The homegrown hospitality major

I needed to park myself in Dubai for almost a week in July, ignoring the sweltering heat. The reason – my postgraduate students at Indian School of Hospitality had shown interest in working in the burgeoning hospitality industry in the Middle East. I needed a network of CXOs and HR Heads who’d evaluate profiles and guide my students to a fulfilling career in #hospitality. I started doing trips to downtown Dubai, Ras Al Khaima, Abu Dhabi and lived out of Rove Hotels trade center strategically located in the heart of Dubai, that week. ADITYA (Adi) was traveling to Europe, but he had already spoken to Paul and his team to get me the finest stay available in Dubai.

 

Rove Hotels trade center became my co-working place with dozens of enterprising young folks who smiled at me at the first eye contact, I met CHROs and Talent Acquisition Heads at the sprawling lobby and the always energetic hotel’s coffee ☕️ shop, bustling with business travelers. Adi was doubly sure even before we planned the travel (‘Arun, it’s a homegrown brand, you’ll love the vibe there’). I listen to my friends, always.

 

A keen observer of people, I noticed the staff is young and about three to four youngsters (Rovesters) manage a fairly large breakfast spread for long hours. The one who got me my coffee was from Alexandria, Egypt. The one who welcomed me to the bakery counter was a girl from Philippines. But the girl from Kenya was a future General Manager, for sure. Tissy wanted to know about my day’s crazy schedule and decided to make me skip the yolk and enjoy a large egg 🥚 white omelet with avocado 🥑, one croissant and coffee ☕️ for my breakfast. She’d pack me a muffin in case I feel hungry during my day travels. She had asked me if I have traveled to her country and had advised that, ‘you must’ with her signature warm smile. I felt cared for, in Dubai.

 

I had a question about the Rovesters about how are they giving such luxury service in a no-frills business hotel 🏨? Nadiia had told me something very interesting – “we don’t babysit them when they intern with us, we give them real work with guest-facing experiences.” I repeated this in my first floor incubator on campus a week later.

 

Aastha (she was my teaching assistant earlier, and I used to call her my “Comms Head”), joined the marketing team there, yesterday.

I looked at her LinkedIn post and noticed a personalized message from the Head Rovester – to the New Rovester in the Rove Hotels family. Paul has warmly welcomed my student with a welcome kit, a note, and has shared his contact details.

 

“if there’s anything we can do to assist you, please do let your manager or myself know.”

 

I love this new era of #leadership where the genuine interest in #people, warmth and mentorship co-exist with all the stakeholders.

 

By the way, the Rove Hotels teams call their guests as “Rovers.” I’m a proud owner and a user of a Rove branded tall sipper, and a baggage tag for my future travels, kept in my room, next to the fruit basket.