EYE ON THE BALL

Given the significant impact their department has on a hotel’s financial goals, here’s how some engineers helped their team to effectively manage controllable expenses

- PRANITA BHOSALE

Traditionally, engineers are expected to focus on a hotel’s upkeep, project completion, service maintenance, and controlling cost. Not anymore. These days, they are also expected to keep their team morale high, in light of labor challenges.

Hotel engineers today have to go the extra mile to develop and implement strategies that will deliver products and services that meet, and often exceed guest expectations. All this, while keeping an eye on maximizing their property’s financial performance.

Hotelier India speaks to engineers to understand how their role has evolved over the years, especially in the past 18 months. And how they are navigating changed expectations from internal and external customers.

Since the pandemic struck, what key areas of concern arose in your department?

Arogyaiah Udagandla, Chief Engineer, Hyatt Centric Candoli, Goa (AU): The rising cost of diesel and erratic supply is a huge hiccup for our hotel, triggering power failures. Hence, we are undergoing an R&D programme to sort this interim challenge, while we shift to renewable green power.

Kedar Komarpant, Chief Engineer, DoubleTree by Hilton Goa-Panaji (KK): As the market was witnessing restricted occupancy levels during the pandemic, we found it challenging to controlling HLP cost due to occupancy level without compromising on guest experience. We considered the pandemic’s impact and quickly devised an energy-saving plan, which was implemented in a properly phased wise manner.

With budgets coming under significant strain, how have you managed to continue on-ground operations without impact guest or employee experience?