VINI GUPTA, General Manager Soaltee Crowne Plaza Kathmandu Nepal

Vini Gupta started his hoteliering career in US more than three decades ago and worked in different capacities in different parts of the country before moving to India and then to Nepal.

Tell us about your hotel and its USPs.
Soaltee Crowne Plaza Kathmandu is managed and owned brand part of InterContinental Hotels Group, IHG PLC.  It is an upscale brand with a resort atmosphere offering the high level of comfort, service and amenities.  The hotel is strategically located from the city centre and sightseeing options and offers 282 beautifully appointed Deluxe, Crowne Plaza Club rooms, eight Executive Suites and seven Regal Suites. The Regal Suites have accommodated numerous Head of States and other dignitaries including the President of United States of America Jimmy Carter, Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Premier Mori of Japan, the Prime Minister of China, Kofi Annan, Steven Seagal, The President of Sri Lanka and Yousaf Raza Gillani, Prime Minister of Pakistan. The Soaltee Crowne Plaza Kathmandu has been the official hospitality partner for the SAARC summit in 1987 and 2002. 
How do you position the Hotel in the market? What is your marketing strategy?
Soaltee Crowne Plaza Kathmandu is positioned as a premium five-star deluxe hotel in Nepal catering to high end groups, conferences and state visits of visiting dignitaries. Our marketing strategy is to maintain our premium business mix by having consistent product and service standards and achieve benchmark against highest standards within InterContinental Hotels Group. We attend global trade shows and sales visits to attract customers from high paying markets that spend the dollars. 
How important is a Hotel in developing a destination? What has your company done in this regard?
Nepal has been a tough destination lately due to the uncertain political conditions. Hence a special marketing strategy for selling Nepal as a destination was envisaged by our company. We also take part in all initiatives taken by Nepal Tourism Board to promote tourism like Nepal Tourism Year 2011 and others. The Soaltee Crowne Plaza Katmandu has taken an active role in supporting the PATA - Adventure Tourism & Responsible Tourism Mart in 2009 and also for 2010 where the venue is Nepal.
Could you tell us about your background and how did you come to the industry?
I moved to USA at a young age and did my high school and college education there. While in college, I needed a job to support myself and so I joined a Hotel in Chicago as Room Service Waiter. This was my first exposure to the hotel industry which I liked and later decided to stay. While continuing to work at the same hotel, I finished my business school and seven years later I became the General Manager of the same hotel - “The Howard Johnson Hotel”, Lake Shore Drive in Chicago.
I am an accredited CHA (Certified Hotel Administrator), by the American Hotel and Lodging Association in USA.
Prior to joining the Soaltee Crowne Plaza, I was the Regional Director of Operations for Prism Hotels Group, where I handled a portfolio of eight hotels in the Northeast USA and worked closely with the local management team of each hotel to implement brand standards and systems. In 2005-06, I was Vice President of Operations for Bharat Hotels Ltd in India, overseeing a portfolio of seven 5-Star hotels, including the three InterContinental Hotels in Delhi, Mumbai and Goa. I have also worked with a few Holiday Inn Hotels in USA, namely Holiday Inn at the International O’Hare airport in Chicago, Holiday Inn Dallas in Texas and Holiday Inn Resort at Clearwater Beach, Florida. I have successfully opened three brand new Hotels and have done major refurbishments at various other hotels.
During my 25 years of Hotel Industry experience in the USA, I have also worked as General Manager at the Hilton Hotels in Huntsville, Alabama and Melbourne, Florida and worked for Radisson Hotels for 12 years in four different cities as General Manager and Hyatt Hotels in three different cities in USA.
Tell us about your experience so far? Is there an unforgettable moment in your career which you can share with us?
All my hotels in the USA, I had the pleasure and the honor to work closely with the local VIP’s, the who is who within the community. Whenever a very high profile dignitary came to the city my hotel had the privilege and honor to host them. Some of these VIP’s included the presidents of the USA, George HW Bush, Gerald Ford and so many Governors and Senators of different States.
The most memorable moment for me was, when I was invited to have dinner with both President George HW Bush, his wife and First Lady Barabara Bush and their family in their suite, while they were staying at my hotel. It was a true honor and privilege to be able to spend three hours, as close and so personal with the President of the USA.
What Plans – immediate and long term – do you have?
My immediate plans are to start the process for a major renovation at the hotel. Half of the rooms in the Princep wing have already been done and the rest of this wing should finish by the end of August 2010. We have started planning for the renovations of Coffee Shop, Rodi Bar, Lobby and common areas of the hotel and also to implement the true Crowne Plaza IHG standards at this hotel.
Where would you like to see yourself, say, 10 years from now?
Once the Soaltee Crowne Plaza Kathmandu is all set, I would like to see myself in a Regional Operations role in Indo-China or India, within IHG. Right now my focus and commitment is to do the job at hand. Once this job is completed and the hotel is on a stabilized footing, then I will think and focus on my future plans.
Now tell us about your family?
I am a USA citizen and have settled in the USA for the last 35 years. I am married and very fortunate to have a wonderful partner in Chaya N Gupta. Our children are pursuing their Medical studies back home. Our parents and other family members, brother and two sisters are also settled in the USA.
Tell us about your hobbies and other interests?
My passion is to travel to different parts of the world. I am fascinated with the different cultures and the society of the different countries. I enjoy the different foods and will always like to visit a new restaurant which offers unique and different cuisines. In my free time, I will just be with my wife and children and enjoy TV or Sports. Whenever I do get a chance, I like playing Golf with friends.
Which is your favorite destination and why?
I love traveling through Europe, just rent a car and drive through different nations and the countryside. It is just fascinating to see different countries and cultures. I have visited all of the Western Europe countries so far and still have a lot to visit and discover in Eastern Europe now.
I still have a lot to explore although I’ve living in the US for the last 35 years. The country is amazing and as you travel from the East Coast to the West Coast, the countryside a\nd the different cities. The great cities like New York, Philadelphia, the wonderful beaches of Florida and California, the beautiful Midwest, The Rockies and the Sunny California is all worth visiting. It’s just an amazing country.