A national level trap shooting champion, Harinder Singh, let her sporty side take a backseat as she opted for the "charms and challenges" of hospitality industry. Read on as the general manager of The Grand discusses the five-star deluxe hotel's renovated avatar, the hostile conditions hunting hotel business, and offers tidbits on tippingu00a0

Dressed in an elegant black pantsuit and her long hair pulled back into a neat pony tail, she supervised the arrangement of furniture in the sprawling hotel lobby. And while she was at it, Harinder Singh ensured she attended calls on her cell phone, replied to her staff's queries and hobnobbed with dignitaries. Being the general manager of The Grand, Vasant Kunj one of the premier hotels of the capital multitasking comes very effortlessly to this Lady Sri Ram alum. "I love the dynamism of the hospitality industry and being a people's person, I couldn't have thought of a better calling than this," began Singh as she settled down for a leisurely chat in an imposing meeting room. Excerpts.

You ventured into hospitality sector in the mid Eighties a time when the industry was opening up. What prompted your choice of career?
It was in the year 1986 that I had got through the IPS, but I didn't join the service. Hyatt had just opened and I was curious about hotels. It was then I decided to try my luck and landed a job with the group. In between, I went to the Cornell University for a brief summer course in hoteliering. For me, the hospitality industry has been very addictive. Be it meeting new people, setting new targets or sorting out problems I have loved every bit of it.