General manager, Sid Bhatia, says that’s exactly how he likes it.
Moving his way from banqueting to concierge and eventually into general manager roles that have taken him around Australia and overseas, Bhatia says the most exciting opportunities come to those who take the initiative and dare to say yes.
“Put your hand up, say yes and take risks,” he says. “I’ve been very fortunate in my career. I’ve had some great mentors and worked through some great companies and hotels.”
Bhatia attributes his climb to a sick call from a concierge at an Auckland hotel, providing him the opportunity for extra shifts.
“That was my first concierge shift. And you know what? From that day, I got phone calls, not only for banquet shifts, but for concierge shifts. And what used to be like…a 10-hour shift became an 80-hour week, and there were more shifts that I could handle.
“I always found the best way to move forward, move ahead and learn as much as you can, is to open yourself up to as many opportunities. Say yes as many times as you can, take those risks.”
His cross-country hotel experience has allowed him to see how the business events industry operates differently in different places. Working in the NT allowed him to enjoy a combination of leisure and business, with more groups bringing families to Darwin and delegate itineraries including substantially more cultural and leisure activities. Comparing that to a city like Wellington, he says “the differences are dramatic”.
“The meetings are all business. They’re there for quick corporate meetings in and out, and driven on quick service. They want efficiency, to make sure those meetings happen and are executed well,” he explains.
“Whereas you look at somewhere like Darwin, you have a leisure aspect.
“They bring their families, their kids with them. So they’ll come in…two days early, do activities as a family, and then they’ll spend three days in the conference while their families are still in the hotel, using your pool, finding out what’s around.
“It’s also about understanding that I’m not just looking after my business clients for the conference. I’m also making sure that their families have a memorable experience.”
At Moxy Sydney Airport, Bhatia says bringing something different to business events outside the run-of-the-mill same sameness that CBD conferencing can often be, is vital.
“We know that we’re not a large convention centre,” he explains, “but we also know we can do bespoke and our meeting spaces are amazing,” he says, referring to the playful, creative vibe of the hotel with plenty of communal spaces, games rooms and even a free airport shuttle service that can mean huge cost savings for planners.
“Imagine spending $70 a person getting into the city after you land. That’s $140 return. Instead, we’ve got complimentary shuttles that can pick you up and that $140 per head spend on travel…You can have dinner and drinks with your entire group instead of spending that on taxis.”
Successful, memorable events are all about saying yes to fun, but also balancing it with downtime. Add the morning yoga or the group city jog, Bhatia says, suggesting teams utilise the nearby axe-throwing venue or Holey Moley mini golf to create even more fun.
“I don’t think people think about how important it is to be able to allow people to disconnect as well,” he says, adding that being open to doing things differently can make a big difference.
“Young at heart vibe is what we are. We are an energetic team,” he explains, adding that while they’re not the ‘yes sir, no sir’ hotel, Moxy Sydney Airport has another kind of people and “that is what truly defines us”.
