In this exclusive interview, HospitalityNews sat down with Manish Goyal, Founder, Stotrak Hospitality, to discuss one of the fast-growing brands in the hospitality industry and delve into his thoughts on the brand expansion, their unique offerings, property selection and more!

Manish Goyal, currently heading Business Development and Operations, began as an Operations Trainee at The Grand New Delhi in 2005. He then worked at Oberoi Hotels & Resorts (2006-2007), followed by various roles at Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur (2007-2012). At Taj Hotels, he was a Restaurant Manager (2012-2013), launched the bar Tease, and managed Thai Pavilion's recognition. He then served as Banquet Manager (2013-2015) and Assistant Director of Food and Beverage at Rambagh Palace, Jaipur (2015-2018). From 2018 to 2020, he was the Director of Food & Beverage at Hotel Yak & Yeti in Kathmandu. 

Since October 2020, Manish has been working as a Curator at Stotrak Hospitality, managing hotels and resorts in Uttarakhand and Rajasthan.

Congratulations on the rapid expansion of Stotrak Hotels from a single resort to twelve in just four years! Could you walk us through the journey of growth and development that led to this impressive achievement?

The Stotrak founding team, Yogita and Manish, are experienced hoteliers who understand how to run hotels and keep guests and staff happy. Their journey began in 2020, with the first hotel partnership secured on October 13 and the first guest arriving on December 26. In just four years, Stotrak Hotels has grown to 12 locations, showcasing our dedication and commitment to excellence. This success is thanks to our hardworking team and supportive partners. We are grateful for their belief in our vision and their contributions.

Stotrak Hotels started with a vision to provide unique stays. In our first year, we offered Sand, Snow, and Sukoon experiences in Jaisalmer, Mussoorie, and Uttarakhand. In the second year, we expanded to 8 cities with 10 properties, including hotels, resorts, and homestays.

By the fourth year, Stotrak Hotels grew to 12 properties through strategic planning and market research. We identified high-potential locations and formed key partnerships, which helped build our brand and improve our marketing. We focused on sustainability and invested in technology to enhance operations and guest experiences. Ongoing staff training and the caring nature of our leaders ensured high service standards. By staying adaptable and maintaining a strong online presence, Stotrak Hotels achieved rapid growth and development.

What inspired you and Yogita to establish Stotrak Hotels, and how does your experience in luxury hotels contribute to the unique offerings of Stotrak properties?

“Balancing Employee Wellbeing & Respect and Guest Experiences in the Hospitality Industry Is Our Priority” - Yogita N Goyal

With years of experience in various hotel brands, from luxury to modern city hotels, we have faced many opportunities and challenges. Two key challenges stand out: caring for our team and offering unique, affordable guest experiences.

Caring for our employees is crucial. Though it’s often discussed, it’s sometimes overlooked in practice. To address this, we have strict internal policies. During the second wave of COVID-19, we proudly retained all our employees and paid their full salaries. This commitment to our staff is central to our philosophy.

Equally important is our dedication to providing distinctive and accessible experiences for our guests. We offer a variety of options that are unique and affordable. For example, our farm stay includes an all-weather pool and river walk at a low cost, making it available to more people. We also arrange excursions to the sand dunes, with three-star accommodations that are priced competitively. Currently, we offer over 50 unique experiences across our properties.

Our latest project, Astro Tourism in Mussoorie, showcases our innovative approach. Partnering with Starscapes and Uttarakhand Tourism, we held an event at George Everest Peak attended by over 400 visitors. This event provided an exceptional stargazing experience and added to our diverse range of guest offerings.

Through these efforts, we aim to create a sustainable environment that values employee wellbeing and delivers outstanding guest experiences. Our approach shows that exceptional service and employee care can go hand in hand, setting a new standard in the hospitality industry.

Stotrak Hotels aims to create memorable and experiential stays accessible to all. How do you ensure that luxury experiences are accessible without compromising on quality or exclusivity?

