Holiday Inn Goa Candolim appoints Vinayak Prabhavalkar as Director of Sales & Marketing

Vinayak comes with 15-plus years of experience in the field of Sales & Marketing

Vinayak has previously been associated with IHG and he has spearheaded sales and marketing for Fairfield by Marriott Goa Anjuna, where he was responsible for strategic planning and ensuring successful implementation across multiple markets pan India based on their vision and strategic plan for growth.

The new position as Director of Sales & Marketing requires someone with excellent communication skills, who can build long-term relationships with business partners and customers by understanding their needs and being able to deliver results through effective marketing strategies, pricing policies, and procedures that are consistent with IHG’s values, culture, and standards for customer service.

Noel Mendes was appointed as F&B Manager at Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai

His varied experience makes him the ideal leader for this key role where his responsibilities include managing a host of outlets at the hotel

A seasoned hospitality professional with over a decade of experience in food & beverage in the hospitality, Noel Mendes joins Four Seasons Mumbai as the Food & Beverage Manager, heading the F&B operations of the property. His varied experience makes him the ideal leader for this key role where his responsibilities include managing a host of outlets, including San: Qi and the soon-to-be relaunched AER.

A native of Mumbai, Noel started his career with Grand Hyatt Mumbai, before moving to Renaissance Mumbai and St. Regis Mumbai, where he was also given the title of Subject Matter Expert for the company at a national level. Apart from this, he also has had a stint with Massive Restaurants, adding perspective to his well-rounded approach to the world of dining.

He considers his creativity in problem-solving, teamwork, and strategic planning to be his key strengths which support him in assuming a role as important as this. A social media enthusiast, he enjoys exploring the newest trends in digital marketing and optimizing those for operational requirements. His roots in bartending and mixology are well reflected in his collection of certificates in courses in the beverage world.

Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach appoints Amartya Chakraborty as the new Director of Sales and Marketing

Amartya will be responsible for planning and implementing the hotel’s sales and marketing strategy, maximizing revenues, exploring new business opportunities, setting annual budget and putting together strategies amongst other duties

Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach is delighted to announce the newest addition to their team – Amartya Chakraborty, as Director of Sales and Marketing. In his new role, Amartya will be responsible for planning and implementing the hotel’s sales and marketing strategy, maximizing revenues, exploring new business opportunities, setting the annual budget and putting together strategies amongst other duties. 

Prior to joining Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, Amartya was associated with Novotel Kolkata Hotel & Residences as the Director of Sales and Marketing, where he was responsible for maximizing hotel revenue during and post-covid, increasing market visibility, and improving hotel positioning. A diligent professional with 18 years of experience in his field, Amartya has been credited with organizing many successful initiatives and was honoured with the ‘Best Sales Person of the year 2019’ in Accor South Asia Hotel Award. 

Amartya pursued his Bachelor in Commerce from Calcutta University and continues his advanced learnings with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Indore. In the hospitality industry, his career took a start with Sarovar Hotels in 2005 and eventually moved to Unit Hotel Sales and was responsible for the Kolkata unit until 2013. After which he joined Accor Hotels at Novotel Kolkata Hotel & Residences.

Commenting on his appointment, Gorav Arora, General Manager, Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach said, “We’re thrilled to have Amartya join our team at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach. His experience in the industry and his unrivalled determination to succeed make him a huge asset to the team. We look forward to continuing to innovate and grow together in this new position.”

Outside the realm of work, he enjoys listening to retro music and keeps a close eye on current affairs and Business news. Chess being his favourite game he spends his leisure evenings playing and as well helps him to widen his thought process.

Nitin Gohri has been appointed as the Director of Sales at ‘The Westin Goa’

The Westin Goa is pleased to welcome Nitin Gohri, a highly driven professional with over 12 years of experience in IHCL as their Director of Sales. He adds a great deal of industry knowledge and expertise to the MICE business.

Nitin will be further taking up the responsibility to lead and manage strategic sales, developing MICE strategies, and expanding the wedding portfolio for The Westin Goa. He has always focused on building long-term customer relationships and is respected for his ability to scale new business segments. Nitin is dedicated to deliver the finest standards of service.

Nitin began his career with the Regional Sales Team in Delhi before moving to the Taj Palace in New Delhi where he worked on several convention segments. Nitin’s last assignment was with Taj Lands’ End, Mumbai as the Director of Catering Sales, where he played an instrumental role in transforming the hotel’s positioning and delivering remarkable commercial excellence for the property.

