Ardent, vigorous and a person with a fond appreciation for all things creative, Madhav Sehgal’s hospitality journey began in 2000. His appetite saw him take up projects in countless management roles with hotel chains in both Canada and India alike. Preceding to joining the Andaz, Madhav’s last project was in the role of general manager at Hyatt Regency Chennai, before having put on several executive roles within the brand with properties such as Hyatt Bangalore and Hyatt Regency Delhi.
Apart from being a zealous hotelier, Madhav enjoys spending his free time over a good game of golf or taking off on rides on his Harley-Davidson. His travelling shoes and his experimental taste buds enthuse him to travel to destinations both local and global. Meanwhile, his desire for music often helps him unwind over classical jazz beats and old school rock music. I caught up with the hotel manager to hear all about his journey.
When did you first become general manager and where?
Hyatt Bangalore in the early spring of 2013.
What makes Andaz Delhi stand out?
It is a luxury lifestyle hotel by Hyatt, offering inspiring experiences through the neighbourhood’s rich history and culture, helping guests get to know their surroundings more intimately and leave feeling like a local. The hotel’s ambience reflects the unique culture of Delhi. Andaz Delhi houses 401 guestrooms including 45 suites adjacent to Hyatt Delhi Residences i.e., Hyatt’s luxury lifestyle apartments. Each room structures one of the exceptional 401 art pieces that causes guests to fall in love with Delhi.
Andaz Delhi pushes the limits of innovative meetings and events with creative, locally inspired spaces that reflect the spirit and ethos of bringing the indigenous neighbourhood inside the hotel. The Andaz Studios break from the confines of traditional conference rooms to provide barrier-free spaces that feature open kitchens promoting collaborative learning and interaction. The oval-shaped pillar-less ballroom is one of the biggest enclosed extravagance wedding spaces in Delhi and can house up to 1,500 guests.
Enduring with its sustainability vows and pledges, Andaz Delhi has embraced sustainable glass water bottles, replacing plastic water bottles for the rooms. It is assessed that this change will protect about 145 tonnes of synthetic waste and 435 tonnes of carbon releases over the next five years. This is the equivalent amount of energy essential to run a 60-watt light bulb for 7,384 years. The hotel is a Gold LEED certified and has installed in-room monitoring systems to reduce electricity wastage, and also uses 100% recycled Gray water. To maintain an eco-friendly environment, the hotel uses jute for packaging amenities in the guestrooms.
In addition, Andaz Delhi goes the extra mile with its digital innovation to ensure a safe and luxurious stay for guests, with minimal human interaction. Andaz Delhi now offers mobile check-in through the World of Hyatt app or an online check-in option via the web. Since the safety of our guests is paramount at Andaz Delhi, we have introduced ‘knock and drop’ and ‘no turndown’ services to limit entry into the 401 guestrooms.
Andaz Delhi is a pet-friendly hotel that aims to make your (and your pet’s) stay as comfortable as possible. We provide a bed, food bowl and pet food for your animal companion.
Who is your typical customer?
We serve a mixture of corporate and leisure travellers and cater to both the domestic and international markets almost equally.
What challenges have you faced during the pandemic and how have you overcome them?
Being innovative and adaptable are the two skills that have allowed us to overcome the pandemic thus far. I am proud of the amazing team at Andaz Delhi and Hyatt Delhi Residences, which have not only gained market share, but proven to be resilient and true to our values throughout these very challenging times.
Which Indian cities are your favourites for food, history and fashion?
Lucknow and Chennai are my favourite cities for food, from the real Tunde kebabs to the delicious sapads of the South. For fashion and history, it would have to be Delhi!
How do you choose your team?
Certainly, the ability to do what it takes are minimum table stakes to be a part of the team. More importantly, being a genuinely compassionate person high in empathy and integrity is essential. We do not look for perfection as much as we do for authenticity.
Any advice for aspiring hoteliers?
Hoteliers are genuinely passionate people who are committed to their cause, not for a job but a purpose and belief in being welcoming, caring and hospitable at all times, even in the middle of a global pandemic. Thus, my advice is to build resilience, add skill sets and values that will support you, and most importantly identify a good coach who can guide you along the initial days of your journey.
How would you plan a one-day itinerary for guests looking to explore Delhi?
We all love stories. They inspire us, ignite our imaginations or lull us to sleep. Here at Andaz Delhi, we have curated 401 reasons to love this city. ‘401 Reasons to Fall in Love with Delhi’ is Andaz Delhi’s homage to this inspirational city, from its distinguished iconic monuments to its overlooked rituals and lesser-known places that make even residents wistful. Each guestroom has a distinctive art piece that is a pictorial version of one of the book’s 401 reasons.
Navigating the lovable city of Delhi’s myriad twists and turns can be a challenge, which is why the book has identified 12 different categories in order to make discovery a little easier, depending on guests’ specific interests. Categories include: Delhi’s Building Heritage, Taste of Delhi, Creative Delhi, Delhi Celebrates, Cultural Delhi, Sporting Delhi, Delhi Shops, New Delhi Architecture, Delhi Devotion, Delhi on the Move, Natural Delhi and Iconic Delhi. Since Andaz Delhi is all about immersing yourself in the local culture, we do this by enabling guests to experience our curated Delhi Hero Experiences.
They have made us fall in love with Delhi, and we hope you will too.
What would you say is USP of the gastronomic offering at your hotel?
You will be ruined for choice with its countless superlative dining options to choose from. The award-winning 24/7 food hall AnnaMaya is known for its always local philosophy, ‘Eat mindful. Shop artisanal. Raise awareness’. All of its dishes highlight local ingredients; Soul Pantry has an emphasis on nutrient-dense flatbreads made with homegrown grains, while Juniper Bar offers an assortment of 35 gin and tonic distillations handmade by mixologists.
What is that one dish that brings Andaz repeat customers and why?
AnnaMaya is a place where food is served and thought-provoking artisanal produce and items are presented for sale. The food hall shadows the ‘Made in India’ thought, as all products used have to be created in India, must have a communally stimulating story behind the commercial implementation, and their existing business model must be socially pertinent in order to help societies and their individual backgrounds within India. Our ‘Eat mindful. Shop artisanal. Raise awareness’ viewpoint, with its stress on continuously using homegrown produce – is what heartens our guests to visit us again.
What are the updated measures for the COVID-19 protocol?
Directed by our determination of care and experience dispensing top-notch hospitality for over 60 years, Hyatt’s Global Care & Cleanliness Commitment builds on our prevailing demanding safety and cleanliness protocols.
To safeguard our visitors and teams, we are proud to broadcast our GBAC STAR ability endorsement for outburst prevention and response. In the leadership of GBAC, a division of ISSA, the universal spring-cleaning industry association, Andaz Delhi has applied the strictest etiquettes for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention in its facility/facilities. The program confirms that Andaz Delhi apparatuses best exercises to prepare for, counter to and recuperate from outbreaks and pandemics.
Factbox
Andaz Delhi
Address: Asset No. 1, Aerocity, New Delhi, Delhi, India, 110037
Phone: +91 11 49031234
Website: hyatt.com