I met Ms. Suchitra Naidu in 2011
when we invited her to address the then batch of The Park Management
Trainees undergoing off the job training at the Apeejay Institute of
Hospitality, the learning centre of The Park hotels. She was to speak on design
innovations. She was then the Director Housekeeping at The Park Hyderabad and
was involved in the design as well as opening of the architectural marvel
that the hotel is. She worked closely with many renowned designers who were
involved in designing this boutique hotel.
A part of the email that I
wrote to her on 28th August 2011: “I must also take this opportunity
to thank you for an extremely interesting and enlightening session. It was a
pleasure to meet you and see the passion that you have for your profession. All
of us enjoyed every moment of the interaction that we had with you. We commend
your knowledge and the inputs that you shared from your rich experience in the
industry. Thank you ma’am and we look forward to more such opportunities in
future too.” Future did bring opportunities galore and I work with her on many
projects. She is a university in herself and every meeting with her is filled
with immense learning and personal takeaways.
Ms. Naidu has mentored
generations of hospitality professionals in her long and rewarding career, she
has been a personal friend, philosopher and guide to many.
Ms. Suchitra Naidu, Director
(Housekeeping & Group Co-ordination & Planning, Apeejay Surrendra
Park Hotels Ltd) is truly a powerhouse, whatever years she may be writing
based on her date of birth doesn’t matter as she thinks in today’s time. She is
far advanced in her approach, thinking and innovation. She works closely with
the Chairperson Ms. Priya Paul, the lady who is the pioneer in boutique hotels
in India and who has been felicitated several times for her contribution to
design. One of them being conferring of the prestigious Insignia of Chevalier
de l’Ordre National du Mérite (National Order of Merit) an Order of
State, granted by the President of the French Republic in 2014. Ms. Paul is
also the recipient of the prestigious Padmashri.
When it comes to Ms. Naidu’s
knowledge of housekeeping, pre-opening as well as opening of new properties to
design innovations; I am yet to meet another person like her. She believes in
developing people and has done a lot in this direction be it working with the
differently -abled and employing them in her hotel to working for NGOs,
supporting the local governments with her expertise, taking up various projects
that have great significance such has training the local police personnel.
These can be considered as some of her personal CSRs. She has risen herself and
now its all about giving back professionally and personally. Salute her for all
that she does with elan!
The Early Life
Ms. Naidu comes from the Defence
background, her father was an Army officer. She has grown up in Hyderabad and
did most of her schooling there. She was brought up as one of the boys, she
came from a very disciplined family and sports was a way of life. She excelled
in Sports and represented her state at the national level. She enjoyed
independent and progressive thinking. She always dreamt big and worked hard
towards achieving them.
After her graduation, she
embarked on a career in the Hospitality Industry in the Year 1987. Her Hotel
career began as a Management Trainee with the Oberoi School of Hotel
Management now known as the OCLD. After successfully completing the program,
she was posted at the Krishna Oberoi, in Hyderabad as Asst Housekeeper. In 1993
she became the Executive Housekeeper at the Quality Inn Green
Park, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam. In 1995, she joined the Welcome
Group, Windsor Manor Sheraton Hotels & Tower-Bangalore and
later Chola Sheraton, Chennai as the Executive Housekeeper.
She then moved to the Taj
Group in 2000, joined Taj Krishna, Hyderabad as Executive Housekeeper
& Mentor Housekeeper for the Region. She came onboard the Apeejay
Surrendra Park Hotels in 2002.
She says that she’s a proud
worker with one of the finest companies like The Park and strongly believes
in ‘The Park’ way of being “Anything but Ordinary “,which
is in her DNA that helps her create service designs and deliver unique
customer experiences. Constantly out doing herself by doing things
differently.
She has been a trusted business
partner with all the organisations that she has worked with, also created high
value on human capital through peers and associates alike.
