Hotel Investment Conference South Asia (HICSA) 2013

HVS the world's leading hospitality consulting firm is here with the 9th Hotel Investment Conference - South Asia (HICSA) 2013. HICSA has grown over the years to earn the reputation of being the best hospitality conference in the region with over 600 business leaders from across 20 countries participating last year.

HICSA 2013 for the very first time, had the four global CEOs of leading global hospitality brands on a common dais - Arne M Sorenson, President & CEO, Marriott International; Christopher J Nassetta, President & CEO, Hilton Worldwide; Frits van Paasschen, President & CEO, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Mark S Hoplamazian, President & CEO, Hyatt Hotels Corporation.

Adding to this were interesting pre-event round table activities exclusively for owners discussing key issues related to development costs, constraints of management contracts, profitability, human capital and availability of funding.

It is an honor to have our Area General Manager, Mr Anuraag Bhatnagar impart his words of wisdom regarding the Hospitality Industry at this platform of HICSA 2013. Mr Anuraag Bhatnagar gives his take on the 'Pressure of Making Money in Challenging Markets'. He has the company of many prominent General Managers of leading hotels in this important discussion.

Subject: Pressure of Making Money in Challenging Markets

Moderator
Kapil Chopra, President, The Oberoi Group
Kapil Chopra is President of The Oberoi Group and is responsible for overseeing all The Oberoi and Trident Hotels in India. With over 19 years of experience, he has worked with premium hotel chains in the country. Most recently, Kapil was the Executive Vice President of the Group and was instrumental in opening the two flagship properties – The Oberoi and Trident in Gurgaon. He was also voted Hotelier of the Year by Hindustan Times in 2012.

Panelists
Anuraag Bhatnagar, Area General Manager, Westin Hotels Mumbai and Pune
Anuraag Bhatnagar is Area General Manager of Westin Hotels in Mumbai and Pune and has 22 years of experience in the industry. Prior to his 10 year long stint with the Starwood Group that included him serving as a General Manager for The Westin Pune Koregaon Park in Pune and Le Royal Meridien Mumbai, Anuraag was associated with The Oberoi Group for 12 years.

 

Biswajit Chakraborty, General Manager, Mövenpick Hotel and Spa Bangalore
Biswajit Chakraborty took over the reins of Mövenpick Hotel and Spa Bangalore as General Manager in August 2012. He has 25 years of experience in the industry, which includes working in leadership positions with The Leela in Kovalam and Mumbai, The Yak and Yeti in Nepal (General Manager), The Oberoi Group (Sales and Marketing Head) and the Taj Group, where he started his hospitality career as an F & B Controller.

Maverik Mukerji, GM Ibis Navi Mumbai, AGM Ibis Hotels – Maharashtra
Maverik Mukerji is the Area General Manager of Ibis Hotels in Maharashtra and the General Manager of Ibis Navi Mumbai. He has been associated with Accor since 2002. Maverik started his career with Accor in New Zealand as an Assistant Manager, Mercure Hotel, Wellington and in 10 years has excelled to be a performance driven leader with experience in world class hospitality and property management. In a career spanning over 16 years, he has played a key role in handling important hotel management operations in the Novotel Tainui Hamilton and the Novotel Rotorua Lakeside in New Zealand. Prior to Accor, Maverik was associated with the Taj Group.

Taljinder Singh, General Manager, Taj Palace New Delhi
Taljinder Singh is the General Manager of Taj Palace New Delhi since 2009. Prior to this, he was the General Manager of Taj Bengal, Kolkata and the Resident Manager of the Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi. He has completed varied assignments with the Group at Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Mumbai, Vivanta by Taj – President, Mumbai; and at Taj Palace New Delhi. He started his career with the Company as a Management Trainee in 1990.

Yann Gillet, General Manager, Park Hyatt Chennai
Yann Gillet is the General Manager of Park Hyatt Chennai. Recruited by Hyatt as a Corporate Trainee in 1994, he subsequently joined Hyatt Paris Charles-de-Gaulle. This was followed by a range of opportunities with Radisson Group for opening their properties in Cannes as well as Beijing. Yann’s journey with Hyatt was renewed as an Executive Assistant Manager – Finance in Casblanca, Morocco, followed by various other interesting assignments within the Company.