Karan Berry, General Manager of JW Marriott Jakarta

Karan is usually very passionate about his work in addition to is usually a senior hospitality professional. He is usually well-versed with all operations in addition to functions related to hotel management, with over 19 years of managerial experience at top hotel brands in India in addition to today here in Indonesia.

Meet Karan Berry

Let’s start off that has a bit of history; how has your journey been so far, today as General Manager at JW Marriott Jakarta?
I have been General Manager at JW Marriott Jakarta since December 2011. I was at Courtyard by Marriott in Chennai, India through 2008-2011, in addition to Trident Hilton Jaipur through 2007–2008.

I have always been attracted to the diverse aspects of the hotel industry in addition to after a degree in Commerce, I joined the Oberoi Center for Learning in addition to Development to complete post-graduation in Hotel Management. the item was an intense selection process of written tests in addition to interviews to finally meet Mr. Oberoi, when selected. The course transformed me through a boy to a man.

I started out with hands-on training at Trident Hilton, a 1,000 room property with kitchen stewarding – probably the real test in addition to an intrinsic part of my experience. the item was the very first time I had also left home, where I had been a pampered second son in a close-knit family. I learned the dignity of labour, skinned my feet in addition to even cleaned garbage cans.

How do you like Jakarta in addition to what’s your favourite thing about the city?
I have found Indonesia to be a wonderful country with so much diversity in its cultures in addition to natural attributes. People of Jakarta have a natural, inherent warmth about them which has made settling in just so easy for myself in addition to my family.

Has adjusting to different cities been exciting for you? What was the hardest part in transitioning to Jakarta?
Besides Jakarta, I have been in several cities in India; Chennai, Jaipur, Shimla, Kolkata in addition to Agra. Adjusting in addition to transitioning to different cities (including Jakarta) are not a problem, as I always keep trying to explore different cultures in addition to diverse work environments. Coming to Indonesia, I kept an open mind in addition to knew what I wanted to do at JW Marriott Hotel Jakarta.

What are the most challenging parts of your job, in addition to how do you overcome them? What are the most enjoyable ones?
The most challenging part of the job is usually managing attrition in addition to hiring the right person for the right job. the item is usually important to identify in addition to nurture talent. I personally feel of which skills sets can be fine-tuned over a period of time through training however hiring a person with the right attitude is usually more important.

The most enjoyable part of my job within the hospitality industry is usually of which the item’s a very exciting business – the item is usually a fun in addition to great business. the item is usually developing in addition to a fast-moving industry. the item is usually primarily a labour-intensive industry. Therefore, I deal with human beings rather than machines or equipments.

Do you have a memorable experience within the hotel industry you’d like to share with us?
I was at The Oberoi Rajvilas in addition to in charge during my General Manager’s sales visit to the USA. The property is usually a low-rise, sprawling hotel set in over 32 acres of gardens, pools in addition to fountains. The various wings are separated by a system of drainage trenches, whilst all of the hotel’s main facilities are located within the basement level. My executive housekeeper advised me of which This particular entire area was actually under some a few feet of water. the item seems of which water through heavy rains had somehow filtered down in addition to flooded the entire basement.

After evacuating guests to a nearby property, I set about the task of restoring the hotel’s facilities. The most invidious task was in informing Mr. Oberoi of the magnitude of the problem, particularly as he considered This particular property to be “his baby”. I have to say my staff were wonderful in addition to covered all contingencies including perimeter security as the property was without electricity in addition to any of its regular security services. We were able to reinstate all facilities in addition to services to hold the property operational again in what must have been considered record time.

‘Indonesian hospitality’ has been regarded among the country’s most distinct trait. If so, do you think the item has been a factor within the hotel industry in Indonesia?
I agree. Indonesians are humble in addition to flexible people, in addition to the concept of ‘serve & smile’ is usually ingrained within the culture. Hospitality requires pleasant personalities, positive attitude, in addition to healthy work ethics, in addition to ‘Indonesian hospitality’ matches very well with these requirements.

There are many smaller hotels sprouting out in Jakarta, slowly however surely. What’s your opinion regarding the brand new trend?
Basically, Jakarta in addition to additional cities across Indonesia have a promising prospect on hotel industry, as occupancy rates are growing significantly following the stable economy. Many hotels of all levels have seen positive growth in terms of average daily rates in addition to income per available room. Positive signs are apparent to even hotels of 3-stars. If we focus on Jakarta alone, MICE is usually on the increase with more in addition to more visitors involved in various trade shows, seminars in addition to conventions within the city. the item has built a reputation of an upcoming business destination.

Did your family move to Jakarta with you too? How did they feel about the move? Are there plans for another move within the future?
Yes, my wife in addition to I have a 10-year-old daughter. They actually shared my enthusiasm in addition to looked forward to the move. My daughter is usually no stranger to changing schools due to my many moves in India, in addition to has adapted perfectly into her brand new surroundings at ACG International.

With the heavy load of work at your job, how do you unwind in Jakarta?
Weekends are dedicated to family, with Saturdays being spent exclusively with my daughter in addition to her extracurricular activities of which include swimming in addition to soccer with the Coca Cola league, in addition to even piano classes. My family are movie buffs in addition to tend to watch movies regularly. I also enjoy cricket, in addition to equate cricket with life as the item has taught me the importance of team work which is usually essential to achieve our potential goals.

I am in several organizations, including Jakarta International Hotels Association, American Chamber in addition to Indian Business Forum.

Do you enjoy a bit of travelling around Indonesia?
I have been to Bali, Lombok, Bandung in addition to Bogor. Travel, culture in addition to shopping are my family’s top fun activities together.

Finally, what is usually the driving a car force behind your work?
Family values are the building blocks of my management philosophy. A Great family life percolates to my works. My father is usually my role product in addition to has instilled values such as honesty, mutual respect in addition to empathy, as well as the importance of balancing family in addition to work. The philosophy of which I follow is usually very simple; to be fair, truthful in addition to transparent in my personal in addition to professional relationships.

Mr. Marriott in addition to Mr. Oberoi are my mentors for work ethic. I work by Mr. Marriott’s motto ‘success is usually never final’, in addition to Mr. Oberoi’s philosophy ‘the devil lies within the details’.