NATIONAL, 15 FEBRUARY, 2023 (GPN) : A perfect blend of strong history, tonnes of places to visit and rich culture together makes Goa one of the best Indian destinations to explore. Architecture in the state is an amalgamation of Portuguese-style mansions, artistic streets and coloured doors and windows. With delicious seafood, white sand, superb nightlife and world heritage all around, it provides an enriching experience. Goa leaves a soothing experience for life with a traveller.

Sharing tourism insights in Goa with GPN Worldwide Network for 2023, Mohan says, “The industry has performed remarkably well in 2022 with business performance exceeding pre-pandemic times. Strengthening of tourism infrastructure in Goa has played a pivotal role in accelerating the destination’s comeback, superseding other destinations in the country. The year 2023 looks brighter as Goa is transforming from a top leisure destination to the most preferred one for MICE as well. With the addition of the second airport, enhanced connectivity to more Indian cities and direct international travel will amplify demand in the market exponentially.”

With travel priorities having changed radically for both leisure and business travellers, Mohan feels domestic travel is expected to continue into 2023, especially in the leisure segment which gave wind to the industry in 2022. “Industry players believe that as international arrivals are also likely to pick up even further, the outlook for 2023 is buoyant. However, for travellers, room tariffs are likely to remain high going forward, with a demand-supply mismatch continuing in the hospitality sector. The big trend we noticed was that the leisure occupancies were higher as well as the ARR (average room rate) have been higher, RevPAR (revenue per available room) of leisure properties were higher than the city hotels. This is something that is now becoming a trend that people are willing to pay more for leisure accommodation,” he says.

Goa being primarily a leisure destination, the pandemic has seen a shift in leisure travel to what is now termed ‘bleisure’. “We, at Radisson Resort Goa Baga, are cognisant of this trend and offer our corporate/ MICE groups the option of extending their stays at a special rate post their events. We also offer them the opportunity to explore Goa by tying up with experiential travel partners that offer this service,” shares Mohan.

The upscale hotel in the heart of Baga, North Goa, Radisson Resort Goa Baga is strategically situated just 800 m from Baga Beach and 39 km from Dabolim Airport and features 95 guest rooms in five categories – Superior, Premium, Junior Suite, Suite with Terrace, Executive Suite – with 24×7 in-room dining and free wi-fi facility. While the pricing is dynamic and follows market demand trends, the ADR ranges from INR 8,000 in low monsoon season to INR 15,000 in peak season.

Radisson Resort Goa Baga, with its modern design and facilities as well as F&B offerings, is able to meet the preference and tastes of the demographics of guests. Holidays for travellers is treated as an opportunity for one to pamper themselves. Travellers are happy to try new experiences which equal consideration to their safety and if satisfaction can be assured by the additional benefits of homely comforts that allow rest and rejuvenation. Domestic travellers are on the lookout for the city’s buzz and we gain the advantage of location being close to all the happening clubs and accessible to night life along the coastal belt of North Goa.

“Hoteliers and travel providers are offering special deals and promotions to entice business travellers to stay longer. I anticipate seeing mixing of business and leisure travel as people try to get the most value out of their expensive travel investments,” he says. However, Mohan feels there will be a fusion of domestic, business and leisure travel. “This should also apply when we see an increase in international travel. Travellers choose their destination based on the opportunities to capture and share social media-worthy experiences,” adds Mohan who graduated from Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology, Lucknow’ and worked in various positions with leading hospitality majors such as Radisson Hotels Group, IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) and Wyndham Hotel Group in leadership, operational, sales and marketing, revenue management and client servicing roles. Through his career, he has successfully launched and positioned five international brand hotels: Radisson Resort Goa Baga, Radisson Blu Pune Kharadi, Radisson Blu Greater Noida, Crowne Plaza Greater Noida and Holiday Inn Chandigarh Panchkula.

Throwing light on the sustainability efforts at the hotel, Mohan shares, “Radisson Hotel Group has a long heritage as a leading sustainable hotel group and has made substantial strides to drive climate action in the hospitality industry. One of the most significant stride that has been taken is the goal of achieving Net Zero by 2050, towards sustainability, renewable energy, green building design, green mobility, and the establishment of the Hotel Sustainability Basics. The Hotel Sustainability Basics criteria includes reducing energy, water use, waste and carbon emissions. We operate a linen reuse program, use green cleaning products and offer vegetarian options on all food menus. Our aim is to move away from plastic straws or single-use plastic water bottles and use only bulk amenity dispensers in our rooms.”

To instill a sense of trust and camaraderie among the staff and himself, Mohan says that it is important to have the right atmosphere for the team to maintain high spirits. “We need to ensure the right people are hired. In addition to the potential of an employee, we need choose one who will mesh with the existing team too. The next to follow is a good onboarding process which allows the new staff to meet and get to know each department. Outlining what is expected of them in their new role from the beginning becomes the base of a long-term relationship,” he says, adding that communication is important too.

“By listening and acknowledging team members, they feel respected and valued thereby building trust. A few words of praise or encouragement go a long way. A culture of receptivity to new ideas and collaboration works well to build a happy and committed team. Another important aspect is encouraging social meet outs. A team get-together works as a great opportunity for team members to get to know each other on a personal level which can help to foster better relationships. It’s also important for all to know exactly where in the personnel hierarchy each member stands and when all employees are up-to-date with company goals and their roles in achieving them.” Then there should be brainstorming sessions with the entire team that can generate some outside-the-box ideas. “Building a sense of community in your workforce doesn’t happen overnight. Staff need to feel connected to their team and for this, communication is key,” he says.

On what he does to relieve stress levels often associated with the role of a General Manager, Mohan says, “Everyone who has ever held a job has, at some point, felt the pressure of work-related stress. Any job can have stressful elements, even if you love what you do. One can’t always avoid the tensions that occur on the job but work around them. Learning to relax and simple techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises and being mindfulness goes a long way to melt away stress. A few minutes each day to focus on walking or enjoying a good meal helps.” He also prefers listening to or playing music that provides mental distraction, reduces muscle tension and decreases stress hormones.

Mohan feels India’s G20 Presidency brings with it great opportunity for the tourism and hospitality industry. “The hospitality industry is ready to showcase its global standards and facilities to the world. With evolving technology and modern infrastructure, the hotel industry is expected to boom. The Indian Government has been investing in infrastructure and is promoting the tourism and hospitality sector through various schemes and initiatives. They are introducing the scheme called Swadesh Darshan 2.0 which will focus on sustainable and responsible development of tourist destinations. G20 will be the Union Tourism Ministry’s main area of focus in 2023 to establish the country as a key tourism destination during its year-long leadership. Focus will be on cruise tourism, ecotourism and adventure tourism,” he says.

On his future plans, the General Manager shares, “I would like to enjoy working to serve internal and external guests with my hospitality with a great management, just like this one with good life-work balance, foster good relationships both at work and in my personal life, and simply enjoy every day as it comes and goes. Professionally, I would like to ensure that all stakeholders who are a part of the business get optimal profits.” Mohan opines that all these years in the hospitality industry have been a never-ending learning journey and he always believes in “Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.”

The tourism landscape in the state is being changed by millennials, opines Vipul Mohan, General Manager, Radisson Resort Goa Baga. “They are more adventurous and are willing to try new experiences. They are environmentally and socially conscious which drives them to seek sustainable and responsible tourism options. The rise of social media and online booking platforms has made it easier for all to find and book travel experiences as per their requirement. They are also more comfortable using technology to plan and navigate their trips. This has led to a surge in solo travel,” he says.Ends

For more information about the hotel Visit: https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-resort-goa-baga