A Mix of Leisure and Business Hotel: Jameson Solomon, GM, Swissotel Kolkata

WITH OVER two decades of experience in Hotel Management, Pre-opening, Strategic Planning, Client Relationship, Training and Development, Jameson Solomon, the recently appointed General Manager of Swissotel Kolkata believes that organization and discipline are the key factors in raising the career graph with best-in-class results.  

In an exclusive interaction with BW Hotelier, Solomon speaks about the hospitality market in Kolkata, his plans and hotel's offerings to its guests.

Challenges and opportunities in the Kolkata Hospitality market

There has been significant growth in travel due to the increase in the emergence of multiple IT and ITES companies in the Rajarhat and Sector V area in Kolkata. The New Town and Rajarhat area is being considered as the emerging business district of Kolkata which has led to an upsurge in the demand for 5-star hotels in the city. The diverse nature of corporates travelling to Kolkata has enabled the hospitality industry to cater to large MICE events in the City of Joy.

The number of keys is increasing in the vicinity of Swissôtel Kolkata which is making the business scenario more competitive every day.

USP of the property 

Swissôtel Kolkata is a 5-star luxury hotel, strategically located beside the IT sector in Kolkata. The property has a distinct mix of leisure and business facilities and is noted for its unique offering of Swiss hospitality. The 147 beautifully designed guest rooms and suites feature colourful Indian artwork and the latest technologies for business travellers. Our private Jacuzzi rooms, Business Executive Club rooms and Suites provide access to the Swiss Executive Club Lounge, complete with a meeting room, private workstation and exclusive amenities.

BERN, the spacious 7064 sq ft ballroom of the upscale property is known for organizing large scale conferences and meetings along with hosting residential weddings. With a capacity to hold from 100 to 1000 guests, it can be combined with smaller banquet spaces which can be used for break-away sessions (for conferences) or hold a pre-wedding function.

The Swiss Executive Club lounge at the hotel provides additional energy and exclusivity. With high-speed internet and executive meeting room of the Club lounge, guests are able to stay connected and have the comfort of “work from home”. The two banqueting spaces and three meeting rooms in the hotel can cover all business needs, thus the hotel makes for a perfect environment for MICE.

Swiss Meetings and your other offerings

As a host to an array of high-end social events in the city along with corporate meetings and events, the upscale property understands the importance of a prime location, facilities, and support that the business travellers’ can experience. Swissôtel Kolkata offers personalized services for hosting large social events or conferences. The hotel also provides meeting concierge and butler services and have an in-house events team experienced in planning conferences and social events.

Swissôtel Kolkata offers a wide selection of catering options — from the best of local cuisine to world-class fine dining, from intimate private dinners to exciting gala events, both in the hotel and at exclusive destinations outside of the property. The culinary talent at the hotel can customize and curate world-class menus for both social events as well as corporate events. To help them unwind after a stressful day, the corporates can enjoy cocktails in the evenings at the executive lounge or go for a swim at the infinity pool.

Recent trends in guest preferences

Guests are looking for impeccable service and a comfortable stay when they check into a luxury hotel. As business travellers, they go through a hectic travel schedule and look forward to a stay in a hotel where they can unwind while they are also working. Guests prefer to stay in a hotel which is fully equipped with all the modern amenities like Wi-Fi, video conferencing, which supports them to stay connected with their colleagues and family. Also, we have introduced real-time feedback which helps us to mitigate any guest dissonance immediately and ensure that the guest has a smile on his face while checking out and visits us soon.

Priorities plan to ensure 'Seamless Guest Experience' for your guests

Swissôtel Kolkata is a distinct mix of leisure and business hotel. Utilizing this aspect, the immediate priority for us is to focus on ensuring a comfortable stay for our guests by offering impeccable service. We have a team who meets every single guest in the hotel and ensures that their stay is curated as per their preferences.

Management style.

I believe in continuous improvement, empowerment and teamwork to achieve operational efficiency and profitability. I encourage interpersonal communication and keep motivating my team to achieve the organizational goals. Discipline is the key factor to ensure the best-in-class result.