GM SPEAKS

VISHAL KHOSLA

THE JOURNEY OF SHEER DETERMINATION AND HARD WORK

B y R a j e s h G h a d g e I m a g e s b y A z a y a B e a c h R e s o r t

Vishal Khosla, General Manager at the Azaya Beach Resorts, Goa was born in Mumbai in a posh locality of Bandra. He did his studies at Sacred Heart Boys high school Khar. Had a dream of joining the Marchant Navy but his destiny took him to the Hospitality Industry. Starting his journey as Dish-Washer he made his way up to becoming the General Manager of the the reputed properties. Here is a candid conversation with Vishal Khosla to find out more about his journey.

Tell us something about your early days & your background Typical Mumbai boy grown in the streets of Bandra playing Cricket & Football. Studied at Sacred Heart Boys high school Khar, Grew up in LIC quarters. How did you choose hospitality as a line, was it intentional or happened by chance Initially wanted to join Merchant Navy but opted for Hotel management at Sophia Polytechnic College which inspired me more towards Hotel management. Started as a potwasher for almost 2 years since my hold on English language was average & later moved on to service as a steward in Banquet & got a chance in Taj to move up my ranks & stand here as a General Manager. At the age of 30 I was 1 of the youngest GM in my batch of Hotel Management which has been a wonderful journey. With more than 20 years of management experience, I have served as a General Manager in properties such as Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort, Park Regis Resort, Whispering Palms Beach Resort and The Kenilworth Resort & Spa in Goa. Prior to joining Azaya Beach resort, I have also worked with renowned hospitality brands with extensive cross-cultural exposure to diverse domestic and international markets across UK, UAE & India.

How is this entire experience has been for you & what are the challenges you face while on this position? My rapid growth and learning experience have grown tremendously since I joined this industry as a dishwasher to a GM which has given me insights of understanding every accept of this industry. Predicting the future post pandemic has been very challenging. With the Hospitality industry being the first and most affected during this pandemic. Its always challenging now to know when the markets will arise. What do you think is your greatest strength & biggest weakness? Having worldwide experience and cross skilled in the hospitality and aviation industry specifically solely designing the on suite rooms with the Etihad Airways in 2008 along with being very adaptable, focussed, and passionate are few of strengths. Well to speak about weaknesses, Me being aggressive, having low patience and always striving for more. As a team leader how do you cope with bad business day & keep your team motivated? As a person I am really an optimistic person and I believe Life is going to get better and post that I ensure the team is doing innovating stuff which always keeps them motivated.

What are your key USP of Azaya Beach Resort Goa as a hotel & how have you nurtured it Azaya celebrates its Portuguese design influences with Maldivian concept in its impeccably designed rooms and suites, beach within the property, suites with individual pool, FIT hotels. Azaya is not the traditional hotel but a lifestyle in itself.

How do you think goa tourism business is different from other parts of the country? It’ s extremely volatile goa tourism business and it has lots of extra factors which influences the tourism business which keeps it very different from other parts of the country. Which other hotel apart from Azaya Beach resort Goa do you personally appreciate? St Regis, Taj Exotica & Alila Diwa What events/activities are you planning for this season to keep Azaya always buzzing with people? We are bringing a lot of musical events at Azaya, a lot of international festivals related to food & beverages which will be celebrated at Azaya, as Azaya is a synonym to “Celebration & Experiences ” How much do you think social media & influencers help in spreading the word for business these days? Post pandemic social media & influencers have become a vital tool for supporting the marketing business of every single lobby, as print media and other ways of promoting has been reduced drastically. Where do you see your self 5yrs from now. Me creating something special & unique for the hospitality industry