Renu Basu, Senior Vice President – Global Sales & Marketing at The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), shares with us her long journey as a woman achiever in the hospitality industry.
You are a role model to many women. What according to you gives a woman the edge to be successful in today’s times?Share your success story.
As a seasoned sales professional who joined the Taj in 1986, this is my second innings since 1999. I believe in, and stand for, customer orientation, passion towards my role, integrity and greatly promote workplace diversity, leading the otherwise male-dominated sales function in 13 offices across USA, UK, the Middle East, Australia and India. I love what I do and I owe it to Taj for being such an empowering and nurturing organisation, where I began my career in sales and marketing.
The faith that this company has invested in me, by allowing me to restructure the sales organisation, has been one of the high points of my career. The successes we have had over the years with various Heads of States, CEo’s and global dignitaries visiting our hotels, and the most recent implementation of Sales force Automation are a few of the many reasons that drive me to continue giving my best. I feel blessed, both personally and professionally, to have had the strength and support of those around me.
As a woman, I took time off to be with my daughters when they were young. I pursued my keen interest in art and other hobbies. when I re-joined, I aligned myself to the changes that had taken place and prepared myself, my team and those around me, for our journey into the future to take IHCL to greater heights in the dynamic business scenario, the technological developments in our industry and global trends.
I am a firm believer in transparency, in trust and in leading from the front. I believe in delegation and can proudly say that I am driven by passion and commitment to my role. I live by the three principles of performance, people and processes. Being a woman is a great asset; we are intelligent, strong, and sensible and have immense creativity and will to balance various aspects of life. I feel privileged to have guided and nurtured many young lady colleagues towards their career progression while seeing them successfully integrate their profession and their family life.
I was deeply humbled when I was featured in the 2017 list of Impact’s 50 Most Influential women from the advertising, media and marketing industry in India. A woman is truly an embodiment of avatars that have a wide spectrum of responsibilities. We have the ability to balance and manage the mental, emotional and physical facets of our life.
There are innumerable Taj hotels around the globe. What makes the brand so strong?
Taj stands on the legacy of the Tata group and a robust culture defined by the group’s values. Its strength lies in its people, a revered service philosophy, authentic guest experiences, unmatched value and the largest network of hotels. It is the only Indian hospitality group to have marquee hotels in international locations such as New York, London, San francisco, dubai among others. As Senior Vice President, Global Sales – IHCL I believe that agility and responsiveness throughout the customer journey and investing in your customer’s experience before, during and after the sale, are essential to build trust in the brand and nurture meaningful business relationships. With a legacy of over a century, we are deeply privileged and humbled by the patronage of our guests.
Which is your favourite Taj Hotel and why?
The Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur is one of my favourite Hotels in the IHCL portfolio. The sheer beauty, dominance, scale and architecture of this living palace makes it a very unique and powerful destination in itself. The location, with its stunning views of the Meherangh fort and the ‘Blue City’, is indeed magical combined with the domineering personality of the palace. This is a difficult choice to make since we have such a diverse selection of hotels, resorts, palaces and safaris that offer memorable experiences, wonderful holidays, efficient MICE options and a plethora of options for weddings and celebrations.
Define your kind of perfect travel?
My idea of ‘perfect travel’ is when I can discover and engage with the culture, art and crafts of a destination. The history of a destination intrigues me, and I like to explore various historical and architectural facets of the place. My endeavour is to maximise the visit to a particular destination. I am always eager and energetic to explore the destination as much as I can.
Travel to you in one word is…
Experience…Learning.
Which is your favourite travel destination and why?
South Africa! It embodies all the elements of what makes my travel ‘perfect’. It offers experiences, history, culture, crafts and cuisine.
What are your views on women travelling solo?
I encourage women to travel and explore their homeland and the world at large. Given the access to technology and the various benefits that come with it, travel has become easier and safer in many ways. As travellers, we all make the necessary preparations and need to take adequate precautions. At IHCL, we have hotels that offer exclusive women-only rooms and floors across our properties. In addition to ensuring that single women travellers get rooms near the elevator, each room being equipped with a video phone. other facilities provided include a dedicated female concierge, a women-only housekeeping staff, lady butlers, lady security personnel and a “for your care” kit comprising women’s personal products in the room.