Harish Chander
(Job Seeker - Active)
Hotel/Restaurant/Culinary/Catering/Events/Resorts
Abu Dhabi
Summary of Career
1. Revenue, profitability, results, and growth-driven F&B management professional, over 15 years of international experience across UAE, Oman & Bahrain. Thrives on overcoming challenges within an ambitious, creative & collaborative hospitality domain. Specialize in providing solutions, exceptional bespoke F&B service, managing large teams of service, culinary, HSE associates.
2. Good exposure to all aspects of the food and beverage operation across 6 locations, 2450 keys, embracing responsibility for commercial business development, maximization of revenue opportunities, and efficient operational management.
3. Proficient with improved interpersonal skills, demonstrably problem-solving & advanced decision making. Years of robust operational & leadership expertise with high-caliber skills in high energy team-building, growing and improving profitability and operational performance. Successful hands-on experience in the development and implementation of the operation and sales, marketing, promotions strategies. Retaining customer satisfaction with exceeding expectations. Process-driven for quality daily
4. F&B new concept creation, kitchen layout and design, business development, budgeting, operations, people and change management. Proven track record demonstrating a history of career growth, in providing leadership with strong customer service, relationship management.
5. ADNOC-Section Head F&B-▶️ LEADERSHIP: Tasked to drive the growth and development of the Culinary & Food and Beverages Department by working in collaboration with the Food & Beverage Leadership Team to set the strategic initiatives, boost revenue, maximize profit margins and, drove the overall financial performance. Attained "Solid Performer" status, in Multi-Property Leadership. ▶️ KEY HIGHLIGHTS: Turned around Food & Beverage operations, ensured the team’s strategy aligned with the brand’s b
6. AFOCH-Deputy F&B Manager▶️ LEADERSHIP: Reporting to the Director of Food & Beverage, tasked to led and direct the events management team within the Culinary & Food and Beverages Department and support and contribute to the strategic agenda to boost revenue, maximize profit margins and drive overall financial performance. With multi-site operational leadership (600 keys) Banquets, Bars, Room Service, Meetings Conferences, Seminars, Events, Fine Dine Restaurants w/ full P&L accountability. ▶️ KE
7. The Royal Hotel-F&B Manager▶️ LEADERSHIP: Reporting to the General Manager, tasked to oversee the day-to-day operations and drive efficiency and excellence within the department. Full P&L accountability and oversight of 97 multifunctional employees. Responsibility for forecasting & budgeting, planning the coordination of employees and resources, and introducing new business opportunities by taking the lead on designing and developing the go-to-market strategy to expand departmental growth whil
8. City Seasons Hotel-F&B Manager▶️ LEADERSHIP: Reporting to the General Manager, tasked to steer, promote, and maximize all the F&B points of sale and ensure that communications are delivered effectively within the team and individual departments. Collaborated with the Head Chef to prepare, organize. Implemented new menu changes and increased efficiency within the department. Attended Head of Department meetings, drive communications within the team. Supervised, forecasted & budgeting standards a
9. ▶️ LEADERSHIP: Reporting to the Director of Food & Beverage, responsible for collaboratively managing the day to day operations of 3 multi-site F&B outlets delivering an excellent guest and member experience within this fast-moving 4-Star Deluxe Hotel (120 keys). Tasked to train, inspire, and develop team members and work within all budgeted guidelines. ▶️ KEY HIGHLIGHTS: Co-ordinated the preparation of the departmental annual budget. Worked to achieve the budget by monitoring and controllin
10. Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management-HACCP & Food Safety Certified
• Turned around food and beverage operations by ensuring the team’s strategy aligned with the business brand’s strategy and objectives.
• Reduced customers’ complaints by conducting customer service training to all employees’ thus increasing operations efficiency.
• Built new relationships and maintained existing ones through collaborative business engagements
• Continuously increased and delivered lower than budgeted overhead costs within food and beverage, sales, and labor costs below the maximum of 15% while upholding quality and service excellence.
