Aleader can inspire, motivate, and encourage people to achieve visionary goals. Sanya Srivastava, Director, Rockland Hotels is one such impeccable leader whose leadership skills coupled with managerial expertise have been inspiring teams and leading them to operational & business success. Over the years, she has not only been successful in leading the entire operation and sales & marketing of Rockland Hotels but also persistent in taking the business a step ahead of its time. When asked about her success mantra Sanya says, “My success has only been possible because of the faith my father had in me. He is my role model and I believe the years that I have spent with him learning about the business is what I take forward in my future endeavors”.

She is an exemplifying business leader who loves traveling which helps her to adopt best practices from around the world and keep her ears out, for how the competitors in the market are carving. Her rich knowledge of the sector helps her to bring fresh eyes into the business and inspire new ideas every day. Sanya is a determined leader and an admirer of all business leaders who are not afraid of failure. Let us hear it from her.

Give Us A Brief Overview Of Rockland Hotels.

An Indian Hotel brand, Rockland Hotels Ltd established in 1993 owns, operates and manages Business & Five Star Hotels in North India. The chain is fast growing in the hospitality space, setting up multiple hotels in the region. For over two decades, we have been instrumental in offering quality services and luxurious amenities to our clients.

Team Rockland is trained to hold the promise of an exceptional stay, making our client’s trip worthwhile. In addition to hotels, Rockland Group founded by my father Late Rajesh Srivastava and his two brothers is an established name in the field of Healthcare, Finance and Education.

What Are The Various Responsibilities That You Shoulder As The Director At Rockland Hotels? Tell Us About Some Key Business Challenges That You Face In Your Current Role & How You Counter Them.

As the Director, my focus has been on achieving operational excellence, and sales & marketing. I believe both these activities go hand in hand as one cannot do without the other. For instance, if you have a strong sales team but weak operations, you will not have repeated customers and the credibility of the hotel will also go down. On the other hand, if you have an excellent operational team but do not have a strong sales & marketing team, you will not be able to get a significant number of clients and your business will not be a success. Hence, I focus on both aspects with equal importance. Moreover, I take the feedback from my sales and marketing teams very seriously so that I can operationally make my team stronger.

I have constantly focused on creating the best team and hiring the right person for the right job at the right time. This has also been my biggest challenge. But I have been able to counter the challenges of hiring and retaining employees by providing them with proper training and keeping them happy & productive. I strongly believe that if you take care of your people, they will take care of your business. It is important to invest time & money in your people for greater results.

What Are Some Of The Key Business Strategies & Tools That You Leverage To Ensure Organizational Success?

I believe in setting smaller goals and taking one step at a time while not missing out on any part of the business. For instance, I focus on daily targets first then weekly then monthly, and then finally achieving the budget set for the quarter. I keep a close watch on expenses by providing an operational expense budget to our General Manager & Operations Team and ensure weekly and monthly reviews to keep ourselves on track.

"I strongly believe that if you take care of your people, they will take care of your business. It is important to invest time & money in your people for greater results"

I put a great emphasis on the training & development of my employees by allotting hours specifically for different training sessions within their departments. Iencourage follow-ups on our guest’s feedback very earnestly to avoid similar complaints in the future.

How Has The Business In The Hospitality Sector Changed After The COVID & How Are You Keeping Up With The Changes?

The world has unimaginably changed in such a short time following the outbreak of COVID-19. Before COVID-19, India’s hospitality sector was booming. The pandemic had a major impact on the sector around the world. Nevertheless, it is gradually returning to normalcy. Hotels are opening again and businesses are starting to take off.

Since the beginning of 2022, we have seen a sturdy increase in weddings, MICE, and corporate business. Corporates are conducting small events, conferences, and meetings giving a boost to our business. I am happy to say that all our properties have resumed normal operations & occupancy and have started generating good profit margins.

What Would Your Advice Be To Young Women Who Aspire To Become Entrepreneurs In The Future?

Learn to stay clear off the noises around you. Coping with these voices is not particularly easy but you have to in order to achieve something significant in life. Believe in yourself and in your dreams. Do not think you have less chance as a woman to achieve what you want, whatever the position you are aiming for. Just keep going towards your goal, never give up. Hard work and persistence always pays off!

Sanya Srivastava, Director, Rockland Hotels

Sanya Srivastav has an education qualification in business studies from Canada & the UK. She is the Director of Rockland Hotels & successfully handles operations & sales & marketing of the business. Under her leadership, the chain of hotels has been prosperous in delivering luxurious experiences & unforgettable memories to its guests.