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Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre (NHCC) and Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) appoints Mr Rubin Cherian as the General Manager

Hyderabad: January 2023:  Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre (NHCC) and Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) today announced the appointment of Mr Rubin Cherian as General Manager. Rubin is a well-rounded hotelier with over two decades of experience in the Hospitality Industry. An exemplary leader he is proficient in heading multicultural teams and has excellent management skills.

In his current role as General Manager NHCC & HICC, he will focus on delivering strong business results through optimizing profitability, business management and increasing revenue.  His priority areas will be enhancing services, increasing business growth and developing a talented and committed team to manage hotel operations. Rubin will lead the hotel to greater heights of success with his extensive experience and industry knowledge. Rubin will be working closely with the team at NHCC & HICC for bringing in force the overall vision and future direction of Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre. With an impressive track record, he will work towards bringing in higher efficiency in all aspects of hotel management and financial planning.

Rubin has been with Accor for close to 2 decades and has carved a niche for himself through his dedication and hard work. In the past, Rubin has led different leadership portfolios throughout his career. Prior to joining Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre, he was General Manager at Novotel Hyderabad Airport and has held significant positions at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, Novotel Bengaluru Outer Ring Road, ibis Bengaluru Hosur Road, and Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre. He has won many awards and accolades including "General Manager of the Year" by BW Hotelier in 2019 & “Best General Manager of the year”  in 2019 for Accor South Asia Hotel Awards within India & Srilanka hotels. He has also been recognized for serving Accor for more than a decade.

Rubin graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management from Karnataka University. He also holds a degree in commerce from Nagpur University. He is a technology enthusiast and loves surrounding him with latest gadgets. He has a great passion for bikes and also enjoys travelling.

Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar welcomes Aalok Jaiswal as the New Associate Director of Sales

Mahabaleshwar, January 2023: Courtyard by Marriott Mahabaleshwar is pleased to welcome Aalok Jaiswal as the Associate Director of Sales. A seasoned professional, Aalok brings with him a wealth of expertise in hotel sales with over 14 years of rich and diverse experience in top hotels of India.

Aalok will be playing a pivotal role in driving the revenue of the hotel through room and catering sales and creating a distinct brand positioning in the destination market segment. A diligent and result-oriented sales lead, he believes in driving strategies powered through dedication and hard work.

Aalok holds a diploma in Business Management from Wellingkar Institute of Management- Mumbai and started his glorious stint in hotel sales at ITC Grand Central Mumbai as Industrial Trainee, moving on to Sun and Sand Group, Sahara Star Aamby Valley City wherein he handled a corporate portfolio of South Mumbai. His last stint was with Zuri Hotels & Resorts where he served for more than a decade and was leading their sales division. 

An avid traveler himself, Aalok has a flair for fire juggling and loves to reconnect with the world through music. 

Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru Appoints Savio Fernandes As Director Of Food And Beverage"

Born and raised in Mumbai, Savio completed his Post-Graduate Diploma in Hotel Management from Goa. He started his hospitality career with Goa Marriott and then moved as a Guest Service Coordinator in Taj Exotica Goa over the past two decades and worked his way up the ranks as Director of Food & Beverage, with his recent move being to Taj Cidade de Goa.  Savio is known to create memories with Guest experiences and delightful moments being the forte, and has been actively involved in refurbishing and reconceptualizing their entire F&B. Savio has an innovative mindset, is product obsessed, and comes across as someone who builds strong relationships with this team – a perfect blend of a Four Seasons person.  

Additionally, we can also look at exploring opportunities for features, and interviews for Mr. Savio Fernandes.

Holiday Inn Katra is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Ritesh Sharma as The General Manager

He brings with him over two decades of voluminous experience in the hospitality industry.

He looks forward to spearheading operations, As a Pre-Opening hotel he will kick start the operations with his innovative strategies and manage an effective and enthusiastic team. He did his Hotel Management at IHM Bhopal.

Mr. Ritesh Sharma believes in “The ability to learn is the most important quality a leader can have”

Hilton Garden Inn Pune Hinjewadi appoints Anuj Majumdar as Assistant General Manager

Pune, December 2022: Hilton Garden Inn Pune Hinjewadi is pleased to announce the appointment of Anuj Majumdar as Assistant General Manager. With over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Anuj’s expertise will play a vital role in elevating the property to new heights.

A passionate hotelier, over the years, having worked with several brands across the country, Anuj has gained deep knowledge and experience in dealing with a broad spectrum of situations and challenges, including pre-opening properties.

