All about resilience and revolution

IN A rivetting discussion at the 7th edition of BW Hotelier Indian Hospitality Summit & Awards 2023, Mandeep Lamba, President (South Asia) of HVS Anarock, engaged in a dynamic dialogue with Rajeev Menon, President, Asia Pacific (excluding Greater China) for Marriott International Inc. The dialogue reflected on the power of travel that emerged from the ashes of uncertainty. Menon said that he saw a surge in the demand for unique travel experiences post pandemic.

“I’m bullish on leisure travel,” he shared, highlighting the changing work flux that continues to fuel the demand for getaways and meeting spaces. “Covid19 has reaffirmed the power of travel, when humanity at large was locked up in their respective homes, and had all the time to think, they figured out that nothing was more important than their freedom, the ability to wander, and spend time with family and friends;” stated Menon. However, as the President of the booming market of Asia Pacific (excluding Greater China) for Marriott, he underscored that, “It is not just about traditional hotels for Marriott.

The company is diversifying its portfolio to provide personalised and engaging opportunities. ” Talking about the special focus on loyalty benefits at Marriott, Menon affirmed that “our core pillar is our loyalty programme – Marriott Bonvoy which has 186 million members globally. We are growing at a phenomenal rate, specifically here in Asia Pacific.

As we bring in new members, what they are seeking out is beyond hotels. ” The conversation continues with a spotlight on India’s promising growth in infrastructure, fuelled by the global geopolitical standing. “India’s time has finally come,” claimed Lamba while Menon felt optimistic about growth in secondary and tertiary markets.

“India has always been big on luxury hotels. But when you look at the modest market, there was a huge potential for growth and now through the support of the government, you can see major hotels popping up on the outskirts of cities. ” Likewise, “when you think about JW Marriott – we now have 10 operational properties, and eight in the pipeline and we’ll be probably be inking more deals in the time to come – we are quite optimistic about the luxury segment,” added Menon.

The discussion touched on Marriott’s brand strategy in India. Lamba discussed the performance of hotels, wherein non-room revenue seems to be getting traction. Agreeing to which, Menon emphasised the treatment of each market distinctively to cater to consumer expectations effectively.

He said, “When we brought Fairfield by Marriott to India, we spent millions on researching what the Indian consumer wanted, and it was clear – it wasn’t what the traditional Fairfield was in the US. We built in what the consumers expected of us, and it was a huge success with the brand in terms of its growth. ” The dialogue wrapped up with gravity on branded residences in Asia Pacific and the importance of embracing technological advancements.

Menon highlighted that “consumers have leapfrogged in the way reservations are being made – direct bookings have gone up. . .

when we talk AI, we are firm believers that it will help improve processes and create seamless operations for us to be able to deliver incredible and personalised experiences. ” This article was published in BW hotelier issue dated ” with cover story titled ‘BW HOTELIER IHA 2023 SPECIAL’.