BW Hotelier's Smart Hotels Conclave Discusses Technology that Will Change Hospitality

THE SECOND BW Hotelier Smart Hotels Conclave and Expo, 2016, held at the Radisson Blu MBD in Noida on September 21, saw some cutting edge product presentations and several engrossing panel discussions.

The event, which was presented by Schneider Electric, along with Dish TV, Greenlam Industries Limited and IEX, began with the ceremonial lamp lighting by Sonica Malhotra Kandhari, Joint Managing Director of the MBD Group; Bhuvanesh Khanna, CEO of BW Communities; Sourish Bhattacharyya, Consulting Editor, BW Hotelier; and Bikramjit Ray, Executive Editor, BW Hotelier.

Later, while delivering the opening address at the Conclave, Sonica Malhotra Kandhari stressed on the need for smarter hotels which were better for the environment and for operations.

The full day conclave, saw seven panel discussions and a keynote address delivered by Sanjay Sharma, Area General Manager (India), Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

The first session consisted of General Managers from the NCR area in a panel discussing ‘Heat, Light, Power: Spending Less to Get More’. Moderated by Sourish Bhattacharyya, the panel consisted of David Hopcroft, General Manager, Le Meridien, Gurgaon; Tristan Beau de Lomenie, General Manager Delegate, Pullman and Novotel, New Delhi Aerocity; Rajat Sethi, General Manager, Radisson Blu MBD, Noida; and Anirban Sarkar, General Manager, Country Inn & Suites, Gurgaon.

This was followed by the first Knowledge Session sponsored by Schneider Electric on the topic ‘Guest Room Management: The Next Level of Excellence’, which began with a presentation by Vittal VB, General Manager-Hospitality Business, Schneider Electric. The panel which followed was moderated by Bikramjit Ray and consisted of Srirangarajan Kadaba, Director, Solution Business, Schneider Electric; Mehfooz Siddiqui, Regional Director-Design & Technical Services (South Asia), Starwood Hotels & Resorts; Rothin Banerjee, Director of Engineering, Taj Palace; and Basil Massey, Director Procurement, Duet India Hotels.

After a scrumptious lunch, the gathering was addressed by Sanjay Sharma, Area General Manager, (India) Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. Sharma spoke on how innovations were game changers in the hospitality industry.

Next, the second knowledge session of the day sponsored by Greenlam Industry Limited, saw a presentation by Anil Tyagi, Business Head of Mikasa Floors, Greenlam Industries Limited, followed by a panel discussion which say Tyagi along with Sunil Relia, President, Awesome and Vice President (Technical) JLL; Rahul Prabhakar, Chief Engineer ITC Maurya; Sareena Kochar, Vice President (Housekeeping), Lemon Tree Hotels; Naresh Chhabra, Purchase Manager, Vivanta by Taj-Gurgaon; and Asheem Suri, Purchase Manager, Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini.

Knowledge session three sponsored by IEX began with a presentation by Nitin Sabikhi, Senior Manager, Business Development, IEX on Switching on to an Energy Efficient Future. The panel moderated by Sourish Bhattacharyya included Sabikhi; Arindam Chakraborty, General Manager, Radisson MBD Ludhiana; Harish Chandra, GM (IT), Sarovar Group; Rothin Banerjee, Director of Engineering, Taj Palace, New Delhi; and John Samuel, Chief Engineer, ITC Grand Bharat.

The Conclave then broke for High Tea before starting three specialist forums

Sourish Bhattacharyya moderated the Housekeeping Forum discussing Smart Innovations for the Millennial Traveller with Sareena Kochar, Vice President (Housekeeping), Lemon Tree Hotels; and Vaneeta Arora, Director (Housekeeping) The Park, New Delhi.

Bhattacharyya also moderated the Purchase Managers Forum which discussed whether Fiscal Prudence Worked Against Smart Technologies with a panel consisting of Naresh Chhabra, Purchase Manager, Vivanta by Taj-Gurgaon; Asheem Suri, Purchase Manager, Crowne Plaza New Delhi Rohini; and Basil Massey, Director Procurement, Duet India Hotels.

Bikramjit Ray moderated the Chief Engineers’ Forum which discussed the New Technologies That’ll Define the Future of Hotels with a panel which had Sunil Relia, President, Awesome and Vice President (Technical) JLL; Rahul Prabhakar, Chief Engineer, ITC Maurya, New Delhi; and Kanwal Walia, Complex Director (Eingineering) The Westin Gurgaon, Sohna.

Bhuvanesh Khanna, CEO, BW Communities delivered the vote of thanks. The Conclave session was followed by cocktails and dinner.

Bikramjit Ray

BW Reporters Bikramjit Ray is Executive Editor of BW Hotelier.