Pioneering Change
September 25, 2019 admin
Fearlessly venturing into uncharted territories of the industry, Deepak Lekhak, Chairman of The Peak Hospitality shares his views
Vibrant with innovative ideas, Chairman Deepak Lekhak talks to Nepal Traveller about his journey and plans to bring about a positive change in the hospitality business in Nepal.
Could you tell us about your journey in the hospitality industry and what have you gained from it?
I’ve been in the industry for 17 years both abroad and in Nepal. I can say that having worked at various positions in different hotels, I know the basic ins and outs of this business. My career in Nepal began from 2012 and with hard work and dedication in a short span of 5 years I got the opportunity to work on one of my first leading roles as the Director of Sales and Marketing in Annapurna Goup of Hotels.
Business in Nepal is conducted in a different way than it is globally. The knowledge that I gained from my experiences in Nepal was that the market here is unique and working along with customers gave me an important insight into the their mind-set. At the end of the day, we are in the service business and knowing your customer and optimising their satisfaction is the ultimate goal.
Who are the people you look up to in the industry?
The people who I look up to in the industry are:
- Suman Shrestha – Director of Sales and Marketing of Hyatt Regency Kathmandu
· Abhinav Narsingh Rana – Managing Director of Star Alliance Hospitality
- Raju Bikram Shah – CEO of Hotel Annapurna
What is your business mantra?
My business mantrais quite simple. Be innovative and adopt new practices that is more effective and efficient than the old ones.
In a leading role, it is not enough to know your product and know your team, I work towards enhancing my product and my team.
What sort of characteristics would the people in your dream team possess?
Most of the leading personalities in this industry will have the same answer to the question and that is right attitude. People who have the zeal for hospitality and are willing to put in effort are the ones I want in my team.
On the other hand, the organisation also needs to have an employee friendly environment and develop a culture where the growth of the organisation depends upon the growth of employees. I’m a firm believer of team building and training programmes that help the employees to grow professionally as well build a sense of belongingness with the organisation.
What would you say is your biggest accomplishment till date?
On a daily basis, I try to take something positive with me when I leave my workplace be it a member of my team working above and beyond to satisfy the customers or good feedbacks from the guest. The feeling of accomplishment that comes over me when I see the smiles on the faces of the guests or the growth of my team is something unexplainable.
What are the challenges faced with the arrival of VNY 2020 and how do you plan to overcome them?
As a person in hospitality, VNY 2020 is not a challenge but an opportunity. Any challenges that exist are all external. The country is geared up for this opportunity and we are also ready to welcome tourists and give them the utmost of Nepali hospitality. One of the things that every Nepali should keep in mind is that every individual is responsible for the experience of all tourists and their stay in Nepal. So, we need to act according to our tradition and make sure they leave our country with a lifetime of experiences.
What are the plans for The Peak Hospitality and how are you going to keep up with the trends in the Hospitality Industry?
The Peak Hospitality is a still in its initial stage and is led by a young and novel team. The aim is to establish a hospitality company that has a balance between the innovative modern culture and the age-old Nepali culture. A touch of both would make a fine balance. If we can accomplish what we have set out to achieve then we will be the trendsetter and have a brand of our own.
Source : Nepal Traveller
Our Engagements
