Suresh is the CEO of Innov8 Hospitality Solutions and CEO/Founder of U Hotel Group based in Wellington, New Zealand. His work focuses on helping small accommodation providers be more knowledgeable in revenue management, distribution, and marketing while building a respected brand and a profitable business. In today’s conversation, we discuss how Suresh has been utilising his many years of senior hotel management experience to grow U Group Hotels as an industry leader in the boutique hotel space in New Zealand. We discuss the valuable lessons he’s picked up along the way, what he would do differently and what recommendations he has for anyone starting out in the boutique hotel industry today. Specifically, he delves into understanding what it takes to be crisis-ready which is essential for any organization, but more so for the accommodation industry, as we are especially vulnerable to crisis and must proactively be prepared for any and all foreseeable events. I hope you enjoy! Chapters 0:00 AROUND THE COUNTRY 2021 - NZ - With Suresh from the U Hotel Group! 01:29 Background and history of Suresh and his business 03:07 What it’s like living life in the fast lane, working for huge hotel companies 06:52 Chicken or egg, do you choose the business location first, or find the hotel? 09:33 What’s the best business plan for starting a boutique hotel? 11:08 How did Covid-19 change Suresh’s business? 15:05 How Suresh filled the gap with the current lack in international guests? 16:14 Some innovative packages/value adds and benefits Suresh came up with 19:13 How can we prepare for snap lockdowns and future uncertainties? 20:00 What does having a good relationship with your bank/financial institution look like? Thank you so much for listening to the show. You can find us at theaccommodationshow.com where you'll find all the show notes, links to resources we have talked about, and transcripts from the show. I appreciate you listening and if you would like to support the show then please subscribe, leave a comment and share it with others. Connect with Suresh; U Hotel Group: https://uhotelgroup.com/ Facebook: U Hotel Group – https://www.facebook.com/U-Hotel-Group-102566144468646 Instagram: U Hotel Group – https://www.instagram.com/uhotelgroupnz/ Linked In: U Hotel Group - https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-hotel-group/ Personal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/suresh-subramaniam-67aa02/

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