Gaurav Pawaskar

Results-driven hospitality professional with over 9 years of progressive experience across luxury hotels and premium dining restaurants within the Taj and Marriott brand families. Currently leading bar operations as Manager – Wink Bar at Taj President, Mumbai, with a strong track record spanning restaurant operations, in-room dining, guest experience management, team leadership, staff development, and revenue growth. Recognised for building high-performing teams, elevating service standards, and driving measurable improvements in guest satisfaction and profitability.

Manager – Wink Bar - Taj President, Mumbai - Mumbai

(2025-11)

Lead end-to-end operations of Wink Bar, one of Taj President's signature beverage outlets, overseeing service delivery, ambience standards, and overall guest experience.

• Direct a multi-functional bar and service team, driving performance through structured training, clear shift planning, and hands-on floor leadership during peak service.
• Own beverage inventory control and cost management, monitoring consumption patterns and vendor coordination to protect margins without compromising quality.
• Design and implement upselling strategies for the beverage menu, contributing to consistent month-on-month revenue growth.
• Manage VIP and high-profile guest interactions, ensuring personalised service that reinforces the Taj brand's reputation for excellence.
• Partner with F&B leadership on promotional events, menu engineering, and guest feedback initiatives to keep the outlet competitive within Mumbai's premium bar scene.

Assistant Manager – In-Room Dining - Taj President, Mumbai - Mumbai

(2024-11 - 2025-11)

Oversaw day-to-day In-Room Dining operations, ensuring order accuracy, service timing, and presentation consistently met Taj brand standards.

• Managed a dedicated IRD team across shifts, handling roster planning, job allocation, and on-the-job coaching to maintain service quality around the clock.
• Strengthened guest relations by resolving service issues proactively and maintaining high satisfaction scores across guest feedback channels.
• Supported revenue growth through effective upselling of menu items and amenities during order-taking and delivery touchpoints.
• Coordinated closely with kitchen, housekeeping, and front office teams to ensure seamless, brand-aligned guest experiences.
• Promoted to Manager – Wink Bar in recognition of consistent performance and operational ownership.

Food & Beverage Executive - Taj President, Mumbai - Mumbai

(2019-11 - 2022-08)

Worked across multiple high-volume outlets including Thai Pavilion, Trattoria, Wink, Banquets, and In-Room Dining, gaining well-rounded exposure to varied service formats.

• Ensured seamless, brand-consistent service delivery across outlets with differing cuisines, service styles, and guest expectations.
• Developed strong multitasking, guest-handling, and cross-functional coordination capabilities in a fast-paced luxury hotel environment.

Food & Beverage Associate - Momo Café and ARK Bar

(2015-08 - 2019-09)

Worked in Momo Café and ARK Bar, delivering consistent service quality across casual dining and bar formats.

• Trained new associates and industrial trainees, and prepared structured training calendars to support onboarding.
• Handled roster planning and job allocation, ensuring optimal staffing across shifts.
• Developed and applied sales techniques and upselling strategies to support outlet revenue targets.
• Managed monthly inventory checks and daily operational paperwork with accuracy and discipline.

Industrial Trainee

Completed structured industrial training across Food & Beverage service operations, building foundational skills in guest service and outlet operations.

Bachelor's Degree - Hospitality Management - Anjuman-I-Islam Institute (2012 - 2015)

Higher Secondary - Model College (2012)

Secondary School - St. John High School