By Mewati Sitaram
A seasoned culinary proficient, Kazi Abdul Wahab has recently joined as Food & Beverage Director at Dukes Retreat Khandala. Prior to his new role, he was posted as Associate Director of F&B at The Resort Hotel Mumbai. In his new role, he will be responsible for handling four outlets, room service and banquets. Being a F&B Director, his prime objective is to forecast, plan and control the F&B related concerns for the hotel.
Ladder of success
He brings around 18 years of F&B experience to his new role. Kazi’s distinctive career is lined with successes in integrating operations of F&B areas. He began his culinary journey as an intern at Taj Mahal Palace hotel and has also worked for Ramee Guestline Days. After completing his catering education, he began his career with The Oberoi Mumbai as a Chef in an Italian Restaurant under renowned Chef Emmanuel Lattanzi. He also completed the Management Trainee program (Vita – Futura by Starwood’s Hotel) with Le Royal Meridien (Now Hilton). He then moved to Oman to hone his skills and was a part of pre-opening assignments with Al Nahda Hotels & Resorts LLC. Later, he along with others successfully opened Dunes by Al- Nahda, a luxury desert resort and worked for 4 years. After sharpening his skill, he returned from Oman and became a part pre–opening team of Radisson Mumbai Andheri, as F&B Manager. Here, Kazi is working closely with the General Manager of the hotel and culinary team.
Educational assets
Kazi completed his primary education from St Paul’s High School, Mumbai and higher secondary education from Narsee Monjee College. Mumbai. After his higher secondary. Thereafter he completed his Hotel Management from Atharva College of Hotel Management.
Kazi Abdul Wahab expressed “I am very happy to join Dukes Retreat under the leadership of Ms. Sherry Padda, General Manager of the hotel. It gives me a great platform to put my gastronomical skills to use and an opportunity to complement my skills. I am very happy and excited to take up this challenge and work with the team here to keep the magic going on in the hotel”.
Kazi’s ideals in career progression
Kazi has three ideals in his hospitality profession in which he tries to adapt their qualities. These three stalwarts include Mehttab Siddique, C.E.O of G.H.V Hospitality, Stephen D’souza GM & Associate Vice President – Chalet Cluster Operations, and Rajiv Kapoor, GM of Fairmont Mumbai hotel.
First person in his family to join hospitality industry
Kazi comes from a family of bankers and government officials and is a first entrant in the hospitality industry. There was a strong resistance in the family to join the hotel industry, but his father stood by him to choose the profession of his choice and inspired him to be a hotelier. Now, after seeing his phenomenal progress, his relatives are approaching him to guide their kids to be a part of the hotel industry.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
