A fitness enthusiast who loves eating fish and always wears a wide smile on his face — that’s Rahul Maini. t2 sat down for a chat with the 41-year-old Dharamshala-born...
What made you say yes to The Westin Kolkata Rajarhat?
I have been in the industry for 19 years now. I have spent about eight years with Taj and about eleven years with Marriott where I have had the opportunity to open about two different brands of Marriott International, one being Renaissance in Lucknow and the other Jaisalmer Marriott Resort and Spa. So when I was given the opportunity for The Westin Kolkata, I was excited to take over an operational hotel.
Westin is a modern brand in the Marriott portfolio offering varied services, a large mix of rooms, banqueting and restaurants and most importantly encouraging personal wellness. So that’s what brought me here. And of course, Calcutta, since I have never been here. It’s an opportunity to explore a different and new place.
When you walked into the hotel for the first time, what are the things that stood out for you?
The architecture of this hotel is unique. The way this hotel has been built, the face of spirituality, a 105ft tall mural we have in the lobby... it’s very different. It gives you a positive vibe about the place.
Of the many hotels you have worked in, which has been your favourite?
You learn from every project and I am thankful to Marriott International for giving me the opportunity to open two hotels back to back. And it’s almost like raising a baby. So the last two properties that I opened are dear to me.
What are the recent trends in the hospitality industry?
In terms of what one can offer in hotels, it is about different experiences in addition to basic requirements like room and F&B. Like in Westin, we focus a lot on personal well-being. Our motto is stay well, eat well, feel well and work well. These are the pillars that we promote in the Westin brand and which in their own way are very unique.
In today’s world when you are living a fast-paced life, you need to spend some time on yourself also. Only when your mind is relaxed, will you be able to deliver. I think that’s what guests look for.
What are your short- and long-term goals for the hotel?
As The Westin Kolkata is the newest hotel in the city, I want to ramp up the hotel in the right direction. Very soon we will have two more restaurants in the hotel and also a lounge bar on the rooftop. F&B creates a lot of activity in the hotel and so I am looking forward to opening these restaurants and redefining F&B in this part of the city. All the three new places will open in the last quarter of the year.
Plus, we will continue to build our relationships with our corporate clients. The city is growing, more and more industries are coming in, so strengthening those relationships is going to be a long-term strategy. We also have one of the biggest ballrooms in the city and we are planning to leverage it to bring large events to the city.
Your favourite spot in the hotel...
The Westin resonates my personal belief and that is one should dedicate time towards their well-being. I enjoy physical activities, hence whenever I get the time, the gym is my favourite. It helps me to unwind and relax.
What do you do when you aren’t working?
I am from Dharamshala and having grown up there, outdoor activities is something I really enjoy…trekking and cycling being my favourites. I am sure the east has a lot for me to do in that aspect too.
Have you had the chance to visit other hotels in the city or meet the general managers of the other star properties?
I have quite a few friends in the city. The general manager of JW Marriott Kolkata, Gaurav Singh, is a dear friend. Even the general manager of Taj Bengal, Manish Gupta, is a dear friend. Since our industry is small, we have worked together earlier. I have also had the opportunity to meet a few of the other general managers from the city.
Have you eaten at any restaurant in the city yet?
I love fish. So that makes Calcutta a perfect place for me. Even though I have eaten Bengali fish curry, having it in Bengal is something I look forward to. I haven’t been to any of the restaurants yet but I surely would be exploring the local cuisine. I have tried some Bengali sweets at Seasonal Tastes and I have relished them completely. I have been having Mishti Doi for breakfast (laughs)!
Anything on the hotel menu that you keep going back to?
Seasonal Tastes is a restaurant that offers Indian as well as international cuisines. We have a great chef here and he and his team are very passionate about what they serve. I would definitely recommend the Kosha Mangsho.
What is family time for you?
Family time for me is just unwinding with my wife Rachita and our six-year-old daughter Rabhya. Rabhya and I enjoy playing a lot of outdoor sports and she truly is my stress buster. Apart from that we enjoy road trips and long drives. So whenever we get the opportunity we just take off on the road. One of our last road trips were to the Rann of Kutch.
