Charming Chirag

“My elder sister Ekta has been my inspiration” admits Chirag Kohli, the senior most staff member at Park Plaza, Chandigarh, Zirakpur. He has been wedded to this hotel for the last 20 years. “My sister was a topper in her Hotel management school as well she was very successful in her career too” quipped Chirag, very proudly. 

A12th class pass out, Chirag is presently, one of the load bearing pillars of this hotel. He remembers:“20 years back, when I joined this hotel, it used to be the Bristol Resorts with just 25 rooms and a banquet area. For the first nine months, I would work in the HK Department during the morning hours while in the evening hours, I would be in working in the banquets department". Then came a day when the Bristol resort was demolished and its place came up the Park Plaza, with the largest banqueting space in Chandigarh city. Even when the hotel was demolished, Chirag was there to co ordinate the loose ends. That is his incredible connect with this hotel. 

The Park Plaza was thrown open to the public in 2014. For the first eight years, Chirag was the banquet in charge. He later took charge of the kitchen stewarding department as a supervisor. Interestingly, he was attending my workshop on service excellence today. Believe it or not, he was summoned by many during the workshop. As many as six times. One call was from the Chairman of the hotel itself. Case in point: Chirag is one of the most sought after personnel in the hotel. His co-workers always need his support. He is always switched on to help, guide and support. ‘Chirag’ in Hindi means a lamp emitting light. The name suits Chirag for sure as he is indeed the guiding light for his colleagues. Incidentally, his wife’s  name has a similar meaning too. She is Aarti - which is a Hindu ritual in which light is offered to one or more deities. 

 Chirag started his career with Hotel Sunbeam at Chandigarh. Worked there for nine years. Interestingly,

 it was his elder sister Ekta who had got him a job here as an HK Associate, and he rose to the position of the Supervisor. His next stop was the Bristol resort, which later became the Park Plaza. Chirag is blessed with two sons. Subh(15) and Milan(17). Listening to old Hindi songs is his main hobby. Chirag is a singer too. 

With Executive Chef Vaibhav Bajaj 

 Text and pics: By R Kesava Mallia Iin Chandigarh