Sixth edition of Global Hospitality Conclave held at Leela Ambience Gurugram

EE News Desk Oct 16, 2019

Global Hospitality Conclave (GHC), an independent initiative by The Oberoi Centre for Learning & Development (OCLD) alumni was conceived in 2013, to celebrate collective heritage and cherish a common school wherein knowledge and ideology were paramount, attention to detail and service delivered with panache at all times was entrenched in the culture.

This year, the forum announced the 6th edition at The Leela Ambience Gurugram Hotel & Residences on 12th October, 2019 with a focus on F&B Trends and Innovation along with discussions on key topics like Customer Centricity, Profiting from Change, Indian Model of Thinking and fiery Q&A sessions with successful Oberoi Managers, who have become leading hospitality entrepreneurs.

Over the years, GHC has become the epicenter for Oberoi Alumni to gain knowledge from the best in the business. The day long conclave brought together a host of industry leaders, professionals as well as stalwarts in their own fields, be it tech startups, sports or journalism. The sessions had interesting debates, engaging keynotes and informed panel discussions on trends and developments in the hospitality, travel & aviation industry and special sessions on Indian heritage, management, disruptive leadership and sport. The conclave also gave an exciting and enviable opportunity to network with business leaders, imbibe their success mantras and take lessons from their challenges.

This year, the GHC conclave witnessed participation of Vijay Amritraj, Indian Tennis legend; Devdutt Pattnaik, Author; Frits van Paasschen, Former CEO Starwood Hotels and D. Shivakumar, Group President, Aditya Birla Group as keynote speakers. Furthermore, Pushpa Bector, EVP & Head, DLF Shopping Malls; Ritu Dalmia, Celebrity Chef & Restaurateur; Priya Paul, Chairperson, Park Hotels; Ragini Chopra, Executive VP, Interglobe Enterprises; Katerina Giannouka, President Asia Pacific Radisson Hotels shared their thoughts on Trials and Triumphs of Women in Leadership Roles. Marryam H Reshii, Food critic; Zoravar Kalra, Restaurateur and Deepak Ohri, famed hotelier from Lebua Hotels also challenged each other about F&B trends and innovation in another panel discussion.

Commenting on the event, Rajiv Kaul, President, The Leela Palaces Hotels and Resorts said, “GHC is a unique platform which brings together former colleagues from across the hospitality spectrum, to celebrate a collective heritage and rekindle old friendships – along with a serious discussion on current and future industry trends.”

This year, the Conclave engaged with industry leaders from across the world who have forayed into various businesses as entrepreneurs and business front-runners to create numerous opportunities for the upcoming leaders of tomorrow! While the travel, hospitality and aviation industry is growing by leaps and bounds, these catalysts of change are further boosting the development and future growth of the industry. “We’ve built GHC into an extended alumni family. We’ve strengthened our bond over the years while lauding our diversity, the never say die spirit, and creating a bonhomie of success, in an array of businesses and lifestyles,” avers Ajay Bakaya, Managing Director, Sarovar Hotels.

Organized annually, the Global Hospitality Conclave sees participants who have been part of The Oberoi Group in a leadership position. The objective of the Conclave is to get the Oberoi Hotels alumni together annually, who are presently employed in different sectors across the world such as banking, aviation, travel, education etc, and go beyond the customary batch reunions by creating a compelling platform of knowledge exchange, experiences and networking opportunities. Ravish Swarup, Founder & CEO, Praxis Services stated, “GHC is an extraordinary alumni get together where we fondly reminisce the past, interact with many of our role models, cherish achievements and reaffirm our incredible affinity across generations.”

This year, GHC also honoured and recognized the contribution of many former Oberoi Hotels leaders, senior industry stalwarts and legends who served the hospitality industry with great aplomb and made the Oberoi Alumni synonymous with professional leaders across the world.

Over the years, GHC has been exclusively open to all who have either graduated from OSHM/OCLD or have worked with the Oberoi Hotels in senior management for 10 years or more. This year GHC has widened its ambit to include more Oberoi alumni and encourage aspiring leaders and professionals with up to 5 years of experience in a management position at The Oberoi Group.