From the graduating class of 2015-2018 of V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Management (VMSIIHE), Lionel Noronha has begun a promising career in the hospitality industry as the Duty Manager at the Front Office at Le Méridien in Goa. An alumnus of one of the best hospitality institutes in India, Lionel candidly speaks about his experiences and memories during the three years he spent at the institute, life lessons gained and his future plans.

Lionel, tell us about yourself and what your three-year journey at VMSIIHE was like? What is it that you got to experience that was helpful to your career?
I call this beautiful state home. I was born and brought up here and have all our ancestors from Goa too. We live in Loutolim which is a quiet and beautiful village in South Goa.
The journey was great and definitely shaped my personality into what it is today. Each of the years brought something new to learn and was exciting. The course structure and delivery was very different from the usual curriculum. What I felt was most helpful to me were the communication classes and public speaking sessions conducted by the faculty member Lorraine. All the faculty members were great, especially Nelissa, Gauri, Sujata, Rachel and others.

With the student exchange program offered by VMSIIHE, you were one of the students who went to Portugal to experience the cuisine and culture there, tell us about it.
The trip to Portugal was the best way to end the 3 years. After having studied so much about wines and culture it was great to travel abroad with friends and live along with the students in Portugal. We were able to attend multiple cooking classes and wine sessions along with trips to the vineyards. It was a great experience for all of us as it gave us a chance to explore the north and southern region of Portugal for over a month.

Tell us about your current profession.
I am currently a Duty Manager in the front office department of Le Méridien, a brand of the Marriott chain. I handle the day to day shifts and have the pleasure of meeting multiple guests a day and creating memorable experiences for them while attending to any problems they might face during their stay. Presently due to the pandemic things are slow but I’m sure it will bounce back soon. This is my first job out of college. I have been working here since June 2019 and will complete 3 years now. Before this, my only work experience was at the Ritz Carlton Bangalore, a luxury brand of Marriott for 6 months as an intern and that actually introduced me to the hands-on experience of this industry and got me interested in the Marriott brand.

What do you do to relax and what are your other interests?
I enjoy listening to music, playing video games and playing football every week. It helps me relax from what is generally a busy and stressful industry.

What are your future plans?
My immediate plan is to learn as much as I can on a daily basis and climb up the ranks of the management. Eventually, I will move back to South Goa to a hotel close to home so that I can spend more time with my family. A factor that is most important to me.

What has been your biggest achievement since graduating from VMSIIHE?
My biggest achievement since leaving college is cracking the management trainee program of Marriott – The Voyager program which has led me to the role I am in today. At work, I have been recognized multiple times for ensuring guest satisfaction and before being promoted was nominated for the Executive of the Year award at the hotel.