Gulmarg/New Delhi, November 2024;Abdeali Zoomkawala comes to The Khyber, Gulmarg with more than two decades of work experience in the hospitality industry. “We are happy to welcome Abdeali on board The Khyber as he brings with him a solid and varied experience in the hospitality industry. With The Khyber completing twelve years this year, his contribution to taking it to greater heights is eagerly anticipated,” says Vinit Chhabra, General Manager, The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa, Gulmarg.

Abdeali honed his professional skills whilst working with renowned brands such as The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower, Mumbai, The Trident Mumbai, The Leela Palace Bangalore, The Ritz Carlton Bangalore, Trident Hyderabad, The Leela Ambience Convention Hotel Delhi, Oakwood Premier Prestige Bangalore, Bookmark, Manali (Justa Hotels & Resorts) and most recently with IF.BE Ice Factory Ballard Estate — a 140 year old ice factory that is now A place for the creative—A place for the community in the heart of Mumbai.

Abdeali has extensive experience in hotel management, pre-opening operations, and strategic leadership roles. Proven track record of achieving operational excellence, maximizing revenue and fostering guest satisfaction.

An alumnus of IIHM Aurangabad and Huddersfield University, Yorkshire, Abdeali holds a BA in Hotel/ Motel Administration and Management. He further enhanced his skills by enrolling in various training programmes including on Positive & Effective Communication, Certificate of Recognition for Sales & Service Foundations Training, Sales Advantage Training by Dale Carnegie, "Magic of Fish" training by Interactive Skills, a course of ISABS (International Society for Applied Behavioural Sciences), Programme on Team Synergy conducted by Academy of Human Excellence and Certification in Butler Training Programme from the Ivor Spencer School of Butlers, United Kingdom.

Speaking on his appointment, Abdeali Zoomkawala, said, “I look forward to working with the talented team at The Khyber, India’s only luxury ski Resort. As a team we will strive to keep the flag flying high with world-class services, while continuously innovating to exceed the expectations of our guests. I hope to curate bespoke experiences, enhancing the property's brand identity.”

Proficient in English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Arabic (reading only) Abdeali is an avid and voracious reader and sports enthusiast.

Gulmarg/New Delhi April 2024: The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa, Gulmarg is delighted to announce the appointment of Pankaj Kumar as Associate Director F&B Service. An enthusiastic and passionate F&B professional, Pankaj is excited about working with the team to elevate guest experiences at India’s FIRST luxury ski-resort in the Himalayas.

Pankaj comes to The Khyber, Gulmarg with extensive hospitality experience of over 13 years across various formats and locations both in India and overseas with renowned brands such as Marriott, Taj Group of Hotels, Jehan Numa Retreat, among others. Honing his skills in his varied roles, Pankaj’s experience in the hospitality industry is comprehensive and spans most areas including F&B operations to training and budgeting as well as revenue management.

In his new role, Pankaj will work closely with the F&B leadership on operations, with a focus on maximizing revenue, training and enhancing the overall dining experience for guests.