Exclusive Interview | Pavan Manikonda, Area General Manager, Sterling Holidays,Kodaikanal
/“Dream big, embrace every opportunity & never have mind blocks, and do not shy out from making mistakes and learning”
Editor: Tell us about your journey. How did it all start?
I have always been passionate about connecting and working with large groups of people & people from different walks of life from early childhood. I never wanted to get into the rat race of regular academic courses such as Engg, Medical, etc. that are popular those days. Instead, my passion and love to connect and work with large & diversified groups of people drove me to pick hotel management as an option. I have done my hotel management diploma from Food Crafts Institute, Visakhapatnam. I have done my Industrial Training with ITC and my first job was with The Park, Visakhapatnam (Apeejay Hotels). I joined The Park as Airport Rep – part of Sales & Marketing. After a good stint at The Park, I have moved on to be part of hotel operations at Taj Residency, Visakhapatnam. Working with Taj has been a great learning and I worked with them in all verticals i.e. business, leisure, and Luxury. I was also been part of the Gateway & Vivanta branding exercise. After working with Taj for over 8 yrs., I have moved on for career progression and worked with Starwood Hotels, Louvre Hotels, and Berggruen Hotels, and am currently with Sterling Holidays Resorts India Pvt Ltd as Area General Manager for Kodai Cluster.
Editor: What do you think it takes to succeed in this industry?
Passion, Patience, Ability to think differently, Leadership drive combined with innovation, and a great level of EQ (emotional quotient)
Editor: What are the attributes you look for while selecting or hiring? If someone wants to work with you, what should they do?
Knowledge can be transferred and skills can be imparted when an individual has the right attitude and purpose in life. More than how knowledgeable or skillful a person is While hiring I look for how good his attitude is and his or her level of EQ which to a greater extent decides how much he or she can create buy-in from various stakeholders. I always pick up people that can embrace change and can dare to think differently adapting to new challenges that are inevitably constant and deliver excellence.
Editor: What advice would you give to a young, aspiring hotelier for their internship?
Dream big, embrace every opportunity & never have mind blocks, and do not shy out from making mistakes and learning.
Editor: What are some of the trends you see impacting the hospitality industry?
People are looking for unconventional travel & stay experiences such as Staycations, glamping, Bleisure, unique discoveries & experiences that a place can offer. Minimalism has reinvigorated or “less is more” so to say. Unique experiences & discoveries where local communities can be direct stakeholders are in demand, as are niche properties, adventurous holidays, and relaxation retreats. With the outbreak of pandemics with emphasis on less direct contact or otherwise digital experiences where technology-assisted options, such as mobile check-in, contactless payments, voice control, biometrics, etc. are the need of the hour. Travelers/Guests who have become accustomed to unlocking their smartphones and laptops using facial and fingerprint recognition are expecting the same convenience in accessing their hotel rooms and other facilities.
Creating differentiation through unique brand experiences & brand motifs ranging from unique architecture, and interior design to food & beverage experiences including unique regional & health foods to stay experience to local guided tours – all of this decides the success of a hotel in terms of driving in business and great customer satisfaction scores
Editor: Two things you would like to change in the industry.
Strengthen technology to improve the guest experience and at the same time make day-to-day operations hassle-free and efficient
Create a sustainable environment by involving all local communities as key stakeholders in a business where win-win relationships do good for society at large
Editor: What is your favorite interview question and why?
My favorite question is “Name a few areas that you are very good at and a few areas that you think you should improve upon”. Because knowing what one knows will help in optimizing opportunities and also knowing what is not known will help to focus on upgrading skills and enlarging knowing what is known and not known instigates thought towards drive to improve & excel in life.
