Purchasing power: Dusit Thani's Ranjit Sharma

Ranjit Sharma, purchasing manager of Dusit Thani Dubai, on his money-saving approach to achieving Thai authenticity:

How long have you been in hotel purchasing?
I have been working in hotel purchasing since 1986, and I first joined the Dusit Thani Dubai as part of the pre-opening team, before it opened in 2001.

What products are you on the lookout for?
Dusit Thani Dubai has 321 rooms, a grand ballroom, five meeting rooms, seven food and beverages outlets, a fully functional club lounge, pool deck, gym and parking space. My department is solely responsible for the purchasing requirements of all of the aforementioned — from a 16fils paper coaster to a million-dollar renovation project.

What area of your hotel are you most proud of?
Being with Dusit Thani Dubai since it opened, I feel most proud knowing that it is like one big family in a home that looks after the welfare of each other. Together, we ensure that our home is well maintained, warm and welcoming especially to our guests. Here, we spend a great deal of time and effort, not only for our guests’ welfare, but also for the employees and even their families.

Tell us about one of your most successful deals?
I can’t point out just one because in all our transactions, we try to save every penny without compromising the quality of the product. This is my guiding principle at all times. I have been entrusted to ensure that the hotel has everything it needs to serve our guests better, at the same time to secure the best deal from the suppliers, for the benefit of the hotel’s resources.

But just to share one example, we used to import fresh papyrus plants from Thailand on a monthly basis costing us AED 15,000 per month. We have found an alternative plant which we still import from Thailand but it is the kind that lasts for a long time. This discovery allows us to still provide an impressive Thai ambience using authentic materials from Thailand while saving costs. 

What does a supplier have to do to impress you?
My number one goal is to ensure that the hotel always gets the best deal possible both in pricing and quality. That is always the first thing I look for in choosing the supplier for every requirement. To get my loyalty and trust is a different story. I am only impressed with suppliers who keep their commitment and understand the importance of delivering on the promised day and time.