'I want to Strengthen JW Marriott Pune's Position as a Luxury Destination'

ABHISHEK MALIK, the new Director of Operations at JW Marriott, Pune spoke with BW Hotelier about his new responsibility and his product in a very crowded Pune market. Malik in his journey has been responsible for managing rooms division verticals and food & beverage assets of a number of leading luxury hotels in India.

On his brand service strategy and initiatives at JW Marriott Pune, Malik said, “My focus will be to strengthen the hotel’s positioning as a luxury destination. We will leverage our key competitive advantage – our people and our culture to deliver personalised service and exceed the expectations of the luxury diner and traveller alike.”

Malik believes that each guest is unique and comes with distinct expectations. “Our restaurants and event spaces are extremely popular with the local community. We realize that in order to continue as a favourite and to stay ahead of ever growing competition, we not only need to build loyalty but create brand ambassadors for the hotel,” he added.

Giving us an idea of the customers who he as focussing on, Malik said, “Our clientele is well-travelled, well-read and always keen to explore something new. We communicate with our target clientele through our digital campaigns. Our associates are encouraged to build a rapport with our guests by ensuring personalization, attention to the every detail and seamless experience.”

He is excited about the recently re-launched Shakahari restaurant and felt, “the restaurant offers a royal Indian experience, authentic flavours from across the country and an ever-evolving menu. The offerings of the menu are not decided by just the chefs, but by our guests.”

“While we are serving dishes from Rajasthan and the northern plains, soon we will travel to the southern states to unearth the culinary treasures hidden there,” he informed us.

Malik concluded by saying, in the months to come, his hotel was planning to bring a musical event to Pune, which the city has never experienced before.