In Conversation with Tejus Jose

Tejus Jose is the General Manager – Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel. He attended Hotel Management College at the Institute of Hotel Management, Hyderabad and is an alumnus of IIM – Calcutta. He is a passionate professional who is recognized in the industry for his leadership skills. As a hotelier, he takes deep interest in training and mentoring and takes pride in having groomed and mentored hospitality leaders over a period of time. He has rich experience in upscale and luxury hotels spanning over two decades and has worked at various Indian and International companies like the Oberoi Hotels, Hyatt International and Accor Hotels in various capacities. He was instrumental in opening, setting-up and the immense success of the iconic Hyderabad International Convention Centre in Hyderabad.

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In 2013, he received the Hotelier Award for the ‘General Manager of the Year’ as a testament to his strategy and execution focus. He has also been part of various industry trade bodies and strongly believes in giving back to academia. In his prior assignment he was the General Manager at the Le Meridien Kochi in Kerala and helped make a turnaround at the hotel. Now as the General Manager at Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel, he is responsible to lead operations, guest satisfaction and help position the Renaissance Hotel brand as a true ‘Lifestyle Hotel’ brand of Marriott International, in Bengaluru. Tejus enjoys cycling and listening to an eclectic mix of music in his leisure time.

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What makes Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel stand out from other properties you’ve worked in?

Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel has some very unique features which makes it stand out from other hotels, they are :

1) Its city centric location with mesmerizing views of the Bangalore Turf Club;

2) Contemporary and modern interiors unlike no other – the hotel’s décor takes a big deviation from the standard-stock chandeliers and mirror-finish marble floors. Renaissance is a ‘lifestyle’ brand of Marriott International and this personality of the brand shouts out from every aspect of the Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel. At Ren Bengaluru (as we call her affectionately and yes she’s a lady) the floor has leather finish marble, a pouf in the lobby and a rocking wooden pony.

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Who is your typical customer?

We host guests from various backgrounds from MICE guests to honeymooners, to city dwelling staycationers…we love them all.

 If you could plan a one-day itinerary for guests looking to explore Bangalore, where would you send them?

Bangalore or Bengaluru is very blessed to have a big and exhaustive list of places to visit and one must take full advantage of that whilst here. To name a few, one could go to   Nandi Hills, Bannerghatta National Park, a host of diverse night clubs and brew pubs, Wonderla-the amusement park, Grover Vineyards and Big Banyan Winery, the stunning Cubbon Park (and don’t miss the dog park), Tipu Sultan’s Palace, the imposing Vidhana Soudha, Jawahar Lal Nehru Planetarium, the famous Lalbagh, etc. The city spoils you for choice!

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Building the right team is crucial for a property’s success. What are the key skills you look for when hiring new employees?

Attitude, Attitude and Attitude, in my belief, nothing else comes above Attitude, personality traits like integrity are bare minimum and expected anyway, so I wouldn’t even mention it.

What is the one dish that guests have to try when at your hotel?

We are known for our North Indian and South Indian food, our must try dishes are our MLA Pesarattu (a moong dal pancake or dosa, stuffed with khara bhath or upma), a wide variety of dosas, bisi belle bhath, various types of idlis, upma and medu vada. Apart from these breakfast items we also do a fine job of Canara cuisine with the sarus and ragi mudde, Mangalorean fish curry, nati koli curry, etc. We also do some yummy Bhurani Gosht, Murgh makhni khatta pyaz and daal makhani, come and try some!

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2020 was a challenging year for the hospitality industry. In your opinion, how will travel trends change in the 2nd half of 2021?

As a trend, the recovery from the first wave was long and the second wave in India, although far more intense, the recovery happened in shorter time. So using this analogy, the expectation is that if this series of waves continue, the bounce back will be much faster as we ‘get used’ to the ‘new normal’.

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Was a career in hospitality something you always dreamt of?  What is your advice to aspiring hoteliers? 

Yes, as a child, growing up in Mumbai, I was always awe-inspired by the pomp, glamour and finesse seen in the business. So yes, it’s been on the radar from a very early age. Hospitality is a lifestyle industry, where one gets an opportunity to live the ‘good life’ however it also is very demanding on its workforce. So if you are ready to work hard and enjoy the great lifestyle the industry offers you, then go on and grab it with both your arms!

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You have worked in several cities, which is your favourite city for work and play? 

I think from the point of view of professionalism and ease of getting things done, Mumbai trumps them all. Everyone there is racing against time and therefore there is that desire to deliver on time in the DNA of the city. My favourite cities are definitely Kochi with its backwaters, the Western ghats, beaches and forests and Bangalore with its Western ghats, coffee plantations and tiger reserves, both cities spoil you for choice with short-drive getaways, rejuvenating you after an intense week at work. In both these cities weekends are not enough!

When are you happiest? 

I’m happiest when I am with my family and friends.