Alike appoints Sunniel Buttan as Vice President, Group HR

Sunniel will oversee the company's global HR operations, driving initiatives to build strong relationships and enhance employee learning and development

Alike, a social travel marketplace, has appointed Sunniel Buttan as Vice President, Group HR. Buttan will spearhead Alike’s human resources strategy and nurture the company’s talent base. Sunniel will oversee the company’s global HR operations, driving initiatives to build strong relationships, enhance employee learning and development, and optimise people operations. His strategic thinking and deep expertise in compensation, performance metrics, and positive employee relations will support Alike’s continued growth and commitment to a high-performance, outcomes-driven culture.

Bringing over two decades of experience in HR leadership, Buttan joins Alike from TCG Digital, where he served as HR Head, managing global HR operations. His extensive background includes senior roles at K-Corp Group, KPMG Global Shared Services, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he demonstrated expertise in strategic HR management, talent acquisition, and employee development. Buttan holds an MBA in HR and Marketing from the Institute of Management Technology, Ghaziabad, and has completed additional professional courses in creative thinking and strategic HR.

“With Sunniel’s extensive experience and strategic vision, we are confident that he will play a pivotal role in advancing our HR capabilities and supporting Alike’s mission to innovate in the travel industry,” said Ashish Sidhra, Co-Founder of Alike.

Sunniel is reputed for delivering integrated HR solutions that align with business goals and drive organisational success. His ability to execute both strategically and hands-on makes him a key addition to Alike’s leadership team.

“I am excited to join Alike and contribute to its dynamic and innovative environment,” said Sunniel Buttan. “I look forward to working with the team to further enhance our HR strategies and support the company’s ambitious growth plans.”

Buttan’s appointment comes at a crucial time for Alike as the company focuses on scaling its operations and enhancing its global presence in the travel industry. His proven track record in HR transformation, performance management, and strategic business partnership, is expected to play a vital role in Alike’s growth trajectory.

Minor Hotels Appoints Lokesh Kumar as Vice President of Development for the Middle East

Minor Hotels, a hotel owner, operator and investor currently with a portfolio of 540 hotels and resorts in 56 countries across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Indian Ocean, has announced the appointment of Lokesh Kumar as Vice President of Development for the Middle East. Lokesh brings over 23 years of strategic business leadership experience and a proven track record in managing owner and key government relationships whilst executing strategic public-private partnerships to maximise revenues and optimise costs.

Lokesh joins Minor Hotels from his most recent management consulting role, where he demonstrated his prowess in developing tourism offerings along the 1,600 km Coral Highway from Jezan to NEOM, whilst creating futuristic hotel concepts for the tourism authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He also offered feasibility and development strategies for mixed-use city development projects across multiple asset classes, including hospitality, commercial, residential and education. Additionally, Lokesh provided advisory services for operator selection and joint venture evaluation for a sovereign fund entity in KSA that aimed to develop 4,000 hotel rooms in key cities.

His exceptional track record in managing key responsibilities of development, asset management and commercial with hospitality companies, including Movenpick, Unison Hotels and The Oberoi Group, puts him in an ideal position to drive Minor Hotels’ future growth initiatives and expansion in the Middle East.

In his new role, Kumar will oversee development strategies and management of assets across Minor Hotels’ portfolio of hotels, including the Anantara, Avani, NH Hotels, NH Collection, Oaks and Tivoli brands. His expertise in business process enhancement will also contribute to commercial effectiveness across all the brands’ projects.

“We are delighted to welcome Lokesh to Minor Hotels,” remarked Amir Golbarg, Senior Vice President of Middle East, Africa and India for Minor Hotels. “His sterling reputation in developing and managing strategic business operations across the GCC and India aligns seamlessly with Minor Hotels’ vision for our future. Lokesh’s astute thinking and expertise in the market will be invaluable as we move forward with our plans for the future.”

Kumar added, “I am indeed privileged to join Minor Hotels. It’s an exciting time for the company, which has witnessed impressive growth in recent years. I’m eager to contribute to its continued success with new openings across the Middle East. The entrepreneurial approach of the company aligns with my professional goals and I look forward to working with the team to further accentuate growth.”

Lokesh holds an MBA from the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management in India after completing hotel school at the Institute of Hotel Management, Goa.

The group currently operates 25 hotels and resorts across five brands in the Middle East and has a strong pipeline of properties in multiple countries. Minor Hotels is committed to providing exceptional hospitality experiences to its guests and is focused on sustainable development and social responsibility.

Chalet Hotels Limited elevates Stephen D’Souza to AVP – Cluster Operations

Chalet Hotels Limited, a leading hospitality company, announces the elevation of Stephen D’Souza to the position of Associate Vice President (AVP) - Cluster Operations with effect from April 2023. With a remarkable tenure of over four years with the company, Stephen has consistently exhibited exceptional leadership skills and contributed significantly to its success. Equipped with an extensive background of more than 22 years in the hospitality industry, including stints with renowned brands, Stephen brings a wealth of expertise to his new role.

In his new capacity as AVP - Cluster Operations, Stephen will undertake the responsibility of seamlessly managing Four Points by Sheraton Navi Mumbai in Vashi, The Resort Mumbai, and The Dukes Retreat in Lonavala. He will play a critical role in overseeing the operational success of these hotel properties, ensuring seamless guest experiences, and upholding Chalet’s commitment to exceptional service.

Furthermore, he will continue in his current role as the General Manager at Four Points by Sheraton Navi Mumbai, Vashi.

With an exemplary track record of leadership, dedication, and a deep understanding of the hospitality industry, Chalet Hotels is confident that Stephen will contribute significantly to the ongoing growth and success as the Company navigates the evolving landscape of the hospitality industry.

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Chalet Hotels Limited Appoints Vishal Sharma as Senior Vice President – Projects

Mumbai | May 2023: Chalet Hotels Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Vishal Sharma as Senior Vice President - Projects. In this capacity, he will lead the Chalet Hotels design and projects team and shall report to Sanjay Sethi - MD & CEO, and Raman Sapru - Director-Design & Engineering.

In his new role, Vishal will be responsible for overseeing Chalet's projects division, including managing project timelines, budgets, and quality control. He will oversee all the aspects of project management for Chalet’s upcoming hospitality properties. 

Vishal is a civil engineering graduate from Pune University and brings over 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He has a proven track record of successfully leading large-scale projects. He joins Chalet Hotels from Colliers Project Management Services, where he was heading hospitality projects. Prior to that, Vishal worked with Gulf General Investment Dubai, Dheeraj & East Coast Dubai, Taj Group of Hotels, and AL HABIB & CO. LLC (Muscat) in various capacities.

Speaking on the appointment, Sanjay Sethi, MD & CEO of Chalet Hotels Limited, said, "With his extensive experience, expertise, and leadership skills, we are confident that Vishal will play a vital role in driving Chalet Hotels' growth in the hospitality sector. We are excited to welcome Vishal to the team and look forward to his contributions.”

Vishal also expressed his excitement about his new role, saying, "I am delighted to join Chalet Hotels and look forward to working with the team to deliver exceptional hospitality projects. With the company's strong focus on innovation and sustainability, I am excited about the opportunities to create world-class projects that meet the evolving needs of our guests. I am committed to leveraging my experience and skills to help the company achieve its strategic goals and drive growth."

The appointment of Vishal Sharma is a part of Chalet’s growth strategy and reinforces the company's commitment to excellence in hospitality.