Asmita Mukherjee - Hyderabad Varun Mohan is the General Manager of Hyatt Centric MG Road Bangalore, which is the first Hyatt Centric Hotel in India that opened in 2018. Mohan is known for being tech-savvy, people-oriented, an active listener, and a strong believer in transparency and working ethics. Asmita Mukherjee spoke with Mohan to know more about his plans for the hotel.
According to Mohan, although the calendar year has changed, many of the same factors that influence hotel forecasts remain the same, including the outlook for business transient and group travel, the impact of inflation on travel demand, the longevity of leisure travel, and the emergence of the COVID-19 omicron variant.
“With 2022 in mind, we expect a new good start and the situation will change soon. It is hard to expect a decent business in the first quarter of 2022, but we are optimistic,” said optimistic Mohan.
According to Mohan, providing a safe and clean environment for colleagues and guests is a top priority for Hyatt, he added, “We always want guests to feel confident in the care we provide. The uncertain times definitely made all the hotels plan and re-plan their strategies.”
Mohan believes that despite a disruptive start, a positive shift in revenue growth across the hospitality industry is expected. “The growth in travel is expected to continue as India further ramps up its vaccination rate resulting in progressed sentiments. We expect the situation to recover in the holidays and wedding seasons. But if the spread continues for a long time, the peak business seasons will be no better,” he said.
Speaking about utilising technology, he expressed that the coronavirus has made the world aware of the possible risks associated with physical touchpoints, and hence the goal of a hands-free experience has become crucial for both travellers and brands. From replacing tangible restaurant menus and paper in-room compendiums with scannable QR codes to contactless hotel check-in capabilities, mobile room keys, touchless payments, almost every aspect of the hospitality experience can now be accessed through guests’ own mobile devices.
According to Mohan, customer demands and expectations are shifting. He stressed on one of the alternative revenue streams that he witnessed flourishing at his hotel by saying, “The focus has shifted to alternative mealtime solutions. While eating out is still considered risky, home delivery of cooked meals is gaining popularity. For the same, we introduced a contactless home delivery system, from the freshest produce salads to homely combo meals with a unique indulgence of flavours at home as comfort food is the need of the hour.”
“Also, with an aim to serve something new every time to our patrons, our team of chefs have come up with a Globe-Trotting Food Menu that offers lip-smacking cuisine from around the world curated to suit everyone’s taste buds,” he concluded.
asmita.mukherjee@saffronsynergies.in
