Features :

“It has been, and continues to be, our responsibility to fill the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality.”

Bhupendra Pawar, an emerging hotelier in the adverse times.

Bhupendra Pawar was born and brought up in Udaipur. He did his schooling at the Central Public School. During his time as a student, Bhupendra used to address the principal, Mrs. Alka Sharma Ma'am as "Maa". Back in 1999, they used to do yoga in the morning along with enchanting three types of prayers, inclusive of both Christian prayer and Hindu prayer. Bhupendra is extremely grateful for his time at the school and appreciates the fact that his education gave him the opportunities to expand his knowledge and learn about the concept of humanity and moral values as a whole. 

Bhupendra has been a hotelier for the past 17 years and spent over seven years in Ahmedabad working in the hospitality industry. Currently, Bhupendra is an entrepreneur and owns his company called - Booking Engine. His firm deals with travels and events across India. Apart from that, Bhupendra is also passionate about music. 

For Bhupendra, discipline is the most appealing factor about the hotel industry. From designated work shifts to the sophisticated demeanor of the workers, also the comfort and luxury that comes along with the profession are what attracts him the most. Where there is a fixed schedule for every task, the industry also demands attentiveness and availability even during the holidays. Serving the client is the topmost priority. Bhupendra has always been intrigued by the fact that everything must adhere to the wishes of the client. The hoteliers working on holidays, forever on their toes to serve, is something that he has respected and preached throughout his career. 

Serving the community and the clients is something that makes him content and motivates him to do his very best. According to him, this industry has its glamour, and the people also get the opportunity to meet the dignitaries as well, such as industry giants, actors, musicians, and other prolific clients.  

While working in the hospitality industry, Bhupendra faced several barriers, serving vigorous training periods of six months in all four major departments. Bhupendra stresses the fact that to succeed in this industry, it is highly important to imbibe patience and respect for peers. Other challenges as per him also include that while entering this industry, an individual must understand the pecking order and try his very best to get substantial training from his seniors. He stresses that the amateurs must focus on learning and not merely get wavered by the luxuries of the industry. 

With the outbreak of COVID 19 and its grave effects on the industry, he decided to broaden his horizons and diversify his portfolio. Before that, he used to work with the Leela chain of hotels. He was also a working member of the Taj Hotel when the terrorist attack happened in 2008. His exit from this group helped him to shed light on the other aspects of life and spend more time with his family, learn new things and widen his prospects. After this, he was determined to be not dependent just on one job and apply his talents to other fields as well. This motivated him to start his own firm - Booking Engine, along with dealing in hotel properties. Currently, he also does bookings for travelers and arranges plans for them.

Mr. Praveen Chander is one of the most celebrated and respected members of the hospitality industry, who Bhupendra considers as his role model. A humble and down to earth person who respects his superiors as well as inferiors. Another influential person for Bhupendra is Ustad Mehtisan khasa, who he keeps in the highest regard. 

Bhupendra hails from a long line of musicians, which has had a positive effect on him as a person. He is also trained in classical music and is a singer and music composer. Bhupendra is an avid follower of Gauhar Azmi and considers him his mentor. Bhupendra has performed at several events including the traditional Shahi gharanas of India. Bhupendra specializes in the customary Raag Music and many of his ghazals are even available on his YouTube channel. He even practices music daily as it rejuvenates him.

Bhupendra asserts that for him, it is more important to be a leader and not a boss. The hotel, as per him, is Mini India, where no discrimination should take place on any basis. The only advice he has for the people interested in the hospitality field is that the individuals must always be patient and calm, for there is little space for people who come in stress and exhibit it physically and professionally. He also asserts the importance of discipline and loyalty in this line of work.

Bhupendra wrote a ghazal as a tribute to the Corona fighters:

"Na haath chota he unka, na ye Safar chota,

Na pyaar choota he unka, na ye keher choota."