Exclusive Interview | Shankar Bote, Director of Engineering, Grand Millennium, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE
/“The future of the hospitality industry would be highly creative and innovative driven. The clients would not only seek for exploration but also an innovative and unique experience. All the hotels or the brands will be emphasizing on building their USP (Unique Selling Proposition) where all the brands will try to prove their own brand / facility is superior to its competitor.”
Tell us about your journey. How did it all start?
My primary technical qualification was ITI and NCTVT in Machinist trade. On that basis, I had started my career in 1986 from one of the fabrication workshops in Pune as a ‘Machine Operator’. Later, I worked in Bharat Forge Ltd, Bajaj Auto Ltd and Bharat Glass Ltd. From 1988 to 1993, I worked in Habib Technical Institute as a Workshop Instructor and from 1993 to 1998 in IIT Mumbai as a Mechanic.
While I was working in IIT Mumbai, I decided to persuade for a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering (part time) in M.H. Saboo Siddik Polytechnic, Mumbai in 1993 and successfully completed it in 1998 securing 1 st class grade.
As an Engineer, I started my career in 1998 as a ‘Maintenance Supervisor’ in Kores India Ltd, Goa and resigned from there as a ‘Maintenance Executive’ in 2006 to join Intergold India Ltd, Mumbai as a ‘Maintenance Manager’.
My hospitality journey began in the year 2007, from “Ramada Caravela Beach Resort, Goa”, which is a five-star deluxe property in the capacity of a Chief Engineer. The experience of serving two years in that property boosted my spirit, knowledge and motivation to excel and deliver the results as a hospitality professional from Engineering perspective.
As a result, it’s my fortune that I could explore the multi recognised brands in Gulf such as Citymax Hotels, IHG, RHG, Tamani and Millennium serving the titles of Chief Engineer, Corporate Chief Engineer, Cluster Chief Engineer & currently the “Director of Engineering” in Grand Millennium, Business Bay, Dubai, UAE.
What do you think it takes to succeed in this industry?
I’d say the core element to achieve success in this industry is “having an indiscriminate passion towards one’s profession”. Considering the Engineering department there can be several critical challenges on a daily basis, hence to face them and to resolve the issues one need to have the ability to devote time and patience. Simultaneously, pursuing the thorough understanding of latest inventions and trends is always highly recommended.
To sum up I’d say in my opinion “Passion, Patience and Constant Learning” are the key elements to succeed in this industry.
Share with us 5 skills that you think will be critical for hospitality career in the future?
Considering the advancements in the technology and the growth of hospitality sector, followings will be the critical skills in the future:
Learning / Training - Having a technology savvy staff could be a challenging, hence training all of them would be a critical.
Customer Relationship Management - Considering the growth in the hospitality sector, to comply with the brand standard and the customer preferences would be a critical in the future.
Crisis Management - To foresee the unexpected events and to prepare for it is always challenging and the same will remain challenging in future too.
Adaptability - Getting familiar to the latest trends and innovations in order to get adjusted with changing circumstances will be critical.
Customer Retention Skills - Due to multiple options available to the guests, retaining the customers or clients would be very challenging in the future.
What does the future look like? For the industry, you, your project / initiative?
The future of the hospitality industry would be highly creative and innovative driven. The clients would not only seek for exploration but also an innovative and unique experience. All the hotels or the brands will be emphasizing on building their USP (Unique Selling Proposition) where all the brands will try to prove their own brand / facility is superior to its competitor.
As far as the Engineering operation is concerned, there will be significant growth in the implementation of sustainable energy that will have an effective impact on environment and energy consumption.
What are the attributes you look for while selecting or hiring?
In my opinion there are only two major qualities that plays a vital role while recruiting the candidates:
1. Attitude – The right attitude always contributes for the welfare of the operation and to accomplish the departmental goals.
2. Knowledge / Ability to learn - Its very essential to have experienced team members in your team and to have the tendency to keep learning that they are unfamiliar to, so that it can help them to justify their role and enhance their own experience.
What is your favourite interview question & why?
I always like to answer the question “Tell me something about you” in the interview as it gives an opportunity to present a brief overview of your professional journey, accomplishments and your vision.
Share some of your secrets in keeping an engaged, safe and happy team.
Generally, I follow the below ideas:
Team involvement & building competency: To Identify the challenges / internal projects through inspections, audits, property walks, guest complaints and discuss them with the team to seek their solutions. In the same meeting, the most appropriate solution is finalised and that small project is given to one of the team members who updates me on the progress / challenges on daily basis till it’s completed successfully.
Staff Recognition: In monthly staff recognition function, I present the pictures / videos of such achievements along with the efforts taken by the respective team member to complete the project. Thus, the team members are getting appreciated and motivated to initiate with some other projects.
Staff Appraisal: Such team members are normally recommended for ‘Employee of The Month / Year’ Awards and developed for next positions. Thus, they remained engaged and happy.
Safety & Precautionary Measures: To ensure their safety at work, I prepare FLS matrix. Accordingly, they receive the tools, safety equipment, checklists, SOPs and trainings.
Team Motivation: I give credit of all the departmental achievements to my team. It certainly boosts their morale.
