In Conversation with Anindya Dutta Gupta

Anindya Dutta Gupta is the Executive Housekeeper of Conrad Pune. He holds a Hotel Management Degree from the Institute of Hotel Management Bhubaneshwar. Prior to his appointment at Conrad, he was the Executive Housekeeper at Westin Kolkata Rajarhat. With a career spanning over 13 years with leading hospitality brands, including The Oberoi, Taj, ITC, Hyatt and Marriott, Anindya brings with him a wealth of operational experience in luxury hotels. He joined Conrad as an Executive Housekeeper and is responsible for the cleanliness and upkeep of the 351 rooms luxury hotel in Pune.

kabana

2020 and 2021 were challenging years for the hospitality industry. In your opinion, how will travel trends change in 2022?

It goes without saying that the corona-virus outbreak and ensuing safety measures have had a significant impact on the hospitality industry throughout 2020 and 2021. The ease in relaxations when the cases were low served as a boon to us as we have witnessed a positive hike in the food and beverage sale and the increase in occupancy due to the surge of staycations. In terms of travel trends for 2022, one of the strongest emerging trendS will include travelers opting for staycations or quick weekend getaways in an all-inclusive hotel like ours. Another one being their preference of going for mini-holidays over an annual trip with a growing demand in staycation offers and discounted stays.

Zeera

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

The one characteristic that I specifically look out for while hiring a new employee is positive attitude. From my personal experiences, i have learnt that knowledge is something which can be shared and if the person has the eagerness to learn he/she will definitely excel in his/her profession and this is only possible when the person has the right attitude and eagerness to learn new things.

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

 Unknown to me, the features of a hotelier were imbibed in me from my childhood days as cleaning was my hobby – something that I really enjoyed. The hotel management course further persuaded me to convert my hobby into my profession.

Pune Sugar Box

To be a successful hotelier it is important to be disciplined as guests will consider you as the right person for their need and comfort during their stay. It is essential to maintain a positive attitude to make your guests comfortable during their holiday. It is the team members who make an organization successful so to be an aspiring hotelier it is important to have a disciplined personality and the right attitude. The industry will definitely recover and there will be a huge scope of opportunities for the new generation.

Coriander Kitchen

Which cities are your favorites for: 1) food 2) history 3) fashion?

I am a foodie and being from Bengal I am highly passionate about street foods like rolls, panipuri and cutlets. Apart from Kolkata’s street foods, I love bingeing on the biryani’s and kebabs from Lucknow. Vacations are mostly spent in historical places. Amongst them I love visiting the forts of Rajasthan especially Chiitorgarh.

Koji

What are some of the new measures your team has put into place to deal with the post-COVID-19 situation?

COVID 19 has taught us to live with the new normal where cleanliness has become the top priority in all the hotels worldwide. Sanitization after every guest checks out, ensuring the linens are washed in high temperature using sanitizing chemicals are some practices that have been added to enhanced our safety protocols. We have also taken measures for keeping our guests and associates safe by maintaining social distancing and using high grade chemicals to clean the touch points. Masks and gloves have become a part of our uniform without which we cannot interact or work.

What would you do if you weren’t an hotelier? 

I would have preferred to be a journalist.

poolside

When are you happiest? At work, which is your most challenging activity and why? 

I always try to remain happy and smiling as I am a firm believer of keeping a positive attitude always. Every day is a new day where challenges are a part of this job.

What makes Conrad Pune stand out from other brands you’ve worked with?

I have been working with Conrad Pune for the last 3 months and right from my initial days, I have been mesmerized with the rich interiors, the structure and the exemplary services which this hotel provides to the guest. Conrad Pune is not only beautiful because of its attributes but beautiful in all ways as the management team here is phenomenal. The highly motivated team is always on their toes to serve the finest of Conrad hospitality to guests and I think this is what makes our hotel the number one choice for guests looking for a holiday in Pune.

Masu

You’ve had such a successful career – what would you say has been your career highlight? 

With an experience of 12 years in hotel industry I have worked with various luxury brands in India. Every hotel has contributed and helped me to learn and develop my career. During my journey I have been fortunate enough to have met many leaders and team members who helped me learn new things. I love experimenting and coming up with new ideas and this has often helped me to perform well in my career.