Exclusive Interview | Raoof Dhanani - Managing Director, Sayaji Hotels

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“The future of the hospitality industry is looking very bright and promising. Hotels can look forward to a robust demand.”
— Raoof Dhanani
Raoof Dhanani - Managing Director, Sayaji Hotels

Tell us about your journey. How did it all start?

Sayaji Hotels Group commemorated its 33rd anniversary on January 7th. The first stone of the hotel was laid in Vadodara in the year 1990. Starting from the Kala Ghoda Circle with a generous inventory of 54 rooms, Sayaji Hotels now operates 22 Hotels in the cities of Indore, Vadodara, Kolhapur, Bhopal, Pune, Raipur, Rajkot, Jamnagar and Nashik. Today, Sayaji Hotels is India’s premier lifestyle hospitality brand renowned for its bespoke experiences, signature hospitality, and ushering new standards of opulence in the 4-star and 5-star hotel industry.

Share with us 5 skills that you think will be critical for a hospitality career in the future

Time Management, Multi-tasking, Industry know-how, Interpersonal Skills and Grooming are the five skills that I think are very critical for a hospitality career in the future.  

What does the future look like?

The future of the hospitality industry is looking very bright and promising. Hotels can look forward to a robust demand. Sustainability and hygiene will always be a top priority.

Sayaji Hotels plans to expand its footprints nationally with properties opening soon in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan to mention a few.
 
Share some of your secrets in keeping an engaged, safe and happy team.

Employee recognition, transparency, positive work environment, team building activities, wellness programs are some of our effective trade secrets in keeping engaged, safe and happy team.    

How do you think AI will impact our industry? Specific jobs, processes etc?

Artificial intelligence is playing a vital role in the hospitality industry. Revenue management, guest experiences, daily operations, fetching and sorting of data etc. can be managed easily with artificial intelligence.

Sayaji Hotels have also moved towards digitalization by introducing QR code payments, digital restaurant menus, voice control electronic devices etc. We will shortly be introducing advanced artificial intelligence based solutions in various areas of our hotels.

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My favourite interview question is, "If you could design an immersive guest experience that truly embodies the essence of India, what would it entail?" This question allows candidates to showcase their creativity, cultural understanding, and alignment with our vision.

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The gaming and entertainment industry in India appears to have a promising future, given the rapid increase in demand for leisure travel and tourism, with casinos playing a critical role in this fabric. Deltin is well-positioned to capitalise on these market shifts.

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What is the one app / tech solution you would love to see?

On the lighter side, an app which will help in identifying a discount seeker or a guest who complains a lot.

Exclusive Interview | Anuj Mahto, CEO, GKE Hospitality
Exclusive Interview | Anuj Mahto, CEO, GKE Hospitality

Starting from humble beginnings, I have learned invaluable lessons, overcome challenges, and leveraged opportunities to build a thriving career in the hospitality industry.

Exclusive Interview | Ayon Bhattacharya, Vice President West India, The Orchid Hotel
Exclusive Interview | Ayon Bhattacharya, Vice President West India, The Orchid Hotel

An ideal Hotel Professional to me is the one who has the below 5 P attributes:

Be Positive

Be Present

Be Prompt

Be Passionate

Be Product Centric

Exclusive Interview | Mr. Stephen D’souza, Cluster GM, Four Points by Sheraton, Navi Mumbai.
Exclusive Interview | Mr. Stephen D’souza, Cluster GM, Four Points by Sheraton, Navi Mumbai.

As someone with extensive experience in the industry, I have identified five essential skills that I believe will be particularly important moving forward to provide exceptional service and create memorable experiences for their guests. 

 Technology proficiency

 Cultural intelligence

 Emotional intelligence

 Sustainability awareness

 Creativity and innovation

By developing these skills, hospitality professionals can position themselves for success in the rapidly changing landscape of the industry. 

Exclusive Interview | Mr Tarun Gulati, Director, Himalayan Hotels
Exclusive Interview | Mr Tarun Gulati, Director, Himalayan Hotels

Launching something new is exciting because it’s like a clean canvas on which you can give your vision shape and physicality and turn it into a reality. Hospitality projects require a lot of hard work to shape a vision into reality, and it’s a creative process.

The fact is that hospitality and real estate projects have a long gestation cycle, but they are also generational assets that keep giving you returns over many decades. So yes, they are exciting because we do like to think long-term.

Exclusive Interview | Chef Ishant Khanna, Corporate Chef, Badmaash, VRO Hospitality
Exclusive Interview | Chef Ishant Khanna, Corporate Chef, Badmaash, VRO Hospitality

What is one software you would like to see? 

A software which can give an insight into each recipe, from calculating the calories, protein, carbohydrates etc, to analysing the effect of each ingredient and giving a deeper understanding of the benefits and health hazards.