Leaders

The hotel industry depends on a wide range of abilities and skillsets since it is so diversified. Professions in this industry vary from hotels to restaurants and to those in the tourist industry. To achieve the organization's goals, businesses need a visionary leader dedicated to HR management one who is both highly effective and strategically focused. Another important reason of why excellent HR leadership is required in the hotel business is, that this is a human-centric sector and is focused on dealing with people. This needs a great degree of commitment, honesty and skill besides other attributes.

Moreover, to maintain and extend the company's success, it is necessary to have an HR leader with the right mix of knowledge, skills and leadership abilities. Yamini Malhotra is an HR leader at The Suryaa bringing all the aforementioned abilities to bear, she has been playing a pivotal role in building long-term and sustainable HR policies. Engaging in an exclusive interview with Women Entrepreneur magazine, Yamini described her experiences as a human resources executive so far.

What Motivated You To Venture Into The Hospitality Industry As An HR Expert? What Are The Various Roles & Responsibilities That You Currently Shoulder At Suryaa?

To be successful in the hospitality sector, it is necessary to constantly keep anticipating the requirements of guests and provide unforgettable service(s) all this with a Human Touch. As a hotel's Human Resources department, we are responsible for identifying, acquiring, selecting and developing current and prospective employees who are trained to meet (& exceed) the demands of hotel guests. Moreover, as the HR Director at The Suryaa, I have a wide range of responsibilities, from day-to-day operations to strategic HR and business partnerships.

Enumerate Some Of The Most Pressing Business Challenges That You Face As The Director For HR At The Suryaa? How Do You Successfully Tackle Them?

Many measures must be used to guarantee that HR systems are designed in such a manner that the organization's objectives are accomplished when the HR domain changes. To that effect, one of my responsibilities at The Suryaa is to foster an environment in which everyone in the team embraces and demonstrates the company's values regularly.

We strive for 60:40 balance of experienced and new team members in such a manner that learning and adapting to the new culture are intertwined. The Suryaa, on the other hand, is a unionized property which has been in operation since 1982, and HR's goal is to use automation to make operations run more smoothly, efficiently

Give Us A Brief Overview Of The Suryaa.

An ISO 22000:2005 certified five-star luxury hotel, the Suryaa is committed to exceeding its guests' expectations while also exceeding their own. Furthermore, it reaffirms our dedication to provide our visitors with food that is safe, delicious, and appealing. As well as for our internal consumers at all of our dining options, banquets, in-room dining, and employee cafeteria, we strive to eliminate and minimize any potential physical, chemical, and biological concerns throughout the food preparation process. To ensure the safety of our guests, we plan, develop, operate, maintain, and update our food safety management system.

"The fact that I've always had keen interest in learning & dealing with human behavior led me to a career in human resources, which in turn made me an hr specialist "

High levels of sanitation as a consequence of a regulated food safety management system ensure that visitors get top-quality food they can rely on. By using a HACCP plan, the Food Safety Team carefully monitors and manages food safety concerns. The whole food supply chain, from receipt, preparation, handling, storage, and serving, is subject to strict adherence to ISO 22000:2005-compliant cleanliness, hygiene, and sanitation procedures. The quality of our food and water is regularly monitored in our in-house laboratory. Regular testing at a NABLaccredited external laboratory further ensures food quality. Good hygiene practices have been included in a specialized food safety training program for the benefit of the organization's workforce.

In Your Opinion What Have Been Some Of The Most Significant Milestones That You Have Achieved In Your Professional Journey? What Has Been The Driving Force Behind Your Success As A Business Leader?

The fact that I've always had keen interest in learning & dealing with human behavior led me to a career in human resources, which in turn made me an HR specialist. Being a curious person, I have always learnt new things eagerly. First and foremost, I think that knowledge is power and this motivates me as a business leader.

In addition, I am inspired by the generous, resourceful, and cooperative leaders who go above and beyond in assisting others. Finally, I believe that we should all be proud of the organization we work for, as it helps make work a better living place for all.

How Do You Foresee The Hospitality Industry Evolving Shortly? Going Forward What Will Be Your Primary Focus Area As The HR Director For The Suryaa?

Countless milestones have been reached in the hospitality business, from luxurious hotels to Oyo to Airbnb. However, in the future, hotels and their visitors will have a stronger link with the local environment, thus allowing for a more in-depth understanding of the local culture. In addition, a great deal of attention has been given to long-term sustainability. Also, I believe that hotels of the future would think differently, be healthier, and provide instant & sustainable gratification.

Guest experiences at hotels of the future would be multi-sensory and immersive. Post-COVID, the sector is gearing back to normalcy, and as the company grows, so do the employment prospects. As a result, HR has shifted its attention to greater well-being of the employees; thus, the company's policies and processes need to be reevaluated in light of this shift.

Yamini Malhotra, Director, The Suryaa

Yamini is a Symbiosis alumna with an HR MBA. Having collaborated with top management on HR strategic planning, she has a demonstrated track record of success in this area. Yamini has also worked with ITC Hotels, Radisson, and Hilton during the course of her 15-year career in human resources.

Yamini’s Awards Of Recognition –

• Awarded the Most Reliable Leader in Hilton 2018.

• Awarded as the Best Leader at Hilton in 2019.

• Awarded Best HR Department in the ITC Hotel Division.

• Awarded Excellencia cup for best AET Team (Employee Welfare AET)

• Awarded the Best Recruitment leader across the ITC Hotel division.

• Awarded Best Employee for the month of June 2007 and August 2008 at ITC

• Awarded Best Manager in Radisson Blu.