ Responsible Luxury journey started at ITC Gardenia in 2009 when it was conferred the highest rating for green buildings in the world - the LEED India Platinum Rating. This recognition made it Asia’s first platinum rated hotel and is yet another manifestation of ITC's leadership in Sustainability Practices.

LEED Zero encourages a holistic approach for buildings and places, which will contribute to a regenerative future and demonstrates a deep commitment to implementing building and design strategies that assure an enhanced quality of life. 

ITC Gardenia is an inclusive blend of contemporary design and International Green Practices, a beacon in a bustling urban environment. The hotel has utilised innovation, cutting edge technology and design integration to earn new benchmarks in energy efficiency, water efficiency and zero carbon techniques, and is a model of environmental stewardship. A series of sustainable measures and practices were embraced to ensure that elements of nature were effectively harnessed at every level inside this luxury hotel. 

Manas V. Krishnamoorthy, General Manager, ITC Gardenia, added, “Following its philosophy of “Forward to Green. Back to Nature.”, ITC Gardenia exemplifies ITC's vision and is perhaps the perfect example of finding the common rhythm between man-made and natural environment. The LEED Zero carbon certification for ITC Gardenia is a matter of huge pride for us as our journey towards Responsible Luxury started with ITC Gardenia in 2009 when it was conferred the LEED Platinum certification. Guests staying at ITC Gardenia consume lesser carbon footprints, compared to any other hotel of this size. It is our humble attempt to educate them on not only being eco-friendly but also eco-responsible.”

ITC Hotels has pioneered several ground-breaking initiatives on environment, hotel ecosystem, health, and well-being. From LEED platinum ratings, to being one of the first chain to eliminate single use plastic free products, deployment of radiation harmonisers across the chain, farm to fork low carbon footprint cuisine, clean air and more. 

“ITC Gardenia’s LEED Zero [Energy, Water, Waste or Carbon] certification demonstrates a tremendous commitment to implementing building and design strategies that ultimately help improve quality of life for all” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC. “LEED Zero was created to give the green building community a new standard to strive for and recognize the leadership of projects that 

have aspired to net zero goals. By prioritizing net zero [energy, water, waste or carbon], ITC Gardenia is pioneering a new way forward for the industry as a whole.”

For more than two decades, LEED has provided a framework for creating high performance green buildings and spaces and is an internationally recognized symbol of excellence. Building on that work, the U.S. Green Building Council has developed LEED Zero, a complement to LEED that verifies the achievement of net zero goals. LEED Zero represents a new level of achievement in green building that is not just attainable but is the goal of LEED certified projects around the world.

 (*LEED - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) 

About ITC Hotels:

ITC Hotels is the largest chain of hotels in the World, which has maximum number of LEED Platinum Certified Properties (As on June 2020, as per USGBC).  Continuing with its Planet Positive Promise, ITC Hotels launched Sunya Aqua or zero-kilometre water in glass bottles across the chain over a decade back and have taken this lead further and pioneered the mitigation of single use plastic from its operations pan India. While ITC Windsor is the first hotel in the world to achieve LEED Zero Carbon Certification, ITC Grand Chola is the largest hotel in the world to achieve the LEED Zero Carbon Certification.  ITC Gardenia is the third hotel in world to receive the LEED Zero Carbon Certification.

About the U.S. Green Building Council 

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a healthy, resilient and equitable future for all through the development of green buildings, cities and communities. For more than 20 years, USGBC has been advancing green building practices through the development of LEED, the world’s most widely used green building program. With the support of thousands of members, volunteers and partners, USGBC provides robust green building education courses, a rigorous professional credentialing program, and advocates for effective public policies. It convenes an international network of green building and sustainability leaders through the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, and forward thinking programs, including the Center for Green Schools. For more information, visit usgbc.org and connect on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Appointment | The Westin Pune Koregaon Park appoints Raj Kadamuturu as Assistant Director of Food & Beverage

The Westin Pune Koregaon Park appoints Raj Kadamuturu as  Assistant Director of Food & Beverage

Pune, February 2022:

Raj Kadamuturu has been appointed as the Assistant Director of Food & Beverage at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park. With 17 years of rich and diverse experience, he is a Food & Beverage specialist who started his hospitality journey with the Oberoi Hotels & Resorts in 2004. With International assignments in Africa, Middle East and Indian Ocean with brands like the Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts in Mauritius & The Seychelles. Raffles Praslin Seychelles helped him curate a strong foundation in the Food and Beverage domain.

A few of his recent noteworthy contributions include Two awards from Travel & Leisure and Food Food during his tenure at Park Hyatt – Chennai for The Flying Elephant restaurant, “Manager of the Third Quarter – 2009” at Four Seasons Resort & Golf – Mauritius, an achievement of INR 2 Crores over bar budget with beverage programs, was awarded "Role Model of the Fourth Quarter-2016” at The Taj Palace Hotel – New Delhi

Raj will thus play his role competently by enhancing the overall Food and Beverage operations of The Westin Pune Koregaon Park with his strong management and leadership skills. He will prove to be a great asset to the hotel and help the team with his rich experience. He possesses Swiss Master Hotelier Certification from hotel school, Laussane, Switzerland and proficient IT skills with knowledge across all hospitality platforms.
 

Commenting on his appointment, Raj Kadamuturu, Assistant Director of Food & Beverage, The Westin Pune Koregaon Park says, “Food & Beverage has evolved from mere operations to a specialized experiential function. It is also a great time for Food & Beverage to come to the center of hotel operations with focus on sustainability, seasonal produce, homegrown brands, superfoods and collaborations with local artisans. We hope to cater to experiential F&B journeys based on health and well-being lifestyle for all our guests. I am thrilled to be working alongside with “Team Incredible” in a rapidly growing company. We look forward in delivering genuine experiences for all our guests and associates”  

About The Westin Pune Koregaon Park:

The Westin Pune Koregaon Park is a 5-star haven of wellness and renewal. Experience effortless relaxation in tastefully designed hotel rooms and suites with signature comforts, sleek marble bathrooms and inspiring views. Thrill your senses at five on-site dining options, including a chic bar and nightclub. Refresh in the sparkling waters of our outdoor pool, and exhilarate your body in our well-equipped fitness center with cardio equipment and free weights. After a full day of work, shopping or sightseeing, invigorate your mind and body with massage, beauty and wellness therapies at our Heavenly Spa by Westin. Replenish your well-being at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park.

About Marriott International, Inc:

(NASDAQ: MAR) is the world’s largest hotel company based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, with nearly 6,000 properties in 120 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts. The company’s 30 leading brands include: Bulgari®, The Ritz-Carlton® and The Ritz-Carlton Reserve®, St. Regis®, W®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, The Luxury Collection®, Marriott Hotels®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Renaissance® Hotels, Sheraton®, Delta Hotels by Marriott SM , Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Tribute Portfolio™, Design Hotels™, Gaylord Hotels®, Courtyard®, Four Points® by Sheraton, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, Residence Inn®, TownePlace Suites®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Aloft®, Element®, Moxy® Hotels, and Protea Hotels by Marriott®. The company also operates award-winning loyalty programs: Marriott Rewards®, which includes The Ritz-Carlton Rewards®, and Starwood Preferred Guest®. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com and @MarriottIntl.