2020 General Manager Finalist Interview, featuring Sumeet Taneja
Sumeet Taneja is the General Manager of Taj Swarna, Amritsar and a General Manager finalist for Stelliers 2020. A seasoned hotelier with nearly three decades of experience, Taneja carries under his belt an in-depth understanding of the hospitality industry and tenure at brands like Hyatt, Leela, Intercontinental and Taj. He has also personally catered for dignitaries like former US President, Bill Clinton, and former Indian President, the late Dr.APJ Abdul Kalam. Learn more about his hotelier journey and the milestones that defined his career.
1. Describe your childhood and upbringing. Where and when did your initial interest in hospitality begin?
I grew up in a family where hard work and discipline reigned supreme. My father was a Police Officer in Delhi and later became a member of the Bar Council, while my mother was a fabric designer and garment exporter. One of my brothers is a prominent cardiologist in the UK. Their dedication, perseverance and determination to their work and life shaped my upbringing.
My exposure to hospitality came early in my life, thanks to another dear brother who worked at the Taj. I completed my study at the Delhi Public School in New Delhi, a city that is home to one of the most luxurious properties of Taj in India.
Every time I had visited the Taj Palace hotel, I was awe-struck. The institution’s magnificence always fascinated me as a youth. The early exposure to this industry solidified my career path to become a hotelier.
Post-graduation, I chose to pursue Hotel Management & Tourism in Chennai and it equipped me with the necessary skills and domain expertise to move forward with my passion. From then till now, it has truly been a marvellous journey.
2. Was there a particular key turning point in your career that contributed to your success today?
It is my strong belief that careers are built over time and through tremendous efforts and dedication.
I started way back in 1993 as a Restaurant Manager of Machan, a busy all-day dining destination at Taj Mahal, New Delhi. Over the years, I have worked challenging positions like F&B Manager, Resident Manager and Executive Assistant Manager at brands like the Taj Deccan Hyderabad, Taj Pamodzi Luzaka in Zambia and Taj Ambassador in New Delhi. These roles consolidated my portfolio, solidified my managerial skills and expanded my horizons within this industry.
The turning point in my career (or something similar)was when I was bestowed with the incredible opportunity to head the Catering division for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
I oversaw and led a team that successfully catered to over 12,000 – 15,000 guests every day. I managed the nine outlets at the Asiad Village that doled out delightful meals through the day and at night, catering to people from across the globe with diverse culinary palates. This was a major milestone in my career and my life as my endeavours were highly praised by the Taj corporate team and by officials from the Indian Government.
This opportunity also initiated my ascent towards the General Manager position at Taj Ambassador, New Delhi, then at the Vivanta by Taj, Gurugram in 2014, and three years ago I launched Taj Swarna, Amritsar.
3. COVID 19 has been (and still is) an immense challenge for the hospitality sector. Can you share how you decided to lead your team and the property through this period ?
Every sector has been deeply impacted by the pandemic. Hospitality is amongst the hardest hit. The hardship has taught us a lot about life and each other. We realised that every associate is an integral part of the industry.
Overseeing Taj Swarna, Amritsar and being accountable to the management, I have adopted a well-balanced approach towards achieving the management’s vision as well as the goals and aspirations of my team and associates.
I say with pride that during this challenging period, my team has stood really tall. Being a TATA company (Indian multinational conglomerate holding company), we are committed to our values and ethics and have decided against any layoffs.
4. The hospitality industry has an interesting road ahead, what do you think the next few years hold for the sector and its recovery?
Interesting days lie ahead, albeit challenging. Health, hygiene and safety hold the key to success. Every stakeholder in hospitality has realised the true meaning of the phrase, “health is wealth”. Moreover, technology and enhanced digitisation will largely determine the guest experience. We will have to leverage adequate health & safety standards, as well as technology to connect with prospective patrons, curate innovative guest experiences and make things as contactless as possible. This is the “new normal”.
5. Aside from being a hotelier, what is your passion?
Hospitality is my passion. It runs in my DNA. My passion for work and my hard-core commitment to hospitality was so evident that both my children were deeply influenced and happily chose hospitality as their career.
6. If you could invite anyone over for dinner, who would it be?
My passion towards my profession keeps me so engaged that I would prefer to cherish every second with my mother, wife and kids. They are my priority.