My favorite spot: "The Hotel Cafeteria"-Saluting Hotel Cafeteria Chefs by Mr.Satish Kumar General Manager The Leela Goa

My favorite spot: "The Hotel Cafeteria"-Saluting Hotel Cafeteria Chefs

This is one place which churns out more number of covers than any other restaurant or bar in our hotel irrespective of occupancies. This is also the most gratifying space for our employees if managed well.

As I climbed through several leadership positions, I realized the importance of this space more often than ever. Having started my career in the housekeeping department, I have had my share of missed meals and most importantly lack healthy food overnight when you do night shifts. I am sure all of you can relate to this and imagine all those days when we compromised. Since then I have made a commitment not to compromise and continue to deliver the best in this space. As a General Manager, the only way you get to know this space well is by spending a reasonable amount of time in this space too.

We took an opportunity to recognize these unsung heroes- #cafeteriachefs at The Leela Goa cafeteria who prepare the most delicious food for our employees. This needs a high level of commitment, passion, and compassion. They serve their most loyal guests who are their "fellow colleagues" who come from different parts of the country, backgrounds, etc every single day.

What do we do to get it right?
1. Everyone including me has our meals in the cafeteria. This is the beginning of any improvement. No more Executive Dining Rooms, please.
2. Plan a menu well in advance and balance it well. Stick to the menu and deliver it. If we can manage it well in restaurants so why not here?
3. Speak to the employees in the cafeteria during their meal periods and seek their feedback. Don't we all do this in our outlets with our guests?
4. Celebrate your success over a lavish meal. This is our inbuilt culture right from childhood- back to basics
5. Never let go off any employee hungry at any given point in time. We are in the business of hospitality and the worst thing to happen is an employee going hungry after working so hard and that too in hotels.

Are we at our best? Not yet. I started my journey The Leela Goa 11 months ago and I still have a long way to go! Isn't it all about continuous improvements?

I am sure, all my employees & leaders with whom I had the opportunity to work all around the world over the last decade would agree on the passion we had for this space when we work together