Fairfield by Marriott that launched in Kolkata in December 2019 has withstood a crazy pandemic pause, and a natural calamity, Amphan, soon after opening. Still, it got back on its feet in no time under the leadership of Abhishek Sachdev, the property’s first hotel manager. Exactly three years later, it’s time for Abhishek to bid goodbye to the hotel. The ever-smiling, witty, fun and highly social person who literally embraced the city as his home embarks on a new journey in a new city with a new role that he is certainly excited about. The Telegraph caught up with Abhishek on his new role, missing Kolkata and being everyone’s favourite.
It’s been a crazy ride for you at Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata as the first hotel manager. How would you sum up the years spent in Kolkata?
My tenure in Kolkata has been special for a few reasons; first and foremost, people of this city have been affectionate and warm in its true sense. While networking is an integral part of the job, I’ve made a few great friends along the way. Furthermore, as we all know, the pandemic struck us within three months of opening the hotel. It has been a seesaw ride and the actual positioning of the hotel took us almost two years. I’m grateful to the ownership of the hotel, Shriram Ozone Group, as well as loyal patrons of Marriott Bonvoy who have stood by us through this journey. Last but not the least, it would be unfair if I don’t share the credit for the success of Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata with the local patrons who have provided us with opportunities to create some very fond memories while celebrating their special occasions with us.
From knowing nobody to becoming a fave person in the industry... what would you attribute that to?
You can fairly say that’s the perk of the job! Jokes aside, it takes a lot of toil to position a hotel for success in a fairly new micro market such as New Town. The plus side is that I had the best mentor in Gaurav Singh (market vice president — South & East India, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka) when I arrived in Kolkata and I firmly believed that being the face of the hotel, the buck stops with me. Once that was clear, as you know, there was no looking back. I must take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to you and the entire team at The Telegraph for the overwhelming support provided to us over the past three years.
Who are the closest friends you made during your stay?
Wow, that’s a tricky one! Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve made a few great friends along this journey who have supported me in many ways and my success is equally attributed to them. To try and answer this question, they know who they are and trust me, they will read this edition of The Telegraph with a smile on their faces.
Tell us what are you going to miss the most about the city?
I will keep this brief: Nightlife, food culture and most importantly, the warmth of people I’ve experienced in Kolkata was a first for me. Having lived in three countries and then 11 states in India, the people here stood out for me by far.
Congratulations on your new role though... tell us more about it.
As the director of hotel openings for South Asia, my new role will entail three key things: travel, travel and more travel. With 15+ hotels lined up for opening in 2023 in South Asia, these are very exciting times for Marriott International in the subcontinent. Furthermore, as Ranju Alex, area vice president, South Asia has indicated recently, we will hit the 200 hotel mark (from current 145) in the area by 2025. To conclude, we have a lot of stunning hotels in great locations to open over the next two-three years.
What are your achievements as the hotel manager at Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata?
The most stupendous achievement has been to deliver value to stakeholders across the board. The hotel’s ownership, Nityanand Sonthalia has recognised the efforts of the team and invested further in launching the state-of-the-art Ozone Convention Centre to add to the hotel’s existing event venues. The hotel has sailed through tumultuous times during Covid lockdowns and is now poised for success and reaching new heights over the next few years. I suppose it would be fair to mention the success of Vertex here and remind the readers of how Vertex has been central to all celebrations and memories along the way.
What would be your piece of advice for Manoj Jangid, the incoming hotel manager of Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata?
My successor Manoj Jangid is an amazing professional with a plethora of experiences in food and beverage industry. I’m certain he will contribute immensely in curating unique experiences for our patrons at both, events and restaurants alike.