Stotrak Hotels ensures that luxury experiences are accessible without compromising on quality or exclusivity through several strategic approaches:

1. Strategic Location and Design:

Unique Locations: Their hotels are set in scenic and culturally rich areas like Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh, offering guests unique experiences that highlight the natural beauty and heritage of these regions.

Thoughtful Design: The hotels blend luxury with local aesthetics, using region-specific architecture and décor. This provides an authentic experience without excessive spending.

2. Efficient Operations:

Cost Management: Stotrak Hotels reduces operational expenses through streamlined processes, bulk purchasing, and energy-efficient practices, all while maintaining a high standard of guest experience.

Local Sourcing: By using locally sourced materials and produce, they support the local economy and cut costs on transportation and middlemen, passing these savings on to guests.

3. Personalized Guest Experience:

High-Quality Service: Staff are trained to offer exceptional, personalized service, ensuring that guests feel valued and enjoy a high level of hospitality.

Guest Feedback: They actively seek and act on guest feedback to continuously improve services and address any shortcomings.

4. Marketing and Partnerships:

Targeted Marketing: They use targeted marketing campaigns to reach guests who value experiential stays and are looking for affordable luxury.

Collaborations: Partnering with local businesses, tour operators, and artisans allows them to offer exclusive deals and packages, enhancing the guest experience while managing costs.

5. Sustainability Practices:

Eco-Friendly Initiatives: Stotrak Hotels implements sustainable practices like using renewable energy, reducing waste, and conserving water, which lowers operational costs and attracts eco-conscious travelers.

Community Engagement: They engage with the local community through employment and cultural initiatives, fostering loyalty and promoting a positive brand image.

Through these strategies, Stotrak Hotels provides luxurious and memorable experiences that are both accessible and high-quality, ensuring guests enjoy the best of Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh without sacrificing exclusivity.

Could you share some insights into the selection process for new hotel locations? What criteria do you consider to ensure that each property aligns with Stotrak's vision and standards?

At Stotrak Hotels, our vision is to provide a diverse array of experiences for travelers. To achieve this, our selection criteria focus on the following:

Unique Experiences: We prioritize cities where we can offer unique activities and distinctive propositions for our guests, ensuring every stay is an unforgettable experience tailored to their interests and desires.

Strategic Locations: We select cities that allow us to establish a strong base from which we can manage offbeat properties efficiently. This enables us to maintain high standards across all our locations, no matter how remote.

Operational Involvement: We believe in being personally involved in the operations of our hotels. Therefore, we consider travel time and distances to ensure our management team can easily reach and oversee each property, maintaining our commitment to excellence.

By focusing on these criteria, Stotrak Hotels ensures that each property offers a unique and enriching experience, backed by our dedication to quality and sustainability.

With a presence in multiple states across India, how does Stotrak Hotels adapt its offerings to cater to the diverse cultural and regional preferences of guests?

Stotrak Hotels adapt its offerings to cater to the diverse cultural and regional preferences of guests across India through several strategic approaches:

1. Local Cuisine and Dining Experiences:

- Regional Menus: Each Stotrak hotel features a menu that includes local dishes alongside international cuisine. This allows guests to experience the local culinary culture.

2. Personalized Services:

- Multilingual Staff: Employing staff who speak the local language to ensure smooth communication and a welcoming atmosphere.

- Cultural Sensitivity Training: Training staff to understand and respect local customs and traditions, ensuring guests feel respected and valued.

3. Community Engagement and Activities:

- Local Experiences: Organizing local tours, cultural performances, and activities that introduce guests to the region's heritage.

- Partnerships with Local Artisans: Collaborating with local artists and craftsmen to provide unique experiences and souvenirs for guests.

