FROM THE TAJ FALAKNUMA PALACE, HYDERABAD......10

101 Specialist

                                               

Guess how much time it will take to set this table up at Taj Falaknuma Palace?

Answer is: Three hours. Nothing less than that.

You may wonder why it takes three hours. Because, this is the 'largest dining table in the world'. The only of its kind. It seats 101 guests and the dining hall has  specially designed acoustics that allow for conversation from one end of the table to the other.

There is one person in F&B Department of this hotel who is also popularly known as "101 Specialist". He is none other than Jithin Nizar, (26) who is presently in charge of all the three restaurants (Adaa, Celeste and Gol Bungalow) plus the Swimming Pool area.

Kerala born Jithin started his career with the Taj Gateway, Bengaluru as a Management Trainee after passing out from IHM Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram with 8th Rank.  This was in 2009. He joined The Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad in Sep 2010. Since then, he is wedded to this hotel in general and to 101 Dining Hall in particular.

Any function in 101 Dining Hall will be handled by Jithin only. Even if he is on is weekly off, that day, he will cancel the same, and will be there to lead the team. Recruiting the trainees, to training them, to arranging cutleries and crockeries, and final showmanship when guests do appear in the Dining Hall...Jithin will be there to run the show.

Last year, he was the only person from the F&B Department who had the honor of being part of the MD's club. This is a unique scheme of the Taj Group of Hotels, a special thanks and recognition system - obviously an efficacious motivational tool. Apart from the guest feedback/compliments, volleyed on him, a brilliant idea of shifting the evening high tea from the restaurants to the Jade Room gave him some more points to reach the MD's Club.

His dad is a High Court Advocate based at Thiruvananthapuram, Mom is a housewife and younger brother is a Software Engineer with IBM.

The turning point in his career came when he was honored with the "Best Outstanding Employee Award" by the Mystery Auditor (LQA Audit). That was in 2012.

His role model happens to be Girish, the General Manager of this hotel. "Girish sir is very focused at work. Also he is very good in maintaining  work-life balance" says Jithin Nizar.

"I can go to any extent to dazzle and delight the guest. Secondly, I love interacting with very high profile guests" says Jithin when asked about the inspiration he gets from this hotel.

On his weekly off day, he cooks for his roommates in the hotel accommodation. Once he leaves the hotel, he will completely remain unattached with the hotel activities. Once he is on with the uniform, he will be in full form.

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R KESAVA MALLIA, HYDERABAD