• Leadership and communication skills to build effective and strong working relationships
• Budgeting, forecasting, planning, controlling, recommending, coaching, mentoring, training, and leading staff by example. Initiated short- and long-term goals that boosted the growth of the food and beverage operations.
• Established a 4-members team to develop top quality food & beverage products with prompt, accuracy, and personalized service and sustained customer base of 40%.
• Managed, achieved profit and quality for all F&B operations in the hotel/restaurant/catering and banquet’s operations.
• Improved drastically the standards of food & beverage quality to meet guest's tastes and preferences.
Experience as F&B Manager
City Seasons Group of Hotels
01 November 2009
01 July 2011
▶️ LEADERSHIP:
Reporting to the General Manager, tasked to steer, promote, and maximize all the F&B points of sale and ensure that communications are delivered effectively within the team and individual departments. Collaborated with the Head Chef to prepare, organize. Implemented new menu changes and increased efficiency within the department. Attended Head of Department meetings, drive communications within the team. Supervised, forecasted & budgeting standards are adhered to and those brand standards are communicated in line with the brand’s overall strategy. Oversight of 77 multifunctional employees.
▶️ KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
Designed & implemented high-quality sales training materials, enhanced top talent development within the department, championed to better service delivery, higher levels of employee engagement. Ensured all systems, procedures followed, and implemented consistently. All store appearances and equipment are maintained to standard.
Secured new banquets contracts, established the hotel as a 5* caterer, built F&B expertise reputation. Contributed to the achievement of departmental goals. Created strong Banquets and catering team boosting revenues.
Lowered food costs by 3% while increased yields by 6%.
Experience as F&B Manager
The Royal Hotel AU Dhabi-UAE
01 July 2011
01 June 2013
Food & Beverage Manager (Pre-opening)
The Royal International Hotel, Abu Dhabi-UAE | 2011 - 2013
▶️ LEADERSHIP:
Reporting to the General Manager, tasked to oversee the day-to-day operations and drive efficiency and excellence within the department. Full P&L accountability and oversight of 97 multifunctional employees.
Responsibility for forecasting & budgeting, planning the coordination of employees and resources, and introducing new business opportunities by taking the lead on designing and developing the go-to-market strategy to expand departmental growth whilst enhancing the overall customer experience.
▶️ KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
Spearheaded the concept & launch of the first Morocco Fine Dine Restaurant. Developed restaurant, lounge, tailored banquet package menus, improvised recipe sheets, scrutinize food production and service, method, involved and managed banquets/event sale, and catering sales. Maintained professional business relations w/ customers, guests.
Monitored the overall quality and consistency of ready to serve products in all production.
Regulated food and beverage cost control procedures, prepared monthly financial statements.
Boosted private party revenues by 70% over the last 3-year period, invested time in advertising & promotion.
Drafted sales-generating Banquets and Catering marketing plans and departmental revenue goals.
Created and executed event budgets, maintained monthly asset & stock inventory. Conducted weekly meetings with the chef to review all menus/forthcoming events and culinary developments. Ensured overall delivery & quality offering.
Experience as Deputy F&B Manager
Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel Abu Dhabi
01 June 2013
01 September 2015
Deputy Food & Beverage Manager
Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel, Abu Dhabi-UAE | 2013 - 2015
▶️ LEADERSHIP:
Reporting to the Director of Food & Beverage, tasked to led and direct the events management team within the Culinary & Food and Beverages Department and support and contribute to the strategic agenda to boost revenue, maximize profit margins and drive overall financial performance. With multi-site operational leadership (600 keys) Banquets, Bars, Room Service, Meetings Conferences, Seminars, Events, Fine Dine Restaurants w/ full P&L accountability.
▶️ KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
Successfully Championed, directed events management team to drive business development.
Increased guest service feedback by 8% by coaching & mentoring floor managers and supervisors.
Spearheaded a Sales & Marketing drive to upsell F&B outlets, bars, and banquets catering that led to additional sales in low, challenging periods added 11% over the expected sales target.
Developed new service standards SOP and new training manuals.