Ms. Naidu has been a consistent
high performer in each of her job profiles over the years. She has been
addressed as a hard task master, yet she managed to build strong teams across
the hotels that she has worked in the last three decades. The Teams that she
built have been efficient, knowledgeable and purposeful in their approach and
they became assets for the organizations. The people who worked with her have
reached high positions in other organisations too. She takes pride in their
achievements like a true leader. I too have met a few of the professionals who
worked with her and all of them talk so fondly of her. She has earned respect
from all.
She believes in constant learning
and upgrading her capabilities. Over the years she has done just
that by focused study as well as attending courses which have enhanced her
skills, knowledge and abilities.Some of the noteworthy courses that she
has completed are:
- Worked extensively with Mr Sakul Intakul an internationally renowned floral designer.
- Performance Management System TATA Business Excellence Module(Conducted for TATA group of companies)
- Accommodation Management Course (Conducted by ITC Welcome Group Management Institute, Delhi)
- Corporate Safety, Health and Environment Course (Conducted by ITC at Welcome Group Management Institute, Delhi).
- Member of Moving Images in Hyderabad that archive show case movies and documentaries Indian and International.
- In planning stages of opening a Senior Citizen activity centre with purpose of making elders age meaningfully.
In her career spanning
over 32 years, she has been recognised and rewarded as a high energy
employee who has made substantial contribution in the following five areas
- Quality assurance and audit.
- Opening and setting up of new properties is my forte,Green field or Brown field .
- Business Process and Change Management in housekeeping and Customer Interface
- Anything but Ordinary customer experience thru service and innovative themes
- Successful Personality and Career development of many who have worked under her.
- She has won critical acclaim for her abilities in ‘Creativity & Innovation –Trendy, Contemporary ‘. Differentiation in Presentation, Placement and Personalization.
Career Highlights:
- Launched two boutique concept hotels, Both member of Design Hotels.
- The Park Hyderabad – 270 rooms
- The Park Chennai- 216 rooms
- 9 Zone by the Park hotels
- Worked with ITC luxury collection for 6 years.
- eHRACC- of Welcome Group Chola Sheraton. Upgradation from 5 star to 5 star deluxe hotels.
- “5GK” award-for achieving highest standards of hygiene, cleanliness and environment for WG Chola Sheraton, Chennai.
Awards and Accolades:
- As a senior member of the team and in-charge of house-keeping, she has launched two boutique hotels in the 5-Star and 5-Star Deluxe category from the green field stage. And has set up and launched 14 new hotels from projects stage.
- Some of the top-notch designers she has worked with are Cheda Simbda, Rajiv Saini, Tarun Tahailiani, Jean Francois Lesarge, Manish Arora, renowned florist Mr. Sakul Intakul from Thailand and Eating designer Ms. Marije Vogelzang.
- Has assisted Mr. Sharam Vazari of Hersh Bedner Association-Los Angeles, Mr. Freibrich of Wilson Associates, Singapore and Ms. Basu of Richmond International London.
- External faculty for catering colleges in Chennai, Coimbatore and Hyderabad.
- Ex Vice President of Chennai Chapter of Executive Housekeepers.
- Attended workshops of renowned Eating designer Ms. Marije Vogelzang for The Park group.
- Assisted Mr. Sharam Vazari Interior Designer of Hersh Bedner Associates-Los Angeles while setting up The Park in Chennai.
- Member and Committee member of the esteemed ‘The Secunderabad Club’. A 150 years old heritage building and club.
- Actively involved with ‘SMILES’ a senior citizen home, Home for the orphanages, Rural Education & Skill development , ACE foundation for the disabled and other NGOs.
- Zonal Head for the south Professional Housekeepers Association .
- Work closely with the Police department in adopting Government schools for Tree plantation , Swatch Bharat at heritage sites in collaboration with all brands and stand alone hotels in the city and Hotel Management colleges.
- 5 ‘S’ training of the north Zone Police stations. Setting up of model police station and on going training
- Promoting local artisans and giving them a platform to exhibit their talent and skills with the help of the local police and hotels.
Her Motto: “One
Life….Live It”
‘This Life is what I know of; so
do all that it requires to stay happy and meaningful’
Read More: http://www.theiwh.com/ms-suchitra-naidu/
Website: http://www.theiwh.com
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