Hotelier Awards winner flashback: Raghu Harihar

LAUNDRY MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Raghu Harihar, director of laundry operations, Doha Marriott Hotel

How has winning a Hotelier Award impacted your career?
This award was a great and fantastic recognition within my industry, and provided easier penetration into the market in targeting new clients. As a result we have added an additional three customers in the portfolio. At the same time, the award gives an opportunity to help others participate in the same competition in 2015 for nominations.

Are you hoping to be nominated this year for an award?
It is fair to give my peers a chance to participate and win the award.

What is the best piece of advice you can give other hoteliers who want to win a Hotelier Award?
The mantra in it is: "Staff motivation and support - they will win it for you". Also, be passionate about your work and keep up-to-date with theindustry by reading related magazines. This will fetch you results.

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
Getting into hotel operations and to be a rooms division manager.

What are you doing to achieve your goals and dreams?
Cross training within various departments in order to get first-hand knowledge of what it takes to be an operations manager.

What’s your dream position?
My ultimate goal is to be the general manager of a hotel in 10 years.

Who is the one person that inspires you most?
My current general manager John Hazard, who has been instrumental in driving the hotel forward over the last couple of years and has never let the small things get him down.

What is your life ambition outside of work?
To be a teacher/consultant

Nominations for the Hotelier Middle East Awards 2015 are still open, with a deadline of August 31, 2015. All of the information you need on how to nominate a colleague is available here: www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/awards.