Radisson Dubai Damac Hills’ GM Siddhartha Sattanathan on his hopes that personal engagement with guests will preserve its importance in the hospitality industry.
Please tell us a bit more about your journey in the hospitality sector.
As a passionate hotelier, I worked around the world and across different areas of hospitality, including front office, revenue management, and distribution, before getting into a general manager’s role. I have enjoyed a career of 14 years in the UAE where I recently opened the third new hotel project that I was entrusted with at Radisson Dubai Damac Hills.
How do you inspire and motivate your team?
I do my best to lead by example and to take interest in developing our talent by providing them with deserving opportunities that will enable them to grow within the organization. When it comes to empowering my team, another thing that has also worked very well is to handout instant recognition and rewards for their outstanding service. I hope that this inspires them and others to excel even more.
What is the latest news about the property and its offerings?
We have 480 brand new rooms which are on average 35sqm, so they are quite spacious. Plus, each has a balcony that provides relaxing views over a golf course and the desert.
We also have some excellent dining options, such as FireLake Grill restaurant that serves signature steaks while its traditional British Roast on Saturdays can now be enjoyed out on a scenic terrace.
For curry lovers, we have Hessa Street Kitchen which serves a popular Pan Asian Brunch on Fridays, and a la carte selection for dinner. Lastly, with cooler climes fast approaching, sheesha lovers will enjoy our Hills Pool Deck which will open on September 29th.
In your opinion, how will the hospitality industry look like in five years?
I am a traditionalist, so I do hope that the personal contact and engagement with guests will preserve its importance in our industry despite its fast adopting technological and digital solutions.
I am sure that Artificial Intelligence will be used to better our services as well as to bring in more revenue opportunities.
I also expect that actions that enhance sustainability and reduce carbon footprint will be even more prevalent, influencing the food that we eat and serve.
What would you tell visitors who are looking to book a stay at the hotel soon?
First and foremost, our location is close to the Expo 2020 Dubai site. Plus, our brand new rooms are competitively priced, and we offer great dining options that provide choices from steaks to curries, a 25m pool, and a friendly team who are eager to welcome and serve our guests.
