Love for Hospitality - Connecting Generations

 Love for Hospitality - Connecting Generations

Like parents, like kids. It’s sometimes natural that our children often tend to follow the path that they have seen us walk. The hospitality sector is no different.

Many parents who did their hotel management course have seen their kids following their footsteps. CatCalls spoke to a few Fathers and Mothers - Sons and Daughters who travelled the same path.    

A Family of Hoteliers: K S Narayan (‘83), Bratati and Polash (‘16)

Hotel Management was not K S Narayan’s first choice.  After passing out from Intermediate, he was keen on becoming a doctor, following in the footsteps of his late father who was a successful doctor in Hyderabad.  It was not meant to be though, as he did not get admission into MBBS even after two tries.  He had meanwhile started a B.Sc at BZC, but decided he wasn’t keen on pursuing it after his first year.  

His older brother, a medical representative who had been keen on hotel management but couldn’t get in because of age restrictions, suggested that Narayanan pursue the course and introduced him to friends who were working in hotels in Hyderabad.  After getting to know about the profession, Narayanan took the leap and applied for the course.

Getting in wasn’t easy though.  Hyderabad did not have an IHM at the time (the Food Craft Institute was upgraded to an IHM in 1984), and so I applied to the one at Madras.  Admission to the 4 recognised institutes in 1980, including Madras, was regional and outstation students had to be sponsored by the Tourism Board of the State.  Each state had limited allocations; Andhra Pradesh had two seats and thankfully, he was one of the sponsored candidates.  He was interviewed by a panel headed by the Principal of IHM Madras and was selected, beginning his journey of over 40 years with the industry.

Narayanan worked at hotels from 1983 to 1992 and moved on to academics from there.  His wife, Bratati, is from the hotel industry too.  She wanted to do hotel management in 1983, but her parents were strictly against it, and so she went on to complete an MA in Economics and then a PG Diploma in Public Relations.  Bratati started her career with an advertising agency and was successful at it, but life has a way of taking its turns.  She accompanied her friend to a Sales Executive cum PRO’s interview at a four-star hotel, incidentally the same one Narayanan was an F&B Manager at.  The hotel bypassed her friend and offered her the job with a good salary.  She joined with her parents’ blessings.

Bratati and Narayanan got married in 1992 and he took the plunge into academics, joining IHM Hyderabad as a lecturer.  Bratati continued working in hotels, but started taking part-time classes in Economics and Sales & Marketing at a private college.  Once she completed the courses, she too fully shifted to teaching at hotel management institutes in Hyderabad.

Since both Narayanan and Bratati were working at hotel management colleges, their son, Polash, was exposed to the glamorous world of hotels, restaurants and parties, and he was fascinated by the industry.  While Polash was doing his 12th standard, the couple were open to letting him pursue whatever course he wanted, but they knew he was not interested in Engineering or Medicine or any course that was heavily academically oriented.  

Polash says when he was applying for colleges, he did try a few things, but all other things felt like hobbies when compared to hospitality.  Since he was leaning toward hotel management anyway, the three of them agreed on that choice.  Polash applied and cleared the interview and, given his rank in NCHM JEE, the option of Chennai was an easy choice. He didn’t make the cut for Mumbai, wanted to get away from Delhi and, maybe because of his dad, he felt a special affinity for Chennai.  He says he never imagined himself at any other campus.

Narayanan, who was the Principal of IHM Jaipur at the time, says Bratati and he were very pleased.  Polash knew better than most what he was getting into when he accepted the place at IHM Chennai.  He says he felt a deep connection with the industry and felt that his parents had given him all the answers he needed about life as a hotelier.  They had warned him about how tough the hospitality sector was, but all he saw was the glitter!  Little did he understand that what he’d seen and experienced up to then was life as a customer.  He was soon to realise that he was only a cog in the wheel that made the well oiled machinery work.

His first reality check was during the Outdoor Caterings (ODCs) that he was part of.  The sheer depth of hard work needed during these events as well as during his training made him doubt his choice.  He wondered if he was cut out for the industry.  But, as he says, “the only way to go across the jungle was through it”, and he persisted.  He took it a day at a time and suddenly, one day, realised he’d finished college and was working for the Oberoi Mumbai.  

Life at IHM Chennai was amazing, but to him, as a student, it seemed like a regular college.  It was only later that he realised the value of the college, when people’s expectations shot up the moment they realised he was from Chennai.  He says the college prepared him for the tough days and gave him a reality check on what to expect.  

Polash says “All the times post IHM Chennai, seems magical now. I am proud of my decision to follow my father’s footprints, but it also made me who I am. The decision that I made that day, opened gates for my career beyond Hospitality. If I had a change to redo it again, I would do it all over again without changing anything”.

