- Can you give us a brief on your hospitality journey with Marriott?
I have been fortunate to be associated with varied luxury properties within Marriott starting from W Maldives when I was heading the Restaurants and Bars to heading the operations at St. Regis Mumbai. I have had the privilege to lead hotel teams through pre-opening at flagship properties in Srinagar, Westin Gurgaon and now at Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar.
- What are the Hotel Manager learnings do you bring into this place?
I believe that we are in the business of time and that our guests value their time. We understand that our patrons look for a quality time whether it’s Me Time, We Time, or Our Time. What truly stands out is that every single person on our team is here to ensure that every moment that you spend with us, we spend curating experiences that are treasured and priceless. The team aspires to be our guest’s favorite architects in ensuring they enjoy, and cherish their time living these moments at Courtyard by Marriot Mahabaleshwar.
- Since Courtyard by Marriott was launched during the pandemic era, do you think there was a drop in the marketing aspect of the hotel?
The journey leading up to the opening of the hotel was filled with a lot of ups and downs for us with the second phase of the pandemic moving our initial opening date. It was a very emotional phase for us but as a team we were ready and our focus was to take care of each guest who visited us and trusted us and believed in our hospitality. We initiated most of the marketing campaigns once the industry started opening and people were ready to travel again.
- What according to you are the pros and cons of Leisure destinations? How does Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar deliver a seamless experience of the same to its guests?
Leisure destinations are where guests come to spend time with their loved ones to relax and unwind. The advantages of such vacations are high since it allows us to curate various experiences, build meaningful connections and understand the needs of our guests. This can include fun activities for kids or adventure treks for the adults or for a fun family time like movie screening or cooking workshops, something that allows us to cover various touchpoints during their stay.
The one fallback of the leisure destination is that the travel is seasonal and we have very distinct high-demand months and months with fluctuating occupancy trends. Our vision at Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar is to be a travel destination where every moment is valued. We genuinely believe that we need to proactively engage with our guests and be in sync with their needs. We also like to create moments with our guests that help create fond memories of the hotel. The team connects with the guests through our Buddy program led by the heads of operations wherein they take up the role of caretakers to every single guest who stays with us.
- The hotel’s location is a major USP of the hotel, How else has the hotel efficiently utilized its location?
Our hotel is located in the luscious green Sahyadri valleys and we are blessed to be surrounded by a lot of local produce and talent. Most of our procurements are locally grown and sourced locally. We have also been able to grow some fantastic talent within the region. Our biggest hidden gem that we have uncovered in these valleys is our Mousi, who bought local flavors to our tables.
- What are the various sustainability initiatives taken by the hotel?
We have a Sustainability Platform, MESH with Centralized Monitoring STP Water 100% utilization for Garden with an Effective Sprinkler system EV Charging station at the property.
- Since you have villas opening soon under the brand, Can you give us insights into the same?
With the launch of the villas we are enhancing and we are very excited about the same. The 49 villas are very unique to the destination and the brand. If one thought, we currently have great views of the valleys from the private balconies, you have something exceptional in store for you.
- You have had a fair share of experience in the F&B as well as rooms and divisions sector of the industry, What special measures have you taken for this hotel wrt both?
Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar is blessed with an amazing melange of natural flora and fauna with mesmerizing views from all the private balconies in all our rooms.One of our biggest highlights from the past year has been the perfect sundowner experiences that we offer from our Quarter Deck which has unparalleled views with lush green forest in front and the merging of two rivers into larger Lingmala Waterfalls. Artisanal cocktails and delectable cuisines are the best in the region.
- Where do you see yourself taking the hotel in the next 3-5 years?
Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar is destined to become the travel destination for this region that boosts great offerings in terms of Food & Beverage as well as the rooms and services. We are constantly working on prioritizing guest experiences so that they know that we value their time with us.
