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TEN QUESTIONS
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You have been in the hospitality industry for the past several years. Could you tell us about your early days? What made you enter the hospitality sector? Hospitality came to me by choice and over a discussion with school mates on career options. I must admit that to a young impressionable teen, ‘hotels’ may have carried a vision of grandeur (the good life) which soon vanishes on day one at hotel school but miraculously it begins to reappear not only as a vision but in reality after some years of hard work. One of the rewards of being a hotelier is to experience the ‘finer aspects of life’. What plans do you have for the company? I have been given the opportunity to open Le Meridien Dhaka, the hotel is due to open early next year and promises to be Bangladesh’s largest luxury business hotel. With over 300 guest rooms, various options of banqueting and meeting facilities spread over 20000 sq ft, next gen technology, with 6 distinct food and beverage venues, a luxurious spa and an infinity roof top swimming pool I believe we have the right product to positively impact the hotel standards bar not only in the country but also in the Asian region.
Journey Itself Is the Destination Ashwani Nayar, General Manager, Le Meridien, Dhaka, believes one of the rewards of being a hotelier is to experience the ‘finer aspects of life’.
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I hope to open this hotel as a flag bearer of Le Meridien brand and as a show case of Starwood’s strong culture and branding. I intend to focus on creating a team that will commit
to experiential guest services and market leading returns. My personal dream however is to create an organizational culture where each associate ‘feels excited about coming to work every morning’. How do you see the role of a hotel in developing a destination? What all things can hospitality sector do in this regard? I have always believed that hotels are a barometer to the business, social and cultural interest of visitors and travellers in a destination. Whilst there are plenty of examples of visionary hotel developers who foresee development in an area before others and go ahead in creating infrastructure before the destination itself is fully developed. However most of the development in hotel infrastructure happens in destinations that are on a northern trajectory due to economic reasons mainly and entertainment, sociocultural reasons sometimes. The two are synonymous and symbiotic in relation, simply where there is a demand there will be creation of supply. Would you please share with us the proudest moment and some of the unforgettable moments in your professional life? If I am able to positively impact the development of my team colleagues some of whom are in leadership roles or general managers today or when they receive global recognition from the company for their outstanding contribution, I view these as my biggest wins. There are so many unforgettable instances that occur in a hoteliers life span that each one could pen down a quintet as memoirs. But amongst the most touching for me have been at Le Meridien Cochin whilst
ASIAN TRAVELLER | SEPTEMBER 2013