The recent promotion of the ever energetic and vibrant Ajay Kanojia as a Cluster General Manager (CGM) of Maharashtra region, Sayaji group while remaining as General Manager Sayaji, Pune Hotel was pleasing news for many in the hospitality industry especially in Pune.

Ajay Kanojia has always been known as a person seeking out unique and unconventional ideas while successfully implementing them. A force to reckon with in the hospitality industry, he is equally popular among budding hospitality professionals and students.

We had a chance to interact with him on his hotel premises to get more insights on his plans.

Firstly, congrats on becoming the CGM.

Thanks. While it’s a great feeling, it comes with a huge responsibility. We now have 6 hotels in pipeline and we have to make sure that they all meet Sayaji standards and also open as per the time schedule. We have noticed tremendous growth potential in tier two cities. There is plenty of untapped business opportunities and requirements of hospitality services in these regions. Pune region is no exception. Our aim is to get a foothold in the region.

Since our flagship hotel Sayaji Hotel, Pune is already well known for its par excellence hospitality and magnificent fine-dining experiences I think we are on the right track. As hotel markets are witnessing traction in Tier – 2, we are also in an expansion spree. We are in the process of coming up with all our three brands (Sayaji, Effotel by Sayaji and Enrise by Sayaji) in different cities in Maharashtra.

One of the first steps is our penetration in Lonavala, which is already a well-known hill station globally.

You recently celebrated your Pune hotel’s 15th anniversary.

Yes. It is a proud feeling for all of us. We celebrate it on April 18th, which coincidentally is also World Heritage Day or The International Day for Monuments and Sites. Since its inception in 2009, Sayaji Pune has been a cornerstone of elegance and hospitality in Pune, setting new benchmarks in guest satisfaction and comfort. It’s our unparalleled service that has defined the hotel for the past 15 years and we hope to continue to set the standard for luxury hospitality in Pune.

How has the business been post COVID?

It’s been a good year for most Pune hotels. Revenge travel is truly taking shape (post COVID) as both leisure and business tourism has picked up. Marriages are happening on a grand scale and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) is generating good business. We had a 74% occupancy last year and an ADR (Average Daily Rate) of Rs. 5,600/-.

The recent opening of a mall has helped us increase our occupancy. The mall with plenty of retail outlets located just behind our hotel has also helped us a lot. I and my team have been regularly interacting with the outlets and most of the senior managers prefer to stay at our hotel. We have also held a lot of get-togethers and functions on our premises.

For Sayaji group, it’s been a rocking year and in my region we have opened two hotels—one in Sarola and one in Lonavala. Sarola is a 50+ room hotel with board rooms, a spacious banquet hall, and the Saaj Lawn ideal for hosting lavish weddings and large gatherings. The lawn is spread over 40,000 sq ft and can accommodate 2500 guests.

Apart from this, we are in the pre-opening stage of two more hotels in Khandala and Dahisar. In Pune, apart from our flagship hotel Sayaji Pune that has garnered iconic status among the 5-star hotels of Pune, we also have Enrise by Sayaji Pune. The total room capacity of all hotels put together will be 400+ rooms.

What are the USPs of your properties?

Quite a few plus points. First, it’s our F&B followed by our superior service. While the ADR has improved in the entire city and two more hotels have opened in close vicinity, I can proudly say that our F&B has not been impacted at all. And this is where I feel quality of food matters a lot. We have a fabulous and a huge spread for our buffet – and one of the few to have a lunch buffet too. Our prices are also very competitive. As our team serves live snacks on the table, it has been much appreciated.

We are also setting our sub-brands at industrial hubs and corporate belts where corporates are on the lookout for comfortable accommodation services away from the city. We will be having MICE facilities too so corporates can have their meetings and events on our premises.

We have also improved our room service controls, so none of our orders are missed or delayed (I experienced this service not just for room service but also for housekeeping). We have also renovated all the rooms and the next step is our restaurants.

Another major USP is that most of our forthcoming properties have a presence in leisure destinations.

What about MICE and weddings?

With such a huge inventory, we are the best option in PCMC area. But we have become selective so we don’t have to compromise on our ADR as well as on maintaining our superior services and F&B. Our halls Pearl and Ruby can cater to 1000+ people and are quite popular for evening events. Parking is not an issue as we have 50,000 sq.ft. area including valet parking.

We are known for our banquets and food, so guests have better options in such locations for a comfortable stay. We are also setting our sub-brands at industrial hubs and corporate belts where corporates are looking for comfortable accommodation services away from the city. We will be having MICE facilities too so corporates can have their meetings and events on our premises.

On the wedding front, we have hosted numerous weddings including substantial residential weddings, showcasing our popularity in the Pune region. Our hotel is conveniently located from Mumbai, right on the highway, and can also host destination weddings. Our Subh Vivah by Sayaji is a one-stop solution for dream destination weddings. Our wedding venues include beautifully decorated outdoor and indoor wedding halls, signature food, and memorable services. Also, Pune weather is much more pleasant.

Any CSR initiatives?

We believe in the power of community and the importance of giving back. My team is dedicated to not just providing unparalleled hospitality to our guests but also extending our support to the less fortunate in our community.

Recently, in celebration of the birthday of our founder, Late Sajid Dhanani Sir, Sayaji Pune undertook a significant CSR activity, embodying the spirit of giving and community support. Our team distributed food, clothes, and umbrellas to the homeless. This initiative aimed to provide immediate relief and support to those in need, reflecting the hotel’s commitment to making a positive impact in the community. This CSR activity is a step towards making a meaningful difference, and we are grateful for the opportunity to contribute.

During road safety week in coordination with the traffic police, we created helmet awareness and provided helmets to those who were without them. When we make new uniforms for our staff, the old ones without logos are distributed to the poor. We invited blind school kids over for lunch to give them a feel of a hotel environment. Blood donation camps are also held regularly.

Staff welfare is a priority, and apart from normal care, we have started a monthly cafeteria festival where a set of staff plan, design, decorate, and create a themed meal, showcasing their creativity. Periodically, we organize day trips for staff, and seniors are sent for relaxation trips to destinations to better connect among themselves.

Sayaji Pune continues to uphold its reputation for excellence, both in hospitality and community engagement, setting a benchmark for 5-star hotels in Pune. Through such initiatives, the hotel aims to inspire others to join in the mission of creating a better and more compassionate society.

Sustainability is the buzzword. Your views?

We have a strong vision to shift our operations towards sustainability. We have scaled up our operations with waste decomposition methods, installed bottle crushers for recycling plastic waste, and implemented measures to save on electricity. The EV charging stations for guests have become quite popular.

It’s our top priority. I have always believed that sustainable practices make hospitality organizations stand out. The goal of sustainability is to minimize your hotel’s impact on the region by reducing environmental impact through green best practices. Post COVID, many travelers don’t mind spending more to support an eco-friendly hotel, as long as the hotel also delivers a top-notch guest experience.