‘We establish strategic partnerships with local businesses’

If you believe that chefs are deeply attached to their kitchens and rarely venture beyond their culinary domain, you’re right. However, some chefs, despite their passion for the kitchen, embrace new challenges outside their comfort zones. Himanshu Taneja is one of them. An alumni of the Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Trivandrum, it was in 2000 that Taneja started his career as a management trainee in Mumbai. A decade later, his journey with Marriott International began, as a chef at JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu. In 2017, he relocated to The St Regis Mumbai as Director of Culinary. Given his remarkable contribution to growing The St Regis Mumbai’s operations, Taneja was appointed Director of Culinary for South Asia India in 2018. With 24 years’ experience behind him, he took over as Area Director of Operations for South and East India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in January 2023. At present, he oversees operations of 45 hotels and works on talent development and training.  

Dealing with challenges

As he steers operations across these diverse regions, Taneja’s role is a balancing act of navigating regulatory mazes, managing economic fluctuations and maintaining a cohesive supply chain. “Each region comes with its own set of workforce dynamics, safety standards, and corporate regulations. Navigating these varying requirements while ensuring compliance can be both complex and resource-intensive,” he highlights the intricate nature of his responsibilities. The task becomes even more daunting with the differences in tax policies and financial reporting standards across these areas. “We have to stay on top of these differences to ensure accurate and lawful financial practices,” he notes. This variation not only complicates financial management but also heightens the risk of non-compliance.

One of the most pressing challenges is managing a supply chain that stretches across multiple countries. Geopolitical concerns, natural disasters and regional conflicts add layers of complexity to logistics. The recruitment and retention of skilled professionals further add to the challenges. Currency fluctuations and shifting consumer demands have a direct impact on business operations.  

Navigating multinational operations

To ensure operational standards are consistently met across different countries and regions, Tanjea shares that periodic training programmes are implemented to ensure all associates understand the cultural nuances and values of the regions and local experts who understand the regional culture are hired. Then, local managers are empowered to make decisions for quicker adaptation to market conditions and cultural expectations. Where possible, source materials and services are introduced locally to reduce costs, improve supply chain efficiency and community development and CSR initiatives that align with local needs and values are engaged in. “We establish strategic partnerships with local businesses, governments and community leaders to gain insights and build trust in the region,” he adds.

Strategies for adapting to regional diversity

Adapting operational practices to meet the unique cultural and market requirements of each region is central to Taneja’s approach. To effectively manage is, he employs a range of strategies. Understanding the local culture, values, customs and norms is foundational to his strategy. “Learning about what drives behaviour and preferences in each region allows us to tailor our approach more effectively,” he explains, adding the goal is to ensure the products and services resonate with local customers.

Community investment plays a significant role in his strategy. By engaging in initiatives that reflect the company’s values along with compliance with regional regulations, labour laws and environmental standards is a priority. “Understanding and following regional regulations is essential for maintaining operational integrity and avoiding legal issues,” he points out. And then comes HR policies. “By aligning HR practices with regional norms, the company ensures that employees feel valued and respected. Tailoring our HR policies to reflect local work ethics and benefits helps us build a motivated and committed workforce,” Taneja shares.

Initiatives to boost operational efficiency

Sustainability is the topmost priority for Area Director of Operations for South and East India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. “We are actively promoting sustainable practices. This includes focussing on local sourcing, utilising clean energy, conserving water and eliminating the use of single-use plastic,” he says.

Earn and redeem is another project that has been implemented. As a Marriott Bonvoy member, the member can earn or redeem points by dining at participating hotels and resorts, even if they are not staying at the property. Then is the craftsmanship of cocktails. “As the demand for mixology driven beverages has increased, bars, restaurants and event spaces are adapting the latest trends crafted expertly while still engaging with the guest at hand,” Taneja shares.  

Local preferences, global standards

“Engaging with local communities helps us gather valuable insights to shape our approach,” says Taneja, emphasising on the importance of maintaining global brand integrity while allowing regional flexibility. “The core elements of our global standards need to remain consistent to ensure brand integrity is identified. At the same time, adaptation is done where local modifications are necessary like product offerings, marketing strategies or service delivery,” he informs. This hybrid approach combines best global practices with local adaptations. “By leveraging our global networks, we can share best practices and learn from other markets to continuously improve how we balance these aspects,” he says. Through this approach, Hilton ensures its operations remain globally consistent and locally relevant, delivering a cohesive brand experience while respecting regional differences.

Managing and optimising resource allocation and cost control

To effectively manage and optimises resource allocation and cost control across diverse operations, Hilton employs several key strategies. “We start by understanding resource needs and availability through robust inventory management and comprehensive demand forecasting using historical data,” says Taneja.  

Cost control is achieved through meticulous budgetting for which detailed budgets for each area are developed. These are then broken down by categories – labour, materials and overheads. Outsourcing is another strategy used to enhance efficiency. Regular audits too play a crucial role in ensuring adherence to policies. These practices enable Hilton to balance resource allocation and cost control effectively across our extensive operational areas.

Successful strategies for building strong teams  

For Taneja, it includes encouraging diversity, fostering inclusivity; regular engagements, building relationships, defining goals and measurable tools in place, encouraging feedback, having trust and empowerment, indulging in open communication and transparency and finally, recognising and awarding exceptional talent.