Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Ramee Group enters management services
Mr. Sudhanshu Kumar Singh, Director Ramee Group
Express Hospitality March 2009
Express Hospitality March 2009
A 30minutes interview with Mr. Sudhanshu Kumar Singh, GGM, Ramee Group of Hotels
Express Hospitality April-2006
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
What is in it for me?
Mr. Sudhanshu Kumar Singh:
On how incetives help plump out the bottomlines.
an article in "Hotel & Food Service Review" May 2003
On how incetives help plump out the bottomlines.
an article in "Hotel & Food Service Review" May 2003
Monday, March 9, 2009
Monday, March 2, 2009
Asked the secret of his success, Sudhanshu quotes Henry David Thoreau, "Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. But he admits to being very careful in choosing the right, people in the right departments. 'People
who actually care," he says. "When you operate a full-service hotel, you all have to be working on the same tune, like a piano. You can't have one key playing a different tune. believe in hiring anyone who has a lot of skill, a good attitude and is willing to work hard."
Seeing how passionate Sudhanshu is about being part of the Ramee Group, it is no surprise that his team is loyal. "Every individual should have enthusiasm and passion in life, whether you're a father, artist or hotelier. And if you're passionate, you'll become successful." He finishes the chat with a quote from Calvin Coolidge, "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
Quite a remarkable journey for a young lad who was caught up with the idea of giving his best off to any situation. Life has turned a full of circle for Sudhanshu as he saw us off from his cabin; the very cabin at Hotel Ramee, Khar, where he was first interviewed for a humble opening.
who actually care," he says. "When you operate a full-service hotel, you all have to be working on the same tune, like a piano. You can't have one key playing a different tune. believe in hiring anyone who has a lot of skill, a good attitude and is willing to work hard."
Seeing how passionate Sudhanshu is about being part of the Ramee Group, it is no surprise that his team is loyal. "Every individual should have enthusiasm and passion in life, whether you're a father, artist or hotelier. And if you're passionate, you'll become successful." He finishes the chat with a quote from Calvin Coolidge, "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
Quite a remarkable journey for a young lad who was caught up with the idea of giving his best off to any situation. Life has turned a full of circle for Sudhanshu as he saw us off from his cabin; the very cabin at Hotel Ramee, Khar, where he was first interviewed for a humble opening.
'Another person who has been of immense support is the CMW, Mr. Raj Shetty who transformed me from a gawky youngster to a person who could take far reaching decisions and act on them. I learnt the rudiments of man management from him specially when I came back to India, which was totally different from the one I left, when I went to the Gulf" affirms Sudhanshu. "Appreciation and gratitude can not express the immense support that I experienced from the CMW who is teaching, guiding and educating me even today to anticipate, innovate, achieve and excel in accomplishment of meaningful objectives that are creating constructive progress within the Ramee Group.
Asked the secret of his success, Sudhanshu quotes Henry David Thoreau, "Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. But he admits to being very careful in choosing the right, people in the right departments. 'People who actually care," he says. "When you operate a full-service hotel, you all have to be working on the same tune, like a piano. You can't have one key playing a different tune. believe in hiring anyone who has a lot of skill, a good attitude and is willing to work hard."
Seeing how passionate Sudhanshu is about being part of the Ramee Group, it is no surprise that his team is loyal. "Every individual should have enthusiasm and passion in life, whether you're a father, artist or hotelier. And if you're passionate, you'll become successful." He finishes the chat with a quote from Calvin Coolidge, "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
Quite a remarkable journey for a young lad who was caught up with the idea of giving his best off to any situation. Life has turned a full of circle for Sudhanshu as he saw us off from his cabin; the very cabin at Hotel Ramee, Khar, where he was first interviewed for a humble opening.
Asked the secret of his success, Sudhanshu quotes Henry David Thoreau, "Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it. But he admits to being very careful in choosing the right, people in the right departments. 'People who actually care," he says. "When you operate a full-service hotel, you all have to be working on the same tune, like a piano. You can't have one key playing a different tune. believe in hiring anyone who has a lot of skill, a good attitude and is willing to work hard."
Seeing how passionate Sudhanshu is about being part of the Ramee Group, it is no surprise that his team is loyal. "Every individual should have enthusiasm and passion in life, whether you're a father, artist or hotelier. And if you're passionate, you'll become successful." He finishes the chat with a quote from Calvin Coolidge, "Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."
Quite a remarkable journey for a young lad who was caught up with the idea of giving his best off to any situation. Life has turned a full of circle for Sudhanshu as he saw us off from his cabin; the very cabin at Hotel Ramee, Khar, where he was first interviewed for a humble opening.
