Assistant Vice President at Praxis Services Pvt. Ltd ( Manages Soneva Reservations)

I have been associated with the industry since 2006. I have had the privilege of working with The Oberoi Group, one of the most admired and respected hotel company in the world. Not only did I work there for few years, I also attended the Oberoi Center of Learning and Development, their hotel school. My competency lies in Reservations, Sales and Customer service. I have been managing Soneva Reservations since 2016. My team and I are based in India and manage reservations and revenue management for the group globally from our office in New Delhi. (Soneva Kiri in Thailand, Soneva Jani and Soneva Fushi in the Maldives). The association has been truly exciting and mutually rewarding.

How did you get started with your career?

What made me step in a hotel was my love for baking. I started as a bakery apprentice but ended up getting moved to the front office by the end of my tenure in the kitchens.

I was lucky to also take a short break and try my hand’s on filmmaking but I guess my heart always lied with hotels.  Hence the comeback.

What are some of your notable successes?

The opportunity of handling Soneva reservations has not only professionally exhilarated my skills but also groomed me a lot in my personal life. It makes me proud to be a part of Soneva whose personalized service and attention to detail creates high standard for the industry and the destination. We pride ourselves in ensuring top Soneva experience at the stage of Reservations and ensuring that each and every guest enquiry concludes with highest levels of satisfaction thereby creating greater and higher revenue for Soneva

What are some of the challenges that you have faced?

People are our biggest asset and hence sourcing them is a big challenge. The hotel school haven’t really upgraded their curriculum to match the expectation of the industry. When I interview pass outs from good hotel colleges, it is sad to see how the knowledge is so confined to textbooks. Across nations there is so much of emphasis on tourism, therefore the need for hotel professionals is substantial. However, the skill of our young graduates is not fitting the bill and is rather primitive. Therefore, there is a massive investment done in training and retraining to make the job fit.

What is your advice for young adults interested in entering the Tourism Industry?

The millennials are very impatient and want quick results. My advice – work passionately and be patient.  The industry really grooms you over the period of time and can make you fit for any workforce. So, give it time.