Vasantha Kumari Palani Muthu’s Post

One skill every aspiring hotel GM should develop. In our industry, critical thinking is a significant differentiator between those who progress consistently and those who don’t.   𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐳𝐳 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧?   From the outside looking in at many top-performing hotel leaders, it’s the “it” factor. Many who have it don’t know where they got it, and for many who don’t, they don’t know what “it” is.   𝐒𝐨, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬?   Although many nuances and strategies contribute to critical thinking, let’s start with one.   Simply think as though you were in a different role in the process. Can you think like an owner? Can you think like your boss? Can you think like your team? Can you think like your customer? Can you feel what they feel?   Viewing challenges from different perspectives will give alternate solutions. If you’re someone who comes up with logical solutions, you’re going to excel.   𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲, 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞?   There are people who are good at following directions, and then there are people who are good at coming up with directions. To go to the next level, you need to develop the latter.   If you do, career progression is almost guaranteed. 💲 💪 📈 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘦 Jon Sholter 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵. #hotels #hotelmanagement #hoteloperations

#Hospitality For a GM in hotels and resorts, one of the most impactful lessons is likely the importance of resilience and adaptability. As a GM, you’re constantly faced with challenges—from unexpected crises like natural disasters or pandemics to daily operational issues. Learning to stay calm, think strategically, and adapt quickly is crucial. Another key lesson is the value of relationships. Building strong connections with your team, guests, and partners can make all the difference. A GM who invests in their team’s growth and well-being often sees higher morale and productivity, leading to better guest experiences. Finally, understanding the balance between service excellence and operational efficiency is vital. A great GM knows how to deliver exceptional service while maintaining profitability, ensuring the hotel’s long-term success. These lessons, when combined, create a foundation for effective leadership in the hospitality industry.

Leading People In a city where there are several hotels, all hotels were doing fairly well in terms of business except one. On interacting with the leader, he said this - These people are paid to do a job and that is all I expect them to do. If they don't like it, the door is open. If you refer to your team as just 'these people', you've already started on the wrong foot. Just because you manage a hotel doesn't guarantee that your employees see you as a leader. Gaining the respect and support of your team does not come from the position that you hold. Employees need to be 'led'. Employees are the key to running a successful operation. Ignore this fact at your own peril. If you analyse what actually happens in your hotel every day, you'll see clearly that there are three basic dimensions - the what, the how and the who. The what refers to the goals you are trying to achieve. This is what sets you up for excellence. It includes your plans and targets you have put in place to achieve your goals. The how refers to the manner in which the work gets done. It includes productivity, efficiency and quality. The who refers to all the staff you employ to do the work. It involves their commitment, competence and motivation. You don't have to be a superhero to understand that the what and the how are ultimately dependent on the who. #HotelManagement #Hotel #Leadership #Excellence

In the next episode of #SunsetTalks, I enjoyed sharing my journey in the hospitality industry, from my early days as a Receptionist Apprentice to Executive Director of the Hotels & Resorts division at Sunset Hospitality Group. We dive deep into what makes the METT brand unique and the challenges and triumphs of launching in new markets. I also reveal the meaning behind METT and how it drives everything we do. Follow @sunsethospitalitygroup, and stay tuned for the episode! #SunsetTalks #SHG #HospitalityInnovation #HotelManagement #METT #Sustainability #Leadership #BrandStrategy

🎓 Celebrating the Future Leaders of GRT Hotels and Resorts! 🎓 Last week, we proudly celebrated the graduation of the YLP (Young Leaders Program) 2022-24 batch, our 8th cohort of exceptional talent from top hotel schools. These young leaders are poised to be the future leadership strength of GRT Hotels and Resorts, driving our brand forward as we expand our footprint at a rapid pace—having already opened three new hotels this year! I had the honor of delivering the keynote at the graduation ceremony, and my message focused on the concept of Leadership Without Titles: 1. Leadership can emerge at any layer of the organization and should not be dependent on titles or positions. 2. Young leaders should possess the charisma to influence their circle. 3. Aligning their vision with the brand vision is crucial, and they must define this vision clearly to their circle. 4. They should bring an obsessive passion to their work. 5. Discovering their purpose or the Big Why early on is essential to understanding the impact of their actions. 6. Exciting and motivating their circle to share and follow their vision is key. 7. Leaders should work for the team, not the other way around. 8. They must be the go-to person for the team, supporting them through both official and personal challenges. Congratulations to our young leaders! We are excited to see how you will shape the future of GRT Hotels and Resorts with your passion, vision, and unwavering commitment. Here’s to leading with purpose and inspiring those around you! #LeadershipWithoutTitles #YoungLeaders #GRTHotels #FutureOfHospitality #Inspiration #Leadership #GraduationDay

