A petite young woman behind the bar, playfully juggling bottles and expertly mixing drinks… And the doorman? Oops! It's a smartly attired woman opening the ornate door to usher guests into the five-star hotel. Women in the hospitality industry have moved a long way from the traditional role of a receptionist or waitress, and have adroitly replaced even the stout, moustachioed doorman.

Revelling in their unconventional jobs, they seem to be enjoying the challenge of pushing their limits.

As bartender, Anamika spends long hours mixing and serving drinks at the Westin Hotel in Gurgaon. “The mantra for success lies in remaining focused and not letting initial failures bog you down,” says this young woman, who confesses she loves to play around with a wide range of alcohols and exotic ingredients. She credits her choice of an unconventional job to her go-getter attitude and strong willpower. “I hail from Assam, and have not even told my family what exactly my job is.”

But this job, she says, is not something she had planned for and has merely followed her heart. “Some careers are such that no formal training or education is required to succeed in them. There is inherent talent in some people that lets them make it big in unconventional jobs. However, it is important to recognise and groom this talent at the right time.”

Anamika's success mantra: Have a clear focus and give your 100 per cent to achieve it. Never get stressed or take anything personally, and always treat everyone with a smile. Women from any remote part of our country can shine if they wish to.

In charge of Guest Relations at WelcomHotel Sheraton, New Delhi, Sukhmani Kaur interacts with guests from the moment they check in, ensures all their needs are attended to and they have a comfortable stay at the hotel. Her working hours could be anytime during the day or night, and pretty Sukhmani betrays no sign of exhaustion or irritation. As Ambassador Di Wills, she also introduces the guests to a range of Wills products at the coffee shop.

“After completing my course at IHM [Institute of Hotel Management], Shillong, I came to work in Delhi. Coming from a small hill-city, it was like a jump into the ocean. I felt uneasy in the beginning with such a contrast in culture. The core values of my upbringing helped me overcome the teething troubles. I just said to myself: ‘I shall grow because I believe in myself'. I dream to be a good hotelier one day, and will work hard to achieve my goal,” says Sukhmani.

But encouragement and support from her employer is a huge help. “This organisation is very considerate about its women employees and has allowed them to follow their creative aspirations. The working environment has been very professional and has made it easy for me to realise my goals.”

Sukhmani's success mantra: Work with sincerity and discharge your responsibilities. If you do well, you will stand out in the crowd. Always be polite and make time to hear out an unhappy client.

“I get tired after remaining standing for hours and opening the door so many times, but one smile from the guest or a warm greeting changes it all,” says Moishel Tontang, an attendant at The Imperial Hotel, New Delhi. After fours years in this job, she is proud of her role.

Zokim is another woman attendant at the hotel, and both she and Moishel hail from Manipur and nurture the dream of going far in the hospitality industry. They are aware they hold an unusual job but do not feel awkward at all. “We are the first to interact with any guest, so our welcome smile is very crucial and we enjoy it when they recognise us on subsequent visits,” says Zokim.

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