Our recent interaction with Mr. Amit Kumar Singh, a prominent figure in the hospitality sector and a General Manager for over ten years, was quite informative. His career, which includes roles at Sarovar Hotels & Resorts and Golden Tulip Lucknow, offers valuable perspectives derived from his extensive experience. We invite our readers to discover the main points from our meaningful exchange with him.

Greetings, Mr. Amit, as General Manager of Hotel Golden Tulip Lucknow, could you tell us about your beginnings in the hospitality world?

Thank you for the warm welcome. My roots are in Lucknow, and it was a bit of luck and a friend’s advice that led me to the hospitality industry and gradually I groomed myself as a passionate Hotelier. I studied hotel management in Mangalore until 2005 and started as a Management Trainee in Goa. Now, I'm General Manager here at the Golden Tulip Lucknow (Louvre Hotel Group Managed by Sarovar Hotels).

What’s one interview question you always ask, and what does it tell you about the candidate?

I usually ask, ‘How do you start your day?’. It is a simple way to know how someone plans and prepares for their day. Being kind and positive is crucial in our field. This question helps me understand if they’ve got the right skills and mindset for the job.

How do you keep your team motivated and content?

For me, it’s all about keeping it “The Team driven”. I assign them important tasks, push them to do their best, and help them grow as leaders. Regular training, putting our guests first, welcoming innovative ideas, chatting with my team, and keeping a safe for my team and workplace are all part of our routine.

What approach do you take when launching new projects?

I’ve been instrumental in turning green field projects to Its successful operations and 3 renovation projects keeping a view of sustainability driven. Success comes from spreading the word, caring for our community, forming a solid team, focusing on the business side, ensuring regular upkeep and providing top-notch services.

What should we expect from Golden Tulip Lucknow and your other hotel ventures?

Lucknow is known for Its Heritage, Culture, craft, and Food and is becoming a more important hub for BLAISURE (Business/ Leisure) tourism. Now due to Quality infrastructure and connectivity between nearby cities and Airports, there are good opportunities for the Tourism and Hospitality industry. Lucknow being the Gateway city for UP has great connectivity with Religious Circuit Ayodhya - Prayag raj & Varanasi which is expanding it from BLEISURE (Business Leasure Hotels) to SLEISURE (Spiritual Leisure Hotels).

We’re eager to offer great services for our guests and there’s “Sarovar Affiliate” a new project from our group that’s on the horizon.

Any last thoughts for those starting in the hospitality industry?

The hospitality industry scenario in India is moving quickly. My advice is to stay flexible and keep learning. Change is good, whether it is in tech or in what our guests need. The heart of hospitality, making guests feel at home, will always be the same. Keep improving your people skills and your passion for service. The future looks promising, and I’m excited to see how newcomers will shape it.