The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI Asia Pacific) announces the appointment of Navodit Srivastava to the Asia Pacific Team. This important addition to our team will allow HSMAI to grow membership and partnership programs and to continue to deliver quality initiatives to hospitality sales, marketing, and revenue optimization professionals.
“The demanding times and industry pressures require us to offer more value for our members and more resources for our chapters, which this team is positioned to deliver with their passion for excellence and their experience in hospitality,” said Jackie Douglas, President, HSMAI Asia Pacific.
“An ex-hotelier and nearly 20-year travel and consumer industry native, Navodit believes HSMAI is perfectly poised to serve APAC hospitality professionals’ rapidly evolving technology and training needs in these times of increasing competition and disruption”.
Navodit will take on the important role of business development for the association in the Asia Pacific region. This involves growing our partnership, membership and educational products to allow us to assist hoteliers in a wider geographical area.
Asia Pacific is a huge region and we have only just touched the region, we need more staff to help us grow our offering in the hotel industry in the region. Encompassing the two largest countries, India and China and with such a diverse range of cultures, there is never a moment to stand still at HSMAI.
Douglas explained the new appointment: “Navodit’s new role will allow me to spend more time listening to hoteliers and academics and developing programs in response to the gaps in education we continuously find in this region. Over the last 12 months, our small team has developed a completely new digital platform for the association, and a an online learning academy, HSMAI Academy, where hoteliers can find education in the sales, marketing, distribution, digital and revenue management fields in the hospitality industry. We’re now set to grow the base and the products we have to grow your career”
Navodit Srivastava, Vice President HSMAI Asia Pacific, is a Certified Professional Marketer (CPM ASIA) from Asia Marketing Federation (AMF), Electronics Engineer and a Six Sigma Green Belt. Navodit is a seasoned Sales and Marketing professional having APAC wide experience of close to two decades spanning across major brands in Consumer Electronics-Retail/E-Commerce, Hospitality, Technology and Online Travel Industries.
Navodit has held senior positions at Sabre, Starwood Hotels, LG Electronics and Samsung Electronics, based in Asia and India. Most recently he was with Expedia Heading the Partnerships for South East Asia and India, prior to starting his own Venture LEVITATEE, “travel platform demystifying spiritual tourism offerings in Asia”
Navodit’s vision is to create business that will impact millions of people and make their lives better.
TO GET TO KNOW NAVODIT BETTER, WE ASKED HIM A FEW QUESTIONS:
“How are sales activities today different from the way they were organized 10 years ago?
The world of sales has changed 360 degrees. Customers don’t want to spend 40 minutes telling you about their problems and then you will tell them if you can help them. Plus social media has changed the sales landscape. I think a lot of aspects of selling have changed but there is a fundamental thing that has happened which is that buying has changed as well and, if you think about it, consumers are just fundamentally better informed and more empowered. The empowered and informed consumer has got their own journey and your job as a sales person is to meet them on their journey and propel them and work with them towards a final sale. It’s a very different beast. The buyer-seller relationship is extremely different than what it was 10 years ago.
The Sales of today is about being more consultative, it’s more understanding how this fits with the consumer, and to the extent that you can connect what you have to sell with the consumer’s existing journey then you will have success. As Sales people we need to “Un-learn and Re-Learn” all the time and going ahead in future this will be a new normal to progress and understand forthcoming generation customers.
“What made you accept the position with HSMAI Asia Pacific?”
I was introduced to HSMAI a couple of years ago during my Sabre days by Frank Trampert, MD/COO Sabre Hospitality in APAC, I was tasked to attend the ROC and meet people. That very day I had almost 50 conversations with Industry professionals and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I then got connected to Jackie (President HSMAI) trying to work out a partnership for Sabre Young Professional Council members as I was leading the Sabre Chapter in Singapore. Later when I joined Expedia I continued to contribute to HSMAI by being a Speaker at ROC and working on building academic course for hoteliers.
Over the past two years, I have felt a connection with HSMAI and our Passion aligns to contribute to the growth of the hospitality industry in all possible ways. When I was offered the position of Vice President Asia Pacific along with serving the APAC Advisory board, it was a natural acceptance. It will bring me closer to the hospitality Industry and I will be in a better position to expand HSMAI in the region and contribute to our Industry growth via HSMAI Events, CXO Round Tables, Education Series, Academy Learnings and more.
“What are your first priorities with HSMAI?”
My First priorities with HSMAI will be to build Strategic Partnership Alliances in the region to be able to support HSMAI initiatives in APAC and building the new HSMAI India Chapter.
“What do you consider to be your personal strengths?”
My strength is my flexibility to handle change and manage diversity. Asia Pacific is the most diverse region globally with numerous cultures, dialects and business environment differing in each country. Having worked across various Industries and leading diverse teams I have been able to navigate the region and have built successful businesses and partnerships in various companies that I have worked. Being an Entrepreneur, I have a mindset that is drawn naturally towards opportunities, innovation and new value creation. I will contribute strongly to HSMAI in APAC by building a network of alliances and expanding HSMAI to various countries in the region to help and grow the hospitality network and professionals.
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