Mr. Sudhanshu with family
In today's world, the man is very much alone in the marketplace there is stiff competition and it is highly stressful. Nothing can be more comforting for a husband to have a companion at home he can find peace and companionship with. What a man needs is a friend, a confidante, one he can be transparent with to share his struggles and his inner world without being criticized, judged or condemned that his spirit can be refreshed and strengthened knowing his wife knows what it means to be his companion. "This is exactly what my wife Shalini has given me, unconditional support and love. In times of difficulty, she has reached out to me and her little gestures have been emotionally bonding. My family consisting of my two sons, Mrigaank and shweataank are my world, says Sudhanshu.
Lip Smacking Success
Despite the hurried atmosphere around, Sudhanshu Kumar Singh, Group General Manager, India is a picture of quiet elegance. Wearing a pin-striped suit, exemplifying power dressing, he definitely looks the part of a successful executive, spearheading the Ramee Group's initiative in India.As he settles back with a bowl of oats and milk, Sudhanshu reminisces at length. After you listen to him speak of his journey from country boy to city immigrant to hotelier, you realize that the business image Sudahanshu presents on the outside is borne sincerely from a passion for the hotel business and years of hard work, learning it hands-on, inside and out. "I was born in a small village, in district Jharkhand, which was formerly in Bihar. The story of my life has been, in many ways, a dramatic one -- full of difficulties and hardships, in earlier days and later a spectacular rise to the position I now hold. But this was not achieved without incessant toil and a daily fight against tremendous odds. "Yet it was a challenge to prove myself. When I look back to those days, as I sometimes do, in moments of leisure, I am thankful that I was able to accept this challenge and make good. These reflections also make me feel humble for I realise it was with help of forces, seen and unseen, that I achieved.
Sudhanshu's father was the principal of the village school, but that did not allow him any extra perquisites. He began his education at the village school. "The village had no electricity and I remember studying at day using God's natural light. Life in the village made me value the little luxuries of life, which were attained only through sheer hard work. In 1993, I finished a Diploma in Hotel Management", he says.
He finally landed a job with Dalmia Sales, a division of Old Anchor Resort, in Mumbai. Sudhanshu was deputed to sell timeshare holiday memberships. Thus began a period of great struggle and great learning. "Living in Mumbai was anything but a dream. I stayed in Vakola, Santacruz, in a lodge room not much bigger than the size of my car! Each day was a constant struggle as I worked from early morning till late in the night. I remember walking huge distances to save on transportation costs."
Making sales to disinterested customers from Churchgate to Borivili became an everyday pattern. Maybe the market was not ready for timeshares or the idea was ahead of its time. Whatever the reason, it was a tough grind. Sudhanshu then realized that sales was not his cup of tea. He was craving to get into hotel operations. 'At this point I received a telegram from home informing me that my mother had expired!" Amidst great shock he promptly headed home. "When I reached there I found my mother waiting for me with a big smile!" This was apparently a ploy to get him home as he had neglected the family all through to stabilize his fledgling career. "I learnt a great lesson from this incident and have never taken family relationships for granted", confesses Sudhanshu. Finally he got a break with Ramada Renaissance in Goa. After a spell there, Sudhanshu enrolled with the Ambassador in Mumbai as a Supervisor in 1995. "In 1996, I joined Hotel Sea Princess as a senior supervisor. I was still hunting for that elusive break which would ignite my career. An opportunity came my way when I met the Ramee Group Chairman and an earlier Director, Mr. Arvind Hegde." After a grueling interview process he became a part of the Regent Palace Hotel, Dubai, but not before waiting four months for the visa! Sudhanshu reached the Regent and was made to wait for five hours before he got an audience with the F & B Manager. "I was told to join up as junior supervisor. This was a rude shock as I had earlier worked as a senior supervisor. The accommodation was another shock. Only the four walls made it look like a room." The living conditions coupled with the designation letdown made him think afresh. But then as luck would have it, he was subjected to another round of interview and was confirmed as senior supervisor with better living quarters.
"Thus began a fresh chapter in my life, "says he I soon acquired the reputation of a workaholic and commenced a system of 48 hour work schedules." Sudhanshu took on the role of learning in the trenches everything about the business, from housekeeping to front office management to marketing. There were certain periods when he was on the job 72 hours at a stretch.
"As I was always on my feet, if someone wanted to see me, they had to literally page me". Sudhanshu gradually took over the F & B activity of the Regent Palace Hotel except Rock Bottom and the Far East Seafood Cafe.
Certain upheavals in the young Sudhanshu's life then, forced him to part ways with the Ramee Group.
He finally landed a job with Dalmia Sales, a division of Old Anchor Resort, in Mumbai. Sudhanshu was deputed to sell timeshare holiday memberships. Thus began a period of great struggle and great learning. "Living in Mumbai was anything but a dream. I stayed in Vakola, Santacruz, in a lodge room not much bigger than the size of my car! Each day was a constant struggle as I worked from early morning till late in the night. I remember walking huge distances to save on transportation costs."
