Business Tips from The Oberoi Hotel’s Grand Welcome

As our group shuffled off the bus at The Oberoi Hotel’s twenty-acre estate in Amarvilas, Agra, we walked through an elaborate, heavy door at the front gate. When we ducked our heads to enter, cascading rose petals fell like snow forming a fuchsia-colored carpet while staff bowed in greetings of Namaste.

In front of the hotel, we observed raised steps and a doorway flanked by stone elephants donning garlands of yellow flowers. A man was seated below wearing flowing robes and playing a ravanahatha as he sang in Hindi. Like many Indian stringed instruments, it emitted a high-pitched series of sounds which made for a pleasant and welcoming greeting. By then, it was clear that our warm welcome at The Oberoi Hotel set a new standard for guest experience.

Creating a Lasting Impression

Upon our arrival, I recognized the foundation of any good first impression. First impressions set the tone for the rest of a professional relationship. When salespeople fail to incorporate personal elements into their client interactions or managers fail to onboard employees effectively, they miss out on key opportunities to deepen a positive interaction into a long-term, mutually beneficial and fulfilling relationship. Here are three tips from The Oberoi for businesses to start off on the right foot:

1. Approach with Humility: Everywhere at The Oberoi, staff members and guests greet one another with a respectful slight bow, eyes closed and hands placed chest high in a prayer position. The intimate greeting, at first awkward, eventually felt natural. In business, we can forget to make time for more grounded connections when we become too bogged down by corporate etiquette and niceties. Those who are truly business savvy will get to know the person in front of them and embrace the small talk with authenticity, instead of viewing all conversations as business transactions.

2. Maintain Expectations: While a well-planned pitch and gripping visuals can help engageprospects, it’s important to ensure customers aren’t presented with an empty promise. Our appreciation for Oberoi’s captivating scenery would have quickly tapered off if the room didn’t live up to the high expectations they set upon arrival. It is crucial to remain tuned in to every aspect of clients’ and associates’ shifting needs in business, and to ensure follow through.

3. Team Training and Consistency: Throughout The Oberoi Hotel, the staff offered a kind greeting and made it a point to be outwardly approachable and welcoming. The Oberoi wowed us with its stunning scenery but what made a lasting impression was the unchanging level of care and attention we experienced along every step of our stay. We were constantly impressed by the team’s consistency, their knowledge of the resort and the level of professionalism and openness maintained throughout our stay. For business leaders to achieve a great company-wide first impression in every interaction, consistency in team training and internal operations must be a priority.

Every detail at The Oberoi, from the welcoming faces to the carefully curated environment, was designed to make visitors feel special and create an unforgettable experience. Whether greeting a new client, onboarding an employee or launching a product, The Oberoi’s mastery of first impressions can serve as a guide toward building stronger relationships.