Mr. Nimal Nishore Ratnakaran Panicker, General Manager of SP Grand Days, Trivandrum is a young and talented hospitality professional in Kerala. After graduating from Institute of Management and Catering Technology, Trivandrum in 1997, he worked with some of the leading brands in Kerala and abroad including Clarks, Quality Inn and Park Plaza  and Karama Hotel Dubai. His ability to interact efficiently with guest’s and people at all level and high consciousness about hygiene and safe work habits is the main reason  to make the SP Grand Days, one of the leading and busiest hotel in Trivandrum, Capital city of God’s Own Country,
When did you start off your career in the hospitality industry and how did you come to choose this line of work?
I started my career in hospitality industry after finishing my 3 year diploma in Hotel Management form IHMCT Kovalam and started my career with Clarks Amer, Jaipur in 1997.I happen to come across my father’s friend Mr. Jose who was from Kerala working in Utter Pradesh Tourism who guided me to attend the all India entrance exam for National Council for Hotel Management and Catering Technology. He also took me to a five star hotel called Clarks Avadh in Lucknow for a visit and from that day I made up my mind to gain success in this profession of hotel industry.
Please tell us about yourself and your experience in the hospitality industry?
Myself from Kerala born and bought up till my graduation in commerce at Utter Pradesh in a place called Unnao near to Kanpur as my father was having his own business there. I started my career with Clarks Amer as management trainee later transferred to Great Value Shipra at Noida after finishing my training joined Quality Inn Presidency, Cochin as Assistant Manager F&B and gradually after a span of 4 years became The Operations Manager in the property from there got into Sarovar Park Plaza Cochin unit called Gokulam Park Inn as Food and Beverage Manager. This switch over of job was my turning point in my career as I could learn lot of technicalities, documentation and policies which were very helpful in my future assignments after 4 years as F&B Manager joined Presidency hotel as General Manager from there I got a chance to work in Dubai Karama Hotel as Operations Manager. Dubai was entirely a different ball game where I experienced that India was much Professional in terms of trained manpower, Systems and Procedure. After returning from Dubai in 2008, joined SP Grand Days as General Manger where I could put in all my experience into reality to make the property one of the leading and busiest hotel in Trivandrum.
To what strategies do you attribute your success?
Strategies are simple First I did a bench mark of all the properties in Trivandrum city, did a study on their unique selling points, understood my Managing Director  Mr.Murugans Dreams and Goals and then chose a good supporting HOD’s and staff who had good common sense as there is an old saying what is not common is” Common Sense”.Normaly I analysied all guest comments and feedback very strictly and planned all the marketing policies which was more emphasized on mouth to mouth marketing rather than the hoardings, brouchers, news paper advertisement which I feel is not worth as you see majority of heavy investment of capital goes on placing a Brand in the market through these medium . This capital can be given as discount to give an entry to the premiere guest at a discounted rate to show the facilities of the property. This in return gives more lasting publicity and trust in our services.
What is a hotel General Manager’s biggest challenge?
At the present scenario the biggest challenge faced in hotel industry is to retain the Trained Staffs’ The whole procedure of hiring, Training, boosting up their confidence has to repeated several times as opportunities due to shortage of manpower is giving them a chance to fetch more salary compared to their experience, The Truth is that even the best facilities for the staff in the industry can only extend the duration of their stay with the property as Hotel Industry is very depended on Manpower I am sure almost all the GM should be having the same challenge to keep the hotel service standards intact.
What do you like the most about the industry?
I choose this industry on my own liking for it as one of my old friend used to tell me “to find a job you like you will never have to work a single day in life”. So this is the profession what I like so I don’t work I enjoy, the fact is everyone enjoy seeing their ideas maturing into reality.
In your opinion, what are the skills required for a professional in the hospitality industry, especially when it comes to your position?
In my opinion one should be understanding, respect his teams ideas, believe in prevention is better than cure, effective communication where in your subordinates should be clear with what you require and always be particular of small things because if small things are in place big things  will automatically be in place.
What obstacles did you face in trying to achieve your goal?
I do not take anything as obstacles, because I believe obstacles happen to be everywhere and try my best to negotiate and come up with a solution to achieve my goals at the earliest.
Is there any memorable incident that occurred in your career that you would like to mention?
Nothing in particular