This is somewhere in 1995 or so. ITC Welcomgroup was looking to shoot a promotional TVC. Sanjay Sharma was the creative head and I the client servicing person on the brand at HTA. The film required a very wide heritage structured
bungalow. The production team had identified a few at Bangalore. Sanjay and I were in Bangalore to check them. We were naturally staying at the ITC Bangalore Windsor Manor.
There are few stories associated with this short trip and let me take one at a time.
AGK- A G Krishnamurthy my ex-Super Boss of Mudra who normally stayed at The Oberoi was staying at the hotel. He was at the executive club floors. Sanjay and I were enjoying the Sheraton floor hospitality.
WINDSOR MANOR
AGK met us at the bar. Before you think otherwise, let’s say he peeped into the bar next to the reception and found both of us drinking. He checked with me if I wanted to be back at Mudra, that there were bigger opportunities and if I want to come back the door is open. I thanked him, told him I was happy at HTA and if ever there is a thought I know where to knock.
I realised that he was staying at the executive floors; we being at Sheraton floors did not make sense to me. I checked with Delhi headquarters ITC Welcomgroup (Sunil Sarin – If I remember right)- called in the Manager ( who was not there), threatened and cribbed till the time they heard me out and agreed to upgrade AGK.
AGK
Next evening when AGK came back and was checking-in in at the Executive Club floor reception, he was shocked to find that he had no reservation there. I was fortunately passing that area at the same time and realised where the problem was. I took AGK to the Sheraton check-in and his room keys were handed over to him there. AGK realised who was behind it and smiled at me. I asked him to send me an update on the experience so that ITC Welcomgroup could have the advantage of his feedback and can thin k of doing the desired changes.
I was shocked when within a week, a 2 pages- write up of experience with valuable feedback landed at my table. Thank you AGK for the same and a brilliant lesson for professional and personal life.
Other episodes in Advertising and marketing
● Thank You ● Rain Clause – I ● Lethal Combination ● APPETITE ● Puncture ● Adultery- the moment ● ASSET ● I am Sankar ● The Count ● Introduction ● Time Bomb ● Small Tile ● Shoot Report ● Sardar Khush Hoga ● Shoot At Mud Island ● Kaali Peeli Picture ● Juhi Effect ● Power Of Punjab ● Out ● Two More ● Eleven Minutes ● The Cherry Win ● The Presentation ● Black Gold ● Buffered ● Continue With Client ● Not Fired ● One Less Decision ● The Ghost Of 35 Rani Jhansi Road Jhandewalaon ● The Problem ● Imported Art Card ● Banyan Tree Agency
