Page 52 - UpperCrust e-Magazine Third Quarter 2024

UPPERCRUST PEOPLE | SOHAIB KIDWAI

People-Centric GM

here are people in this world who I take a look around the property, after
define your experiences, who go breakfast service, I interact with the team
Talong with you on your journey for 35-40 minutes and then get on with
and help shape your path in life. Sohaib my day, overseeing the operations of the
Kidwai is a people’s person without a hotel, ensuring the quality of service is
doubt and knows full well the value of maintained.” For Chandigarh is all about
those in his life who have, and continue quality and his experience in both F&B
to, make an impact. From colleagues and Sales & Marketing gives him the edge
to friends, family and God, first and he needs to be a capable leader. He takes
foremost, it’s been a blessed life and the us through his journey…
young General Manager doesn’t let a It all began as a young lad in Delhi
day go by without acknowledging it and where he was born and brought up and
expressing his gratitude. where his parents continue to live. He
Over a telephonic conversation, we commends them for the way they raised
sat down with the sweet-looking GM of him and his school, DPS, too, for the
the hotel that has ‘taken Chandigarh by right development so integral to a kid
storm’ since 2022, as he puts it. With his in their formative years. The passion for
candid smile, he reiterates, “I have been hotel management began right after 10th
here for a year now and the experience is grade and after completing his degree
amazing. For one, it is closest to home from IHM Aurangabad in 2005, he set
than I have ever been and second, it is the off for his training with the Marriott
flagship Centric hotel of the Hyatt Group Group. A nascent hotel chain in India
in India. It has literally taken Chandigarh at that time, Sohaib was part of the first
by storm!” And he loves being its GM! batch of management trainees, greenhorns
To lead a hotel that is fully booked who have gone on to do wonders for
most days – which is a first for Sohaib themselves. Like Sohaib, who started off
in his 15-20 years in the industry – to with the fabulous JW Marriott Mumbai
oversee restaurants like the fairly new Koyo Juhu, the flagship hotel of the brand in
Koyo that is packed with reservations, to India. “Even after 19 years, if I walk into
have people flocking from outside the city that gorgeous lobby, I will not forget my
as well – covers that run up to 150 on way around, through the back areas and
Saturdays; to launch the latest trend, Le all. The memories are still fresh. That’s the
Petit Chef and be sold out for the entire beauty of this industry, the experiences and
month with payment made in advance… the learning will stay with you wherever
Hyatt Centric is the place to be and Sohaib you go, forever!,” exclaims Sohaib. “You
is pleased with his mise en scene, let’s call cannot pick just one or two as each
it that! assignment is different and unique.”
Sohaib has been across the country His next assignment after JW was the
with the Hyatt Group for 16 years now Goa Marriott Resort & Spa, followed
and thanks them for their faith in him, by the Renaissance Mumbai Convention
feels he’s lucky to have gained so many Centre, where the shift from F&B to Sales It’s been an upward and onward
opportunities, to open such wonderful & Marketing was made. Sales Manager journey for the manager who went from
hotels, and to be able to lead them today. was up next at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai, one position and (Hyatt) hotel to another,
“It’s interesting to be the GM at this hotel, in 2008 – that horrific year of the terror from Bombay to Chennai to Poona, back
with new ideas floating around and a attacks. But Sohaib remembers his tenure to Chennai, and then Ahmedabad where
team that is all fired up, every day,” shares by the famed Bombay rains, something he the position of General Manager – Task
Sohaib. “You just don’t realise when the still misses; the petrichor, the hassle, the Force awaited, during the 2020 COVID
day starts and when it ends! Each morning, bhajias et al. period. Once again, Vadodara beckoned,

50 | UPPERCRUST | JUL-SEP 2024