Achieved targeted revenue goals. Maintained consistent service standards delivery throughout the Hotel.
Increased revenue by over AED24k over the expected sales target by creating a motivating "term spirit" environment to increased staff productivity. Managed staff performance through clear objectives & appraisals.
Boosted F&B sales by 6%, introduced new products with distributors that Implemented delivery service.
Pushed profit up by 6% by computed menu planning, applied F&B menu engineering, and controlled food costs.
Pioneered, planned, and managed large banquets and formal high-level events, concerts, weddings, meetings, outdoor caterings, including the 10,000-guests sit-down event, boosted banquets sales up by 12%.
Managed Capex and Opex budgets, oversaw revenue centers (FOH and BOH labor and food cost)
Spearheaded a team of over 176 associates, delivering exceptional guest experiences. Raised service standards that increased footfalls. Implemented sales & marketing efforts both inside and outside the hotel resulting in increased food and beverage revenue by 9% over the last year.
Achieved 15% improvement in restaurant/events guest satisfaction (GSI scores)
Introduced F&B training sessions and a can/will do attitude combined with attention to detail.
Experience as F&B Manager
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
25 October 2015
To date
Food & Beverage Manager | Section Head |
ADNOC Group | 10/2015 -Till Date | Abu Dhabi-UAE
▶️ LEADERSHIP:
Tasked to drive the growth and development of the Culinary & Food and Beverages Department by working in collaboration with the Food & Beverage Leadership Team to set the strategic initiatives, boost revenue, maximize profit margins and, drove the overall financial performance. Attained "Solid Performer" status, in Multi-Property Leadership.
▶️ KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
Turned around Food & Beverage operations, ensured the team’s strategy aligned with the brand’s business strategy and objectives, this has led to more consistently within the department, stronger brand standards, exceptional service delivery, increased operational efficiency, boosted the P&L bottom-line.
Dynamic, ambitious, and self-motivated, 360° hands-on Food & Beverage professional with full F&B responsibility.
Solid organizational skills demonstrated background from luxury hotels.
Leadership and communication skills to build effective and strong working relationships
Budgeting, forecasting, planning, controlling, recommending, coaching, mentoring, training, and leading the team by example. Initiated short- and long-term planning. Managed growth of the food & beverage operations.
Organize and directed teams, developed top quality of food & beverage products with prompt, accurate, and personalized service.
Achieved customer satisfaction and quality service while meeting/exceeding financial goals.
Managed, achieved profit and quality for all F&B operations in the hotel/restaurant/catering/ banquet’s operations.
Maintained standards of food & beverage quality and guest service quality. Procurement Management.
Hired, interviewed, coached, trained, appraise, managed, and retained employees.
Achieved budgeted revenues & expenses.
Maximize and contributed to the profitability of the F&B department and guest satisfaction perception.
Implemented & maintained local and national sales/marketing programs.
Increased level of guest satisfaction by delivering an improved product through employee development, job engineering, and quality image. Ensured compliance with business operations and legal regulations.
Marketed the food & beverage outlets, developed and managed the implemented cycle menus, package deals, promotions, displayed decorations, and presentation within corporate guidelines.
Developed, implemented, and exceeded sales & marketing objectives and financial profit goals by 8% and 12 %.
Implemented & managed all company programs to ensure compliance with SOP.
Passion for quality and strive for service excellence, Advance culinary skills, Menu planning & Menu Engineering
Bachelor 01 April 1983
Bachelors of Commerce Delhi University IndiaMaster 01 August 2017
Advanced Diploma of Hospitality Management- ASMI-AustraliaOther 01 March 2017
Assertive Supervision for Seniors & ManagersOther 01 September 2017
RSA Responsible Service of Alcohol-Galaxy Institute-AustraliaOther 01 January 2016
F&B Profit Engineering-The Hotelschool The Hague-HollandIntermediate 01 December 2015
Effective Performance and Appraisals PracticeIntermediate 01 November 2016
Performance Acceleration ProgrammMatric 01 September 2018
German Language Course for Beginners