"FROM THE DAY I JOINED THE INDUSTRY TODAY, I'VE TILL NEVER HAD TO WORK A DAY!"

Rajeev Menon, President, APEC (Asia Pacific excluding China), Marriott International, gets candid about his love for what he does, the India growth story of Marriott, and more...

- VINODINI RAO

He wanted to be an Air Force pilot but ended up becoming a 'Hospitality pilot'. Not just on Indian soil, but also on a global level. Meet Rajeev Menon, the man who's steering the growth of Marriott International in Asia Pacific (excluding China). Marriott International, incidentally, is the largest hotel chain in the world.

Hotelier India caught up with the dynamic leader for an exclusive, and a very delightful and insightful interview. From what triggered his desire for hospitality to what makes him a successful hotelier, we present Menon in a never-seen-before avatar.

An absolute people person, totally passionate about what he does and a man unafraid to take risks and explore into the unknown, 'The Marriott Raj', as Hotelier India fondly calls him, is all this and more... Read on...

My first question to you is the very obvious: Where did it all start from? What triggered your interest in the hospitality industry?

I actually wanted to become an Air Force pilot but my eyes let me down. I then naturally drifted towards the hotel business, because we had some family in hotels, and as a young boy, we would travel a fair bit. And as you know, the hotel business is very glamorous, so there was this instant pull. Honestly, I've been blessed - since pretty much the day I joined the industry till today, I've never had to work a day because I just love what I do! So yeah, it's been a good run.

So you worked consciously towards being a hotelier? Or you worked towards being a pilot as well?

I did my schooling from Naval Public School in Delhi. I had the option of joining the army or navy, but I pursued to be a pilot. I even got through the exams but was let down by my eyesight.