Welcome to Calcutta! What made you say yes to JW Marriott Kolkata?

This is an iconic property and our first property in the east. It’s made so much goodwill for us, and the brand has great value. There are about 6,500 hotels worldwide under the brand and only about 80 JWs. And luckily, my predecessor (Ranju Alex) has created a great reputation. So it just allows a very easy transition. 

You started your career in hospitality in 1999 and joined Marriott in 2013…

I worked at two of the ITCs in Mumbai — ITC Maratha and ITC Grand Central — and then moved to the Oberoi for a six-year stint at their leisure hotels at The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra and The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur. I joined the Marriott in 2013. To me, the critical part of Marriott has been that we use this phrase — “This is where I belong” — and I can relate to it in so many ways. 

In Calcutta, this hotel will be my base hotel and core responsibility, but I also look after the region of Bangladesh where we have three operating hotels, with a fourth one coming up. We are opening a Courtyard in Siliguri soon so that’s also part of my purview. Still early days but it’s probably going to come about at the end of the year. 

What are your short-term and long-term goals for the hotel?

We need to start building our image further in the city. I love fun and have a passion for many things... wine, golf, meeting people, parties, good food and travelling. So those will come inherently into the system. All JWs across the world become icons and I think so will this one. As a short-term goal, I want to get all the ingredients going to make it an iconic hotel in the long-term. 

What’s the plan for the cluster of hotels in Bangladesh?

We have general managers in all those hotels, so my role is of being a guide to them rather than day-to-day operations.

You were born in Calcutta but have never lived here for a long time. How do you intend to build a relationship with the city?

In a way it’s a homecoming. I was born in Woodlands Hospital and my dad’s head office was in Clive Row and so we used to come here every year. I am a product of a boarding school (Mayo College in Ajmer) and every time school closed, I would pass through Calcutta to go to Assam, where my parents lived. There were no direct flights, so we would come here, spend a night and head out the next day. So Calcutta was always my first-stop home and I did that for the first 25 years of my life. 

To me, this was what a city is. The art, the music, the culture, the love for sports — that’s what Calcutta is. I learnt a lot of that here. I learnt a little bit of my golf here in RCGC, I learnt a little bit of my tennis here at CC&FC. Unfortunately, I never lived here and this is the first time I get that opportunity. 

Is your family accompanying you?

I have a lovely family — my wife, Swati, and two children, Samarth Vir, 10, and Adira, 8. When I got this opportunity, it was a big choice for us. We said, we are getting an opportunity for our children to imbibe lovely cultures. We have lived in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore and now my kids have come here. When we leave from here, whenever that is, we will leave with great memories and friends. 

What’s on your to-do list in the city?

I am an avid golfer, so checking out the golf turfs in the city is on the agenda. On the professional front, I need to know my team, so the last one week I have been meeting those who will report to me to understand what they do and to, sort of, share my vision and what I expect out of them.

You seem to be a lot into sports...

Golf is a large part of my interest. I like Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy. I am a big fan of Shiv Kapur, whom Marriott sponsors, and Sharmila Nicollet. 

I have been coached in tennis and used to play in the Indian circuit. Locally, I like Leander (Paes), who is a great friend, and internationally, I am very fond of Roger Federer. Every year I like to watch a few live things and this year, I have tickets to the 2018 FIFA World Cup and I will be supporting Germany. 

Rapid fire

Age: 40

Started career at: ITC Hotels, Mumbai, in 1999

Fave holiday destination: Germany and Maldives

Fave way to unwind (other than golf): Reading a bit and listening to music. I also enjoy cigars and have a little box with me. That’s my thinking time. 

Reading now: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Comfort food: Dal and roti

Fave cuisine: Indian

Last three things on credit card statement: Largely golf, I think 

Fave wine: Pinots from Burgundy, Napa wines from California, Stellenbosch from South Africa

Fave music: I am a big fan of Pink Floyd, Dire Straits and Coldplay... have watched them live three times in the last two years (Amsterdam, New York and Mumbai). I also like Snow Patrol and Imagine Dragons.  

Gaurav’s SWOT analysis of JW Marriott Kolkata based on his first impressions: 

Strengths: I think the design and layout, but first and foremost, the people. I also think that in any city, if you want to reach the hearts of the people, it comes through the stomach and Calcuttans love their food, so if we don’t get that right, then it won’t work. So I am very glad that food is one of our strengths. And finally, the team. When I came here and met the people, to me it was like an honour to work with them. 

Weaknesses/Opportunities: I won’t say there are weaknesses as they are more like opportunities. We are young and we are still growing. We haven’t made sufficient noise in the city and, in my view, we are yet to go out and market ourselves in a stronger way. It is like a child hitting its teens. I think, now we need to start having fun and make a bit of noise.

Threats: There is a lot of competition and we need to continue to stay ahead. We have a neighbour building a pretty large asset, so we need to be conscious of them coming about as they are a big player in the industry and in the city.

Anannya Sarkar