Because: She’s no bimbette when it comes to brains. An alumni of Modern School Barakhamba Road, Educated at Cambridge in England for her A-Levels. Did her Bussiness Management from Kings College –London and Msc in Corporate Real Estate.

Because despite being in a male dominated industry, she plays her roles with trademark elegance, and grace. Because after delivering a success like Pullman Hotel, Bakshi has reinvented herself as the most versatile lady in the industry, by now converting to Le Meridien. Because she’s humble, intelligent and balanced.

Through the looking glass: Raunaq Bakshi admits that she loves to travel, and that London is her second home, because of the large part of her life she has spent there and the friends she has made there over the years .”I love Europe, because of its culture, people and warmth. Especially Italy”. She is trying to learn Italian since the past few months too.

The Person: Being a Cancerian makes her very family oriented. She works as a passion and hobby. “Im a very casual person in real life. I love the no make up look, infact I started to wear make up during the day,only once I started coming to the Hotel”. “My learing is very experiential”, says Bakshi. Her love for hotels comes from the the time when her family home was burnt down during the ’84 riots. As a result, the family moved from one hotel to another.
Loves her Red wine .

On the list – Pomerol, Sassicaia, Cabernet Sauvignon to name a few.

On the radar: We have an asian restaurant coming up.

La Riviera, our very popular restaurant is also all set to open end of the year, with a whole new feel. Retaining a small element of the French, but converting to primarily Italian.
She has introduced the Éclair program here, which is a signature of Le Meridiens’ worldwide. Basically a Coffee to wine program, serving éclairs and coffee during the day and transforming into a lounge by 7pm with cheese and crudités.