A robust voice, imposing personality and wit that can have anyone in splits, he is a true hospitality veteran, who even after having crossed the retirement stage, is busy upping the numbers of a luxury hotel. Greesh Bindra, Vice President – Operations, The Suryaa New Delhi, is a man with an extremely interesting past, dotted with anecdotes and instances that will leave you in awe and splits – both. Here’s a look at his journey and his current profile in our GM Special Series.
Priyanka Saxena Ray
As I sat down for a chat with him on a nice sunny afternoon, I realised some of the traits in him that makes him an instant hit with his team, customers or whoever he meets. His ability to put you at ease, his openness as he talks about his childhood, family and youth and his endearing nature together makes him a gem of a person, who has a legacy of work behind him.
An Army General’s son, discipline was always a part of his life and indulging in sports his second nature. His father, who even today at the age of 91 plays Golf five days a week, inculcated the “sporty” streak in the young Greesh, which later on helped him plenty in life. In search of a career that was not limited to the armed forces, Greesh Bindra got admission in Delhi University and was one of the few privileged students to enjoy the facility of a single room – all thanks to his contribution towards the college sports teams – Hockey and Swimming (and the DU Water Polo Team).
“During my summer break in the second year of college, I had gone home to dad’s posting station in Jalandhar. Since there was not much to do, I would spend the days leisurely in the club, until dad thought it was time to indulge me in yet another sport. He took me Golfing with him and I got hooked to it like anything (!),” he recalls with a smile. And it was Golf that opened the doors of the hospitality industry for him.
“One day, in the Final Year of my college, while playing Golf, I met the GM of Taj Mansingh (Mr. Ramesh Johar), who casually suggested that once my graduation got over, I should come and meet him at the hotel. But maybe it was my intuition or my calling, my went to meet him that very morning and by 3 in the afternoon, I was wearing the waiter’s uniform, an employee of Taj Mansingh, reporting for my shift with not a clue in the world on what was I supposed to do,” Greesh reminisces with a throaty laughter. For a 19 year old boy, who belonged to a respectable and reputed family, Greesh had a tough time explaining his choice of work to his mother while his father, on the other hand, was more forthcoming, his only priority being his son’s happiness.
Soon enough, he moved to ITC and worked at The Maurya for close to three years. He was made the Senior Captain handling the then famous restaurant at the hotel called ‘Bali High’. It was while handling a private catering that he bumped into his uncle who convinced him into partnering and starting the “Whiter Water River Rafting” business in Rishikesh to which he agreed, bidding goodbye to the hospitality industry in 1985.
For close to 10 years Greesh Bindra handled the reigns at Wildlife Adventure Tours and it was here that he learned and sharpened his sales techniques, which eventually helped him crack the job of Director of Sales at the Hyatt Regence New Delhi in 1995. However, the circle of life brought him back to ITC, this time as the sales manager only to be promoted as the Regional Sales Head for North India in mere 8 months – a position that he not only earned by converting many business opportunities but also one that he had worked hard towards.
On December 15, 1999, he joined the IHG Group (then Park Royal) and there has been no looking back for him since then. From Executive Assistant Manager to RM and then finally the GM of Crowne Plaza New Delhi (now The Suryaa) in 2002. “I was given charge of various Crowne Plaza’s during my tenure with the IHG. From Crowne Plaza Soaltee (in Kathmandu) to Crowne Plaza Gurgaon and finally as part of the pre-opening team of Crowne Plaza Greater Noida. I was made the Area GM for IHG North India Hotels in 2016 moving on to become Regional GM for North India, West India and Bangladesh before retiring in 2019,” he shares with a smile, obviously proud and happy with his tall work in the hospitality industry. His stint, however, in the hotel business is far from over.
Now handling the reins at The Suryaa New Delhi, Greesh Bindra is full of energy and plans to get an international tie-up for the property very soon. “The biggest strength of our industry is the relationships. Tourism is not a one night stand. Though the understanding and the way of functioning of people today is different from our times, yet, what they (the team) must understand is that a happy customer is the best advertising you can do for your hotel. More than hard core training, learning soft skills are very important. The team should stay motivated and happy as only then can they make customers happy. I have, at The Suryaa, introduced many inter-mingling activities, which allows the team members to interact and build a rapport with each other. I want my guys to be smiling,” concludes the dynamic hospitality veteran, whose affection for his team and passion for his profession in not just reflected in the manner of his speech but also in every small gesture that he makes – as simple as ordering a masala chai for you!
