After four years as a hotel sales executive in India, Anamika Setaluri  travelled to Australia for a Master of International Hospitality Management at Le Cordon Bleu. Today, Anamika is thrilled to work as a Sales Specialist for Westin Melbourne (Marriott Group) with a bright future to match her bubbly personality.

Within three hours of starting her first hospitality role as Guest Services Officer at Taj Banjara Hotel, Anamika had been promoted to Banquet Sales. Having just completed a Bachelor of Hotel Administration in India, her career was off to a promising start.

“I was on reception at Taj Banjara Hotel and my boss asked me to try to sell a pen to him, which I did, and within three hours he had transferred me to sales!”

As a child Anamika was inspired by her uncle, a Hotel Sales Consultant, who told her exciting stories about working at the luxury Oberoi Hotel. Seeing the glamour of his workplace fired her passion to work in a hotel when she grew up, however today, her perspective has deepened.

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“There is so much more to the hospitality industry than just front of house, you don’t know what goes on in the back of house, there’s so much happening there. Yes, there’s glitz and glamour, but there’s also people working hard in many different roles.”

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The desire to advance her career led Anamika to consider postgraduate study and having heard repeatedly that Le Cordon Bleu was the best place in the world to study hospitality management, she travelled to Australia for a Master of International Hospitality Management at Le Cordon Bleu Adelaide.

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“The Master’s degree was an opportunity to refine and polish my skills, and yes, you do learn while working, but there is a certain expertise and career advantage that only postgraduate study can give you.”

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A 6-month Le Cordon Bleu Work Integrated Learning placement at Intercontinental Hotel in Adelaide as a Commercial Intern (Sales & Marketing) gave Anamika the real-world experience needed to kickstart her career in Australia.

“Work Integrated Learning gave me the platform I needed to step into hospitality sales in Australia - no one would give me a sales role here without experience, even though I’d already worked for four years in sales in India.”

Fondly recalling the comradery of her cohort, Anamika enjoyed the moral support of studying with her student group in the library, often late into the night. A deep love for Adelaide has developed since, with Anamika (who now works in Melbourne) intending to return one day. “I love Adelaide, and I miss it. I would love to retire in this city.”

As a destination for international students, Anamika is full of praise for Australia: “The Australian hospitality industry is so multicultural, you are so lucky to meet a diverse range of people and learn about their cultures. It’s amazing.”

Finishing up her internship at the Westin Melbourne in March 2018, Anamika has stayed with the Marriot group in her role as Sales Specialist (Catering) which she adores, selling seated High Tea events to private venues, customised birthday & Xmas parties, and cocktail events.

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“If you want to expand your career stay with your employer, show your loyalty to the brand - you need that platform to grow from - seize all the opportunities that come to you.”

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In the near future, Anamika sees herself travelling the world with the Marriott Group, with her cherished long-term goal to become Director of Sales (Event Catering) for an international hotel group.

CRICOS 02380M / RTO 4959