Nitin Ramtri: ‘I have honestly fulfilled a lifelong dream’

Can you tell us about your career in hospitality so far? I began my journey in hospitality over 25 years ago in India at Le Royal Meridien Mumbai, working in food and beverage operations. Since then, I’ve had an exciting career, working in a number of incredible properties and gaining valuable hospitality and leadership experience throughout the United Kingdom, where I joined Hilton in 2010. In 2014, I had the pleasure of working with the incredible team at Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian as the director of operations, and following six years outside of Scotland, I am excited to return as the general manager at this iconic Edinburgh hotel. What attracted you to the role of general manager for this particular hotel? There are many reasons that I was drawn to this position at Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh, but above all, the iconic history and rich heritage behind our hotel has always grasped my attention. When I first moved to Edinburgh in 2005, I was walking down the street with my daughter, and as we passed the front door of the hotel, I turned to my daughter and said, “One day I’m going to be the GM of that hotel.” Having returned to Edinburgh this spring, I can truly say that as general manager of Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian, I have honestly fulfilled my lifelong dream. As the new general manager, what are your plans for the hotel and what do you hope to achieve in the role? My first priority is to continue to celebrate the heritage and history of this iconic hotel, and solidify Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh’s position as the top luxury hotel in Scotland. Our highly personalised, elegant service and iconic environments are at the heart of our hotel and we look forward to delivering unforgettable experiences to our guests. I am excited to lead a team with such strong passion and dedication to creating memorable moments for our guests, and look forward to further leading in the development of our current team members, experiences, and searching for new and unique opportunities for our hotel. In your opinion, what has made the Edinburgh Waldorf Astoria such a landmark in the area? The unique heritage of our property, and dedication to providing warm, friendly service has made this hotel an iconic landmark in Edinburgh and Scotland. Our team prides themselves on creating life-long memories for all of our guests, whether this is assisting in celebratory moments, offering unforgettable Scottish experiences that connect our guests with our beautiful home in Edinburgh, or simply welcoming them back to their second home after time away – it is our team which truly sets our hotel apart. We have a number of guests that come back to visit year after year because Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh has become their ‘home-away-from-home’ and there is nothing that makes us more proud than the opportunity to welcome them back time and time again. Our hotel very much prides itself on staying connected with the community that surrounds us and offering our guests the opportunity to do the same. Throughout recent years, it has been a large focus of our hotel to create new experiences with our local hotel partners and offer support to our Edinburgh community. What trends does Hilton anticipate for the coming year? Now more than ever, guests are combining their business and leisure travel, as well as opting to extend their time in new destinations. We are delighted to welcome new guests to Edinburgh, and Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian, to discover Scotland’s stunning capital, and introduce them to meaningful ways for them to connect to our Scottish heritage, and immerse themselves into the community around them. Travellers are also increasingly conscious about the social and environmental impacts of their stay and are basing their choices around this. As a result, our hotel has created a number of ways in which guests can enjoy environmentally-responsible travel and further connect with the Edinburgh community during their time with us. At Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh we are proud to offer luxurious and sustainable Aesop bathroom amenities, locally-sourced and fresh Scottish ingredients on our menus, and for our group clients, the opportunity to take part in a local wellness activity or support a local charity. What exciting things are coming up for the hotel? I am thrilled to share that Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian will be celebrating its 120th year anniversary this December. With our heritage at the heart of our hotel, our team is very excited to share this experience with our community, and our Waldorf family near and far. Originally opening as part of the Caledonian Railway in 1903, the hotel is filled with incredible historical touches and timeless stories that we cannot wait to celebrate.