The hospitality industry is seeing a meteoric rise everywhere and Hoteliers wants to make sure they live up to the expectation of their clients. Many Cloud-based Hospitality solutions are available in the market amongst which Hotelline PMS is a leading hospitality technology provider that will offer innovative technology implementation and impeccable software solutions for your Hotel Business.
Step into the mind of Anshuli Mittal with this candid interview
How did you get bit by the entrepreneurial bug?
Somewhere, I read that ‘entrepreneurial bug is infectious’. Never thought that it would come true for me as well! Right after my B.tech in Computer Science, I plunged into this world. There has been a lot of ‘what if’ and ‘what if it does not’ around this decision, but I was headstrong to head out into an uncharted territory. Honestly, by that time, I had not decided that I want to be a tech entrepreneur.
I discussed the idea with my dad who suggested me to take a first-hand experience of what it is to be an entrepreneur by managing our family business – Hotel Magnate and Restaurant – BayLeaf. This is how I developed a passion for the hospitality industry. With his guidance, I understood how to keep the engine running with fuel or low fuel. A complete roller coaster ride! After seeing the hardships the hoteliers undergo every day, I decided to come with a fully integrated solution. This helped me come up with the idea of Hotelline. As destined, I embarked on a new journey of my life.
How did you come up with the idea? What made you think that there was a need for something like Hotelline?
Being a hotelier myself, I have always known the challenges faced by the hotels. From managing, bookings and reservations to aligning right distribution system to handling operations across departments are not easy at all! I mean it does not even sound easy! Improving bottom line along with striving to reduce your total cost of ownership is certainly challenging. Adding to the stress is the constant worry of improving the guest experience is a task in itself. I’m talking about a real scenario.
I used to ask myself how wonderful it could be to have a full-fledged hotel management software capable of handling all these challenges. I might have been asking for a lot! One fine day, I discussed it with some of my acquaintances’ inhospitality tech space and I came up with an idea to simplify this daunting task on my own. There are already so many software available, however, the problem is the cost. So I thought of resolving this with ‘pay for what you use’ the cloud model. However, there can never be a one-size-fits-all solution; however, we too are evolving. This led to the inception of www.myhotelline.com. Today, I’m glad that www.myhotelline.com could make a difference for all the hotels, restaurants like ours and beyond.
How did you manage funds? And in what time?
Right now, Hotelline is a bootstrapper. We began with a limited budget without any investor involvement. After being successful in developing a robust revenue management technology for the hospitality industry and acquiring a good number of paying clients, we are now looking forward to raising capital.
What is the biggest challenge that you are facing right now?
We have built an excellent portfolio of products for a seamless revenue management experience for each and every type of property, our next step is the market expansion to grow business, for which, we are cut out for the challenge.
How do you differentiate yourself from your competitors?
Hotelline does not boast a ton of features or brag that they will make the lives of hoteliers easy; we actually prove these statements true. This is supported by our cloud technology, where more and more of the functionality is available within a secure infrastructure. Moreover, we have a wide range of products to cater to the revenue management needs of every segment of properties – Villas, Hotels, Resorts for single or Group properties including restaurants, Chain Restaurants, Coffee Houses, and many more.
There are the options of easy monthly billing, quarterly billing and ‘pay what you use’, which are highly feasible and suitable for all types of properties and segments. Adding to the potential are our range of products in terms of various modules integrated as ERP system. Slowly and steadily, they will change the way hoteliers look at technology for revenue management.
What’s most exciting about your traction to date?
Hotelline showed the traction in April 2016 when our Beta turned successful with 5 clients and we moved to production. We were finally accepted. Another one was in May 2016 when we got our first paying client. It was a clear quantitative evidence of market demand. This is when I feel proud to have achieved something and all the hard work paid off.
Can you mention any software that is helping your business to run smoothly?
We are currently using our own CRM and other marketing software to send SMS, manage the mailing lists and set up email marketing campaigns.
If you weren’t building your startup, what would you be doing?
I would have been trying my luck in fashion designing. The process of designing always amazes me. How the designers render life to a piece of cloth, turning it into a fabulous dress to die for, is simply magical. Indeed, it has always been my area of interest since childhood as it offers a chance to be as creative as you want; technology attracted me long after. Moreover, I’m a people’s person so meeting new acquaintances from different backgrounds, talking to them, listening to them, comes naturally to me. So yes, definitely a fashion designer, if not a tech entrepreneur.
What is entrepreneurship according to you?
For me, entrepreneurship is all about stepping out of your comfort zone and following your heart than head. It involves a constant hunger to bring innovation, a passion to invent blazing new trails, innovate new ways to resolve challenges and create value. Here, you are the boss, you are the executive and you are the peon! More importantly, it is all about believing yourself and inspiring others to join that journey.
What message would you like to give to upcoming entrepreneurs?
Today, everyone has a passion to do something on their own and prove their mettle. Thanks to the budding entrepreneurship culture. I would say, ‘Go for it! Don’t let that zeal die’. Don’t be afraid of failures. In fact, they will make you stronger only. Just one piece of caution. Be a critical thinker for yourself— make choice after careful deliberation, do in-depth research on the subject you want to follow and weigh all the pros and cons.
At times, it comes at the cost of high-stress levels. The things are little difficult for bootstrappers but you can definitely go higher with right business model and attitude. Weigh all the pros and cons before entering into this arena. If you are all set to enter into an arena full of challenges than playing it safe with a no-risk job, entrepreneurship is for you.
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