A people’s person, an inclusive leader and a true veteran in the hospitality industry, Pandey believes in people being the true pillars of hospitality

JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove & Spa has appointed Anoop Pandey as the General Manager of the hotel. With years of multicultural experience and expertise in a variety of hospitality departments, from the front office to F&B, room divisions and beyond, Pandey has swiftly moved up the ranks across a myriad of brands and hotels.

A people’s person, an inclusive leader and a true veteran in the hospitality industry, Pandey has successfully been a pillar at the opening and pre-opening of hotels and was even a part of the task force team for the unveiling of the prestigious W Singapore Sentosa Cove. As he arrives at JW Marriott Mussoorie, his vision is to sustain the hotel’s existing strong positioning and raise the bar even higher. A believer in people being the true pillars of hospitality, he resonates with the core philosophies of the hotel when it comes to creating memorable guest experiences and connecting with people. He endeavours to garner a motivated, engaged team that delivers beyond expectations, which will result in even greater guest loyalty. He wants to empower his team and help build future leaders, manage without micromanaging, and foster an environment that allows people to flourish and thrive off each other’s strengths. “No one is ever a finished product at any stage of life,” shares Pandey.

The new luxury trend, in his opinion, is the entire experiential gambit. He thinks that personalisation has become the key driver in innovation, and it is at the heart of luxury hospitality. Identifying that guests are looking for more than just a ‘cut-paste stay’, Pandey believes it is about creating magic and delivering exceptional experiences, and the dream — to each guest, all the time. “I have learned that people will forget what you said, they will forget what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel,” adds Pandey. His mindset was led by the idea, if you can’t go outside, go inside, and with that, he discovered through understanding, observation and teamwork, anything is possible, even when you are apart from each other.

Apart from adhering to the age-old rules that have been proven to work, his commitment to technology, digital marketing, resilience, transparency, innovation and experimenting, will go a long way in creating a truly timeless offering.

“It’s a privilege to be a part of a dynamic team at a resort that synchronises the best of both worlds— providing a great destination along with setting a benchmark for unparalleled excellence in guest experience and personalised intuitive services. I look forward to bringing a new perspective to the venerated oasis of JW Marriott Mussoorie, and continuing the timeless legacy of this award-winning resort,” said Pandey.

His journey began with The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, where he worked across its various properties in Mumbai, Kovalam and Bangalore. He then moved on to be a part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, now rechristened as Marriott International, in 2009 and adorned several hats within The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace, St Regis Mumbai and The Westin Gurgaon. His most recent role was as the General Manager for The Westin Sohna Resort & Spa — an experience that especially catapulted his growth in the luxury arena.