Making sales to disinterested customers from Churchgate to Borivili became an everyday pattern. Maybe the market was not ready for timeshares or the idea was ahead of its time. Whatever the reason, it was a tough grind. Sudhanshu then realized that sales was not his cup of tea. He was craving to get into hotel operations. 'At this point I received a telegram from home informing me that my mother had expired!" Amidst great shock he promptly headed home. "When I reached there I found my mother waiting for me with a big smile!" This was apparently a ploy to get him home as he had neglected the family all through to stabilize his fledgling career. "I learnt a great lesson from this incident and have never taken family relationships for granted", confesses Sudhanshu. Finally he got a break with Ramada Renaissance in Goa. After a spell there, Sudhanshu enrolled with the Ambassador in Mumbai as a Supervisor in 1995. "In 1996, I joined Hotel Sea Princess as a senior supervisor. I was still hunting for that elusive break which would ignite my career. An opportunity came my way when I met the Ramee Group Chairman and an earlier Director, Mr. Arvind Hegde." After a grueling interview process he became a part of the Regent Palace Hotel, Dubai, but not before waiting four months for the visa! Sudhanshu reached the Regent and was made to wait for five hours before he got an audience with the F & B Manager. "I was told to join up as junior supervisor. This was a rude shock as I had earlier worked as a senior supervisor. The accommodation was another shock. Only the four walls made it look like a room." The living conditions coupled with the designation letdown made him think afresh. But then as luck would have it, he was subjected to another round of interview and was confirmed as senior supervisor with better living quarters.
"Thus began a fresh chapter in my life, "says he I soon acquired the reputation of a workaholic and commenced a system of 48 hour work schedules." Sudhanshu took on the role of learning in the trenches everything about the business, from housekeeping to front office management to marketing. There were certain periods when he was on the job 72 hours at a stretch.
"As I was always on my feet, if someone wanted to see me, they had to literally page me". Sudhanshu gradually took over the F & B activity of the Regent Palace Hotel except Rock Bottom and the Far East Seafood Cafe.
Certain upheavals in the young Sudhanshu's life then, forced him to part ways with the Ramee Group.
He subsequently joined one of the international cafes in Dubai, the Dome Cafe. Coincidentally, the Dome was opposite the Regent Palace Hotel. "This allowed me the opportunity to compare the overall standards of each and Dome was found wanting says Sudhanshu. A stand alone restaurant in his conception was like part of the scenery and he missed the throbbing excitement of working at Regent.
"The Chairman made me an offer to come aboard again and I grabbed it with both hands exults Sudhanshu. "I took guard afresh in Bahrain to begin my second innings. He was promoted as Asst. F & B Manager with a substantial ray rise and higher responsibilities. "Mr. Shantaram Shetty was my mentor who smoothened whatever rough edges I had," says a grateful Sudhanshu. He learnt some managerial skills and the ability to cast vision. Sudhanshu also realized that he had to take real ownership and learn every aspect of the business himself. He was transferred at almost all the Ramee properties in Bahrain and delivered consistently good results.
Things were also looking up on the personal front. Sudhanshu got married to Shalini in 2000 and flew her to Bahrain. Married bliss continued for another seven months and Sudhanshu flew back to India at the behest of the Chairman. The unpredictability of events was highlighted yet again. In 2001, the world was hit by 9/11 and the entire economy took a beating. "This was a period of turmoil", he shudders. 'Business was sluggish and once I even had to double up at the reception to get the customers in". Sudhanshu decided after a great deal of soul searching that putting systems in place would be the answer. "A systemic approach was the answer to stabilizing the roller coaster ride a business can be," he avers. A lot of promotional activities followed, which increased the average room revenue. Curtailing expenses was given prime importance. Within a year the Dadar restaurant turned around to start ringing in profits. The Khar hotel was refurbished and the cash registers started ringing there as well.
"Hotel Ramee Guestline, Juhu, was servicing a bank loan then, says Sudhanshu. "Concurrently I was promoted as the Group General Manager. My immediate task at hand was to create profits and pay the EMI (Equated monthly installment). The enormity of the task allowed me to be very hands-on and learn the challenges of the business," he explains. Finding Sudhanshu working the front desk or chatting
up guests lent itself to a very personal atmosphere that he still maintains in the hotels today. "We operate business in a very personal manner," he says. "Every customer is very important to us." The results of his efforts? "Our occupancy grew substantially," he says. "Today the profits turned over are at least three times the EMI we used to pay." Sudhanshu credits the turn around to, "the able support of my colleagues and the entire team.
A couple of years down the line, Sudhanshu has taken over the reins as Group General Manager, India operations. The portfolio of responsibilities increased to overseeing the functioning of the entire group pan India and delivering profits. So far, he has revelled in the new job.
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