Narayanan, who is currently the Principal of SRM Institute of Hotel Management, Sonepat, Haryana, says he and Bratati are proud parents and very happy to be a family of hospitality professionals.  Given a chance of rebirth, all three would pursue the profession again, and that too at IHM Madras… Chennai… Adyar… Taramani.  Narayanan is currently the Principal of SRM Institute of Hotel Management, Sonepat, Haryana.

Hospitality Times Three: R Manoj Kumar (‘93), Rajat (‘19) & Ranjana (‘24 Kovalam)

For R Manoj Kumar, the decision to join IHM was a move made from sheer desperation. He completed his B.Sc in Chemistry from DG Vaishnav College, Chennai in 1990. His dad was prodding him to become a medical representative, something that Manoj just detested. 

Manoj frantically applied for every course he could lay his hands on and the NHMCT advertisement came along. He applied, took the entrance test, got through, appeared for the interview and made it through that as well. Manoj concedes that he had practically no idea that hotels had departments and never been to or seen a five-star property till then. 

It was purely accidental and reality hit home when he had to clean toilets and wash dishes. Manoj hung around for the bigger fear of knocking doctors’ doors as a medical representative. He affirms that he has fond memories and doesn't regret one bit of doing the course at IHM, though he is not directly involved with the hotel industry anymore.

Apart from narrating college stories, Manoj, who runs his own training and coaching company, Score Consulting,  says he never influenced the career choices of his children. “When they expressed a desire to pursue a hotel management course, I did not object, though many of my friends advised me against this”, says Manoj.

Both of Manoj’s children Rajat Suman and Ranjana Suman have traversed the IHM route. While his son Rajat completed his course from IHM Chennai, his daughter Ranjana is doing her degree at IHM Kovalam.

Rajat said that he had decided after completing the tenth grade that he would follow in his father's footsteps and join the hospitality industry. “I was aware about the tough and hard nature of the industry and there were a few doubts regarding the career opportunities post completion,” he adds. 

To his credit, Manoj did tell his son and daughter about the opportunities and the reality of the hospitality industry. “I told them about the Hotel Management Course and pointed out the positives and negatives. It was a fair assessment and my kids had to take the final call”, according to Manoj.   

IHM Chennai was in the top spot every year and it was natural that Rajat ticked off that option. Also IHM Chennai was his choice, because that's where his dad, the person who recommended this course, studied.  Rajat, who is a Coach as well, says that he would recommend more people to try out this course and pursue a career in the hospitality industry.

Two Chefs in the Kitchen: Ranjeet Pandey (‘94) and Kimberly (‘21, Goa)

Ranjeet Pandey quit an engineering degree midway and chose to do Hotel Management when it was still not a popular course, because it was different, and he wanted to escape the run of the mill.  The different experience  was more different than he bargained for, and the pure vegetarian turned a meat-eater for the sake of his profession as a chef.  A wise choice as it turns out, because Ranjeet is today a Vice President at Averina International Resorts.

Kimberly, says she was all of four when she made up her mind to join the industry.  She grew up watching her father and other amazing chefs and industry professionals, and was interested in taking things ahead in the culinary world.  Ranjeet recalls that he used to take his daughter, Kimberly, to the kitchen with him when she was young and she was fascinated by it.  “Her favourite pastime was dressing up as a chef”, he remembers fondly.

Ranjeet did initially have some reservations about Kimberly joining the industry, but not for long.  He says, “There was no question in her mind at all.  In fact, the option of any other department, let alone another industry, did not enter her mind”.  He goes on to say he believed if he could do it, she could do it better, and so he gave his blessings.

Kimberly acknowledges that her dad Ranjeet told her about the pros and cons, but he taught her how to focus on the pros more. She ended up having insight and a mindset that is quite difficult to see at the start of anyone’s career but is required to move ahead.

When it came down to choice of IHMs, despite Ranjeet being from Chennai, Kimberly chose IHM Goa due to the convenience of the college being close to home.  It turned out to be a major learning experience because she met and interacted with people from all over the country and everyone had so much to teach her.  Venturing out of Goa, and living in a hostel, was always an option, but Kimberly knew Goa was the right place for her and she learnt to extract the most from what was in front of her.

In Goa, Kimberly also got a deeper understanding and appreciation for Goan food and culture after taking a deep dive into Goan history.  “That is something I wouldn’t have been able to do elsewhere”, this young chef who specialises in Goan cuisine at The Fisherman’s Wharf, Goa says.

Kimberly acknowledges that the hospitality industry is quite challenging and it’s important to keep the bigger picture in mind, to strive to be creative and tap into your best resources. And of course, to have fun!  Of her father, she says, “I feel blessed to say he’s my mentor and we work closely on incredible things”.

