MS. How long have you worked in the hospitality industry, and where did your journey begin?
Abhishek Rajagolkar. I started my career in the front office at JW Marriott Juhu and later moved to the Sales department. During the course of my journey, I got the opportunity to work in multiple cities like Hyderabad, Pune, Kochi, Chennai & Bengaluru. Having completed 17 years in the industry and moving to multiple cities, stability in personal life has been a challenge throughout but working with people and establishing connections has made the journey all the more worthy.
MS. What do you think is the most distinguishing or unique aspect of the Marriott International and what makes it so special when it comes to delivering for its guests?
Abhishek Rajagolkar. Marriott Bonvoy is a loyalty program rewarding the guest for their stay and offering a wide range of redemptions options including Marriott Bonvoy Moments. The Marriott Bonvoy Moments is a program where Marriott Bonvoy members have exclusive access to concerts, culinary experiences, premier sporting events, and more. Marriott International’s Internal benchmarking that measures guest experience and brand guidelines to ensure consistent guest experience is its strength.
Winning the Marriott Global Awards for team of the year and putting Marriott Kochi on the global map is a memorable moment in my professional journey so far
MS. How do you overcome the difficulty of planning and executing the events? Please share your experience on some of the events you’ve recently hosted at your venue.
Abhishek Rajagolkar. Planning and executing an event can be an overwhelming task. One is bound to face challenges while planning any event. Prioritizing potential revenues and driving ROI and value from events is something I focus on while handling any event. I recently hosted two events:
Marriott India Golf Tournament
Shaadi by Marriott Bonvoy
MS. What are the big challenges facing the hospitality sector today?
Abhishek Rajagolkar. Talent hunt and hiring has long been a challenge in the hospitality industry. The onset of pandemic only worsened the situation for this sector. Being the largest industry, the hospitality sector is replete with opportunities and hiring the right people for the right job all while retaining employee interest and manpower is the key to overcoming the challenges. Geopolitical scenarios & Visa challenges are another challenge faced by the industry.
MS. What have been your biggest takeaways from the industry?
Abhishek Rajagolkar. Working in this sector teaches you skills for a lifetime that you do not get to learn anywhere else. Genuine, authentic care for the guests as well as associates is always recognized and rewarded in this industry. Winning the Marriott Global Awards for team of the year and putting Marriott Kochi on the global map is a memorable moment in my professional journey so far. Riding bikes and traveling to least travelled places and staying in non-branded accommodation is something I enjoy while I am away from work.
MS. If you could bring any change into force, what would it be and why?
Abhishek Rajagolkar. To garner support for the hospitality industry to build public infrastructure that will complement the facilities that have been developed to support large requirements in the country is a change I would love to bring to force.
MS. What message would you like to share with the Indian travel trade fraternity?
Abhishek Rajagolkar. Talent is our biggest asset and the pandemic has taught us a lesson the hard way, while institutes are seeing 50% lower admissions, retaining talent by providing sincere value to associates through upskilling and personal development is imperative for survival.