4. Wellness and Spa Treatments and Exercising Ecofriendly Practices (in Sukoon- A Wellness Resort, Dakpathar and the Earth at Ranthmabore):

- Regional Wellness Therapies: Offering spa treatments and wellness therapies that incorporate local healing traditions and natural ingredients.

- Yoga and Meditation: Providing yoga and meditation sessions, especially those that align with regional practices.

- Eco-Friendly Practices: Implementing sustainable practices that align with the local environment and traditions.

5. Community and Guest Engagement:

- Feedback Systems: Encouraging guests to provide feedback on their cultural preferences and experiences to continually improve services.

- Local Collaborations: Partnering with local businesses and cultural organizations to enhance the guest experience and support the local economy.

By integrating these strategies, Stotrak Hotels engross in creating a hospitable environment that resonates with the cultural and regional preferences of its diverse guest base across India, ensuring a personalized and memorable stay.

Sustainability and responsible tourism are becoming increasingly important in the hospitality industry. How does Stotrak Hotels incorporate these values into its operations and guest experiences?

STOTRAK HOTELS integrates sustainability and responsible tourism by implementing eco-friendly practices and enhancing guest experiences. They focus on energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction through advanced technologies and recycling programs such as replacing plastic brushes with bamboo ones. Promoting the use of regular slippers instead of use and throw slippers, bamboo brushes are the recent addition to our portfolio hotels, reusable steel bottles to serve fresh RO treated water in guest rooms, the hotels use locally sourced, organic products in their restaurants to support local communities and reduce carbon footprints. They also promote cultural preservation by partnering with local artisans and offering authentic experiences. Guests are encouraged to participate in eco-friendly activities and conservation efforts. Additionally, STOTRAK HOTELS educates its staff and guests on sustainable practices to foster a culture of environmental responsibility. These initiatives reflect their commitment to minimizing environmental impact and promoting sustainable tourism.

What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced during the rapid expansion of Stotrak Hotels, and how have you overcome them?

Expanding STOTRAK HOTELS across multiple states such as Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and Himachal Pradesh involves navigating several significant challenges.

Some challenges that were faced and are ongoing, includes 

• Identifying and developing properties in prime locations that attract tourists while conducting thorough market research and feasibility studies to identify high-potential locations

• Establishing a consistent supply chain across multiple states with varying infrastructure quality, as we want this to be our main strength by building a robust logistics network and partnering with reliable suppliers

• Ensuring all hotels offer a consistent level of service and quality by developing comprehensive training programs for staff and regular audits to ensure compliance with brand standards. Using technology to monitor customer feedback to identify and address any inconsistencies.

• Recruiting skilled staff in various locations, especially remote or less developed areas and to then retain them

• Timely Integration of every day evolving Technological advancements in our systems

• Most importantly meeting and exceeding evolving customer expectations.

Looking ahead, what are your future plans and aspirations for Stotrak Hotels? How do you envision the brand evolving in the coming years to continue delivering exceptional experiences to guests?

Looking ahead, STOTRAK HOTELS aspires to expand its footprint globally, bringing its renowned hospitality to new markets. The brand plans to innovate by integrating cutting-edge technology to enhance the guest experience, such as personalized services and seamless check-ins. Sustainability will be a core focus, with initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental impact through energy-efficient practices, waste reduction, and eco-friendly designs.

The evolution of STOTRAK HOTELS will also include diversifying its offerings to cater to a broader range of travelers. This could involve the introduction of boutique hotels, luxury resorts, and wellness retreats, ensuring that every guest finds a unique and memorable experience. Moreover, the brand aims to foster a culture of inclusivity and community engagement, supporting local economies and cultures wherever they operate.

Training and development of staff will be pivotal, ensuring that employees are not only skilled but also embody the brand's values of exceptional service and hospitality. Through these strategies, STOTRAK HOTELS envisions solidifying its reputation as a leader in the hospitality industry, committed to delivering unparalleled guest experiences and adapting to the ever-evolving needs of its clientele.

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