The hospitality industry has been a profound learning ground, shaping my professional and personal growth. Here's what I've gained from my journey: Guest-Centric Approach: Always put the guest first; personalized service makes all the difference. Adaptability: The ability to pivot and respond to diverse guest needs is crucial. Teamwork: Collaboration is key to delivering seamless experiences. Crisis Management: Stay calm and find solutions, no matter the challenge. Attention to Detail: Small details can make or break the guest experience. Cultural Sensitivity: Embrace and respect the diverse backgrounds of every guest. Operational Efficiency: Streamlined processes are the backbone of consistent quality. Networking: Strong relationships within the industry open doors to endless opportunities. Leadership Skills: Leading by example and guiding teams to success has been invaluable. The journey in hospitality is continuous, and every day presents a new opportunity to learn and grow. Grateful for the experiences that have shaped me! 🌍✨ #Hospitality #CareerGrowth #Leadership #Teamwork #Learning #GuestExperience

What is #unreasonablehospitality ? A fantastic read by Will Guidara that should be apart of every #leadership library and a fascinating behind the scenes view of #finedining ! 🍽 🥂 Enjoy the 📸 ! #ThatSupplyChainGuy #leadershipdevelopment #growthmindset #teambuilding #teamdevelopment #processimprovement #culture #organizationaldevelopment #growthopportunities

I happened to listen to Naveen Manga's (CTO of Marriott) leadership advise few years back in a leadership development program. He is an inspirational leader with clarity on how to leverage technology to enable business. Today morning, I came across this interview, where he nicely summarized how he is transforming the hospitality industry with the power of technology and fostering culture of Innovation.  Few thoughts which resonated with me based on his interview. Most systems in the past were built with "built to last" mind set and a customer journey in mind. But the question is... a)     Do these systems have a last when technology is changing so fast?  and b)     How do we know that all our customers expect their journey to be the same? What if we give the power of choice to customers so that customers can carveout their own journey in a unique and personal way? Isn’t that more personal than walking them through an experience we design for them? & To do that we need the mind set of "built to change", which needs a strong digital core & Innovation DNA. I hope some of you find this interesting too.

𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: 𝐌𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 Stepping into the elegant corridors of Crowne Plaza each day, I am reminded of the profound journey from novice to seasoned hospitality leader. Here's a glimpse into the philosophies that fuel my commitment to excellence and inspire those around me. 🔹 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞: Each day brings new challenges; I see them as opportunities to innovate and refine our approach to guest service. Facing these challenges head-on has taught me resilience and adaptability, essential qualities in our ever-evolving industry. 🔹 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: True leadership in hospitality isn’t just about overseeing operations—it’s about inspiring and motivating your team to achieve greatness, all while ensuring every guest feels at home. 🔹 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: The cornerstone of personal and professional growth is continuous learning. By staying curious and receptive to new ideas, I lead by example, fostering an environment where knowledge and creativity flourish. 🔹 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: Relationships are the backbone of hospitality. I strive to create meaningful interactions, not only with guests but also within our team, reinforcing a network of support and collaboration. 🔹 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐬: In a fast-paced industry, it’s vital to keep sight of your goals and aspirations. Regular reflection and goal-setting keep me focused and driven, ensuring that I’m not just meeting but exceeding the expectations set before me. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐞: For more insights and updates on my journey in hospitality, follow me on 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 and 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫: 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧: Priya Singh 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫: @AskPriyaSingh (https://lnkd.in/dws4H59T) Join me as I continue to navigate the exciting world of hospitality, where every day is a chance to learn, inspire, and lead. Follow my journey and let’s explore together how passion, perseverance, and a positive outlook can transform any challenge into a stepping stone for success. #HospitalityLeadership #CareerDevelopment #Teamwork #ProfessionalExcellence #Motivation #LeadershipGoals #Leadership #GuestSatisfaction #ProfessionalGrowth #ContinuousLearning #Inspiration

A timely article with all the consolidation among hotel management companies we've seen over the last few years. In addition to size, evaluating the firm's ability to attract and retain quality property-level talent is a key consideration. The broader management company may have all the bells and whistles, but without the right General Manager and other key leaders in place, I've never seen a hotel fire on all cylinders. What defines the right leadership team often changes over time as the property changes hands, rebrands, renovates, etc. #hotelmanagement #lodging #assetmanagement #hospitality #leadership