A Mother and Daughter in Sync: Rajeswari Vachali (‘87) and Pallavi (‘17) 

We finish off our stories about a love for hospitality across generations with an interview of Rajeswari Vachali (Senior Vice President - Human Resources at Sterling Holiday Resorts Ltd) by her daughter, Pallavi (Training Facilitator - Corporate and Career Services, Great Lakes Institute of Management)

Pallavi: Hi mom! Can’t believe we are doing this! Ok here goes! What made you decide to join Hospitality and IHM Chennai?

Rajeswari: Well Pals! I joined IHM Chennai because your grandparents relocated here to Chennai. And as for hospitality, I wanted to break away from the usual career options of doctor, engineer or even banker at the time and do something unique. That's when I came across a newspaper ad for IHM entrance exams, and I thought, why not give it a shot?

Pallavi: Interesting! How did you end up specializing in housekeeping?

Rajeswari: Ah, that's a funny story. Initially, I was interested in cooking. But when I realized that I would have to handle and cook non veg dishes, being a vegetarian, it was a bit challenging for me. So, throughout college, I resorted to trading my bread rolls with my friends for their non veg dishes, just so I wouldn't have to touch or cook non-veg. But then, I had these amazing housekeeping faculty members, Ms. Vimala Victor and Ms. Varalakshmi, who inspired me to take up housekeeping. Since I also had a knack for Interior Design, it felt like the perfect fit at the time.

Pallavi: That's quite interesting! How did you manage to get into the OCLD?

Rajeswari: Oh, now this is a tale of determination and maybe a little stubbornness. Initially, I was rejected during the campus interviews for OCLD. It was quite disheartening. But you know what? I couldn't accept that outcome without a fight. 

So, on the day of the interview, my friends (very mischievous might I add) urged me to walk into the principal's cabin and ask why I didn't get selected when all my answers were correct. The interviewers, Mr. Arun Agarwal and the rest of the panel, were in the room! 

They told me I was too innocent to be a part of the Oberois. But, instead of feeling defeated, I walked out with a burning determination to prove them wrong. Though I had gotten through the Management Training with the Taj, I opted for a supervisory role at the Trident in Chennai. Interestingly, I was one of the first individuals internally selected for the OCLD program within the organization!

Pallavi: Wow, that's incredible! Now, let's talk about your transition from operations to a management role in HR at Sterling Holidays. How did that happen?

Rajeswari: Well, after working in operations for several years, I decided to leave hotels. I joined the retail industry because I needed better working hours with two kids, and because the retail sector was just starting to boom in India, particularly with organized retail. They were seeking hospitality professionals to bring discipline and effective communication to their sector. 

As I worked there, many employees from my store at Food World grew and flourished, which caught the attention of the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). The CHRO then offered me a position in their Learning and Development team, marking my foray into the world of HR. And now, from L&D, I have transitioned into core HR with Sterling. Of course, to support this growth, I also pursued my PGDM in HR from XLRI.

Pallavi: So, do you think your experience in operations and this course has made you a good HR professional?

Rajeswari: Absolutely, no doubt about it! Being in the same industry as the people I work with has helped me build trust and understanding. Plus, my operations background keeps everyone on their toes when it comes to manning numbers!

Pallavi: Remember when I mentioned joining Hotels or IHM Chennai? Do you think our time at IHM Chennai shaped our awesome careers?

Rajeswari: Oh, definitely! I remember telling you NOT to join our industry given the working hours and rigor but you were so determined in spite of growing up knowing the struggles we had to make it. It gave us the confidence that you would do great too! You know, our lecturers were amazing, and they've had a lasting impact on us. And the support they gave us even after graduating, it's what keeps us connected to our college and makes us what we are today in our careers! You’ve had that privilege as well!

Pallavi: So, what's your take on my career journey post IHM Chennai?

Rajeswari: Well, when I went into retail, I realized how valuable our hospitality background is in other industries. It's great to see you exploring different directions and making a name for yourself. Keep this industry in your heart, but go out and conquer the world, okay? It'll take you places!

Pallavi: Can you believe we're actually writing an interview/article together for our college alma mater? How would you describe this incredible experience?

Rajeswari: Definitely not! I consider it a privilege to be able to do this alongside my daughter. When you first proposed the idea of a mother-daughter interview, it immediately reminded me of the time we walked into the college together, 30 years after I graduated, to enroll you. I remember standing at the admissions counter and suddenly being asked, "Old student, right?" It was a moment that filled me with immense pride. And then when they said, "Oh, your daughter is joining? Leave her here, she's part of our family now," I was overwhelmed with joy. The way they embraced and welcomed you, it was truly an awe-inspiring moment for me!