May 19, 2017 TnH Global

Most Respected Veteran of the Hospitality Industry Nakul Anand, Executive Director, ITC

Q. How do you feel about being honoured with the ‘Most Respected Veteran of the Hospitality Industry’ award by TnH magazine at its Travel & Hospitality Awards 2016? What does winning this award mean to you?

It is not only a matter of great honour but also great pride to be bestowed with this accolade. Moreover, its significance is heightened in the light of it being one of the most prestigious recognitions, accorded by TnH. I am truly humbled.

Q. What led you to achieve such heights in the hospitality industry? What were your success mantras?

No one person can succeed just by themselves. All my accomplishments are credited to the team at ITC Hotels.

Q. What have been the highpoints of your career?

Being an ITC lifer, my passion for a ‘Responsible’ approach towards business is understandable. Those learnings propelled the hotels division into a new era that become a milestone in ITC Hotels’ history. It was an inflection point for the business. To make a choice to either only focus on sustainable practices or to focus on luxury experiences. Deliberations led us to believe that choosing either was not an option because sustainability must be embedded in luxury is a belief that permeated from ITC’s triple line approach to business pillared on building economic, social and environmental capital. This inspired us to scale new heights in luxury, enhancing it to deeper levels by blending it with a responsible approach. An approach that is committed to work towards the benefit of all stakeholders that are impacted by the luxury experiences delivered at ITC Hotels.

Q. What do you love most in the hospitality business?

That it is a 24*7 world and that no two days are alike and that it is the one business in this fast paced and technology driven world that has still retained the element of ‘Human Touch’.

Q. According to you, what is the biggest challenge the Indian hotel industry is facing today?

I think that these are exciting times for the industry. What we need to do is focus on how together as an industry, along with the government, we can increase the pull for India. We are over-roomed and we need to shift focus from the supply situation to creating a demand for tourism India. Secondly, I think we need to have different strategies for domestic tourism as compared to international tourism. We need to focus on areas which give us a competitive advantage. What is unique to us, is our cultural diversity, our cuisine, wellness traditions and yoga. We need to narrow our focus down to certain segments, and within those segments create islands of excellence.

Q. What advice would you like to give to the next generation of hoteliers who desire success in this industry?

There are just 10 very simple words: IF IT IS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME.

“It is not only a matter of great honour but also great pride to be bestowed with this accolade. Moreover its significance is heightened in the light of it being one of the most prestigious recognitions, accorded by TnH. I am truly humbled.”