ECHO 2016 COLLEGE MAGAZINE

VIEW FROM THE TOP
stronger and more attractive in terms of
product offerings. These stand alone
restaurants are the current trend setters
and give a tough run of the money for 5star
restaurants. These restaurant are
challenging everyone when it comes to
innovation, Fusion etc. However there is
one thing where 5 star restaurants will
always have an edge over is their
consistency on deliverables with regards to
the Product quality (ingredients used,
hygiene) and the personalized service
delivery as every 5 star restaurant
represents a brand promise and that is non
negotiable for sustainability of the hotel
and the restaurants.
Today diners are looking for an experience
along with gourmet food. Tell us how you
provide this combination
Dining today is no more just the food or
great cocktails. It’s an overall experience is
what the customer wants and wants to
come back for the experience which
includes ambience, food, beverage,
r e c o g n i t i o n a n d g e t s a s e n s e o f
achievement. Customers bring back their
friends and colleagues for a social status .
We at our hotel outlets try and achieve
these parameters to retain customers and
increase repeat business for sustainability.
Do tell us about current and future trends
in international cuisine and dining?
Trends are defined by the likes of the
customers, the global travelers have really
helped us to be and incorporate the latest
trends: Get the basics right is the first rule
of the game, Get the customer what they
want and don’t tell them what u have to
offer as time is no more luxury to the global
travelers. They want choices to make, they
are ready to explore new cuisine and also to
experiment with some innovative cocktails.
They want fresh, bite size food samples to
explore more over a heavy 9 course set
meal which takes 4 hours to deliver. Fresh,
quick, fast interactive, suggestive are the
new way to engage .
Live kitchens have become trend in most
of the restaurants. What challenges they
posses?
There is no challenge in any live kitchen.
The only thing we need to consider is the
upkeep of the equipments and area to
make it functional and presentable all the
time. Secondly the Grooming of the Chef’s
who’s working on the live stations as they
are the centre of attraction (we also train
chefs at the live counter – with soft skills –
how to talk, how to present one self and
personality development)
Did Loyalty programs and Dining cards
help in increasing the sale of F&B outlets
or it decreases your profit ratio?
Loyalty program and dining cards are a
must, for sustainability. We create strong
base of loyal customers’ and increase
usage in our restaurant through these
programs. “What’s in it for me” is the
question every customer asks including us
when we are on the other side , We get
cards and get excited with points starting
from credit cards , to petrol cards to even
shopping cards for hyper markets etc.
Logic remains same. Spend more gain
more and we cannot lose focus on our
loyalty programs.
A few memorable guests you have catered
to and any memorable experience?
Starting from Sports icons to Bollywood
celebrities to diplomats to the business
tycoons – are experienced in and out of our
Hotels. They are always here to achieve
something and the hotel ensures their
privacy is maintained and help they achieve
what they here for. We go out of our way to
create special amenities, Food menu’s
everything based on their preferences.
Just remember Madonna’s Song Frozen –
“U only see what your eyes want to see –
you’re Frozen”
Your advice to budding Hospitality
professionals?
Study hard while you still have the
opportunity in your respective institutes.
We need a strong base of knowledge to
start with. Once we get onto the industry –
time is something which we will fall short of
always to focus on our own development.
However the learning journey continues till
the time we are in this industry, due to its
dynamic nature and change is the only
thing that’s constant. Every day is a new day
and comes with new learning. Choice is
ours to grasp it or let it pass by.
Also one very important advice “ Do what u
love and not what u like or what the world
wants u to be like, follow your heart and
passion“ Success will find you sooner or
later !
Mr. Mohd. Abdullah
22 ECHO - 2016