‘The property is a trendsetting luxury beacon of India’

He started his hospitality career 21 years ago as a Food and Beverage Manager and has been graciously handling the post of General Manager for nine of them. Yet Varun Chhibber feels his journey has just started. Asserting the guests are his biggest teachers, the GM of The St Regis Mumbai believes he has a long way to go with his learnings and experiences. Now leading one of the most luxurious hotels in the Maximum City, Chhibber returned to Mumbai last October after about seven years since his appointment as GM at The Oberoi, Mumbai. Elaborating on the difference in the city between then and now, Chhibber says, “Mumbai of today is very different from the one a decade back,” adding the hotel he is now heading is an experience-driven, high-energy and positively dramatic space. For him, his hotel sets the tone and tempo for things to come. 

Chhibber’s faith in the brand he now represents is also unwavering. “The St Regis is established as the trendsetting luxury beacon of India and would continue to dominate the Indian market by deploying innovation in guest experiences, warm and friendly services and unmatchable F&B experiences,” he shares, asserting the next five years would see the hotel not only dominate the terrain but inspire the industry at large to try new concepts, develop guest-friendly technology and have the best talent India has to offer at all levels. 

Innovating F&B

Coming from an F&B background, Chhibber contributes immensely to the segment in the hotel. The St Regis Mumbai has different F&B outlets, including Koishii that merges Japanese cooking techniques with traditional ingredients of Peru, Koi Bar for all things Pisco and Peruvian, Asian restaurant By The Mekong, The Sahib Room & Kipling Bar with its Indian dishes and classic libations, Seven Kitchens which is a paradise for live kitchen lovers, coffee and tea parlour - The Drawing Room, The St Regis Bar, Marriott Bonvoy on Wheels delivering exceptional gastronomical experiences and Middle Eastern restaurant, Sette Mara.

Speaking on this aspect, he proudly shares, “We like to inculcate a very simple yet authentic strategy in all our F&B experiences. The St Regis Mumbai has a team of expert and talented chefs who are given the freedom to express themselves through their culinary skills, paired with a motivated team of servers. We believe in curating trendsetting F&B experiences with sustainably sourced ingredients and authentic flavours.”

His method of driving innovation in the F&B segment is much in line with his leadership style which Chhibber says is keeping communication transparent, deeply genuine, bold and collaborative with heightened sincerity with his team. “Each step of communication to me is an opportunity to build motivation with unparalleled fire in the belly. As far as my guests are concerned, I like my communication transparent with inclusivity to our vision. My communication is based 90 per cent on listening and 10 per cent on expressing my thoughts,” he explains. 

Bringing tasteful perfection to weddings

During the tough phase of pandemic, weddings were the saving grace for the hospitality industry. Now, the way Indians conduct weddings has undergone massive transformation. Speaking on the business from weddings the hotel gets, Chhibber says, “The St Regis Mumbai is India’s most celebrated wedding destination where we bring the guests’ vision to life with tasteful perfection. We have recently introduced an elevated events programme at our House of Celebrations, where the master chefs of The Best Address have curated an exclusive menu that includes Show-stopper Stations, Effervescent Entrees, Charcuterie, Confection Couture and more. The Astors welcomed notable luminaries into their home for celebration. Here, they indulged in storied festivities amidst an unparalleled luxury setting. The St Regis Legacy as the original House of Celebrations lives on through the Astor family’s tradition and spirit and we continue the legacy by being the ultimate luxury destination with our bold vision and modern glamour that reimagines traditional rituals,” he avers. 

The hotel, the tallest one in Mumbai, has exquisite banquet spaces that spread across more than 47,500 sq ft. “Our in-house wedding specialists, event planners and team of expert chefs work round-the-clock to translate a dream wedding into reality,” Chhibber boasts of his team, which serves across 15 event venues that the hotel has. 

Going above and beyond

With wellness travel becoming a major trend in the industry, mere presence of spas and therapies is not enough to please the guests anymore. Chhibber and his team are of the firm believe that wellness and health are not just about a relaxing therapy at the spa or a vigorous session at the fitness centre. “We like to go above and beyond for our luminaries (guests) by curating a sustainable breakfast by sourcing some of the finest ingredients, championing farmers in and around Mumbai. While our luminaries unwind, we anticipate. We curate not just experiences but memories for them by meticulously planning out their day as we strongly believe that time is money. Our wonderful Concierge team here has also curated a ‘Wake Up To Wellness’ experience for our luminaries where they are offered complimentary transfers to the beautiful Mahalaxmi Racecourse every morning,” he shares. 

Overall, for the skipper of the hotel, The St Regis Mumbai embodies the very ethos of warm and friendly hospitality. His belief stems from the fact that The St Regis brand had been the first in the world to offer butler services, way back in 1904, and over the past nearly 120 years, the brand has gone on to redefine the residential luxury from the arrival experience, evening rituals, personalised butler service, trend setting F&B and above all, warmth of a home. “We are not the staff or employees but quintessential hosts that the world is waiting to see,” says Chhibber with a smile.