Anuj’s extensive background has led him to be associated with several esteemed hospitality brands such as The Leela Mumbai, Holiday Inn Pune, Four Points by Sheraton Jaipur, The Corinthians Resort & Club Pune, and the Pride Hotel, Pune. He has also productively consulted for both greenfield and brownfield projects of mid-tier hotels & F&B retail establishments.

Commenting on his appointment, Anuj says, “Hilton Garden Inn Pune Hinjewadi is a relatively new property, however, it is conspicuous because of its exclusive array of F&B offerings. It is an absolute honor to be appointed as the hotel’s first assistant general manager. I look forward to working closely with the dynamic team to deliver a seamless guest experience befitting our property.”

A seasoned professional, Anuj has an intrinsic understanding of hotel operations, fulfilling guest expectations, and great leadership skills. His journey at Hilton Garden Inn Pune Hinjewadi will be instrumental in establishing the hotel as one of the most sought for in the city.

Devendra Kumar appointed as Human Resource Manager at Crowne Plaza New Delhi Okhla

Crowne Plaza New Delhi Okhla (IHG) is pleased to announce the appointment of Devendra Kumar as the Human Resource Manager. With over 14 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Devendra is a seasoned professional who would be responsible for overseeing Human Resource management, hiring functions, employee engagement and strategic interventions by putting creative ideas into practice. 

Devendra brings with him a wealth of knowledge in terms of compliances, manpower planning, performance management, grievance handling, learning & development, payroll management,  budgeting and forecasting which would be crucial to achieve organization’s goals and objectives. He arrives at the Crowne Plaza New Delhi Okhla with a vision to sustain the hotel’s existing ‘People first’ positioning while establishing high performing, brand hearted, super engaged workforce through his innovative approaches. He will strive towards fostering IHG’s core value of ‘Room To Be Yourself’ while contributing towards Diversity & Inclusion culture. Devendra is known to demonstrate proficiency in conflict management and interpersonal skills that makes him a dynamic and passionate Human Resource professional. 

Prior to Crowne Plaza New Delhi Okhla, Devendra has worked with leading international and national hotels chains such as Radisson, Marriott International, Amritara Hotels and Resorts and Four Points by Sheraton. In addition to work, Devendra enjoys watching classic movies, travelling and spending quality time with family & friends. 

Hotel Le Meridien Nagpur is pleased to announce the appointment of Ganesh Gouda as Human Resources Manager

With a prolific career spanning 7 years in the hospitality industry, Ganesh has managed the Human Resources department across level in flagship hotels in India. He started his hospitality journey with “Hilton Worldwide”. Ganesh has achieved recognition for his leadership dedication and hands on approach proficiently handling people in the area of Human Resources to consistently generate efficacy.

Ganesh has previously worked at Hilton Worldwide, Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention CC & JW Marriott Chandigarh. He earned his MSW - Human Resources from the University of Mangalore in 2015 and has years of experience in the Human Resources profession. He comes to us from JW Marriott Chandigarh where he worked as Assistant Manager of Human Resources. 

Apart from work, he is very active, with daily home workouts, and hobbies that include swimming, and gymnastics.

Jitendra Sharma promoted as a Operations Manager for Hotel Le Meridien Nagpur

Jitendra Sharma is a veteran in the industry with over 15-year experience across India. He has managed the operation across the level in flagship hotels in India & Maldives.

Jitendra started his Marriott International Journey in 2019 with Le Meridien Nagpur as a Food and Beverage Manager. He has been previously associated with hotels like Hyatt Hyderabad, The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace, Coco palm, a collection of Resorts, Maldives, and Radisson Blu Jaipur. He will focus on motivating the team, nurturing their spirit of striving for excellence, and providing guidance on developing strategies with an urgency that will drive flawless hotel operations.

Hotel Le Meridien Nagpur is pleased to announce the appointment of Sanjay Pandey as Executive Housekeeper.

Mr. Sanjay Pandey brings with him a 14 years of Housekeeping experience to his new assignment. Prior to this appointment he was Deputy Housekeeper  at Wow Hotel Indore.

Mr. Sanjay started his career as a Hotel operational trainee from Pride Hotel Ahmedabad , then he move to different flagship hotels of India like Jaypee Palace Agra, Le Meridien Ahmedabad ,Crown Plaza Dubai, J.W. Marriott New Delhi and  Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad.

He did his Diploma in Hotel management from SBIHM of Hotel Management and Catering Technology – Kolkata.

Hotel Le Meridien Nagpur is pleased to announce the appointment of Amit Chakraborti as Executive Chef

Chef Amit brings with him 17 years of culinary experience to his new assignment. Prior to this appointment, he was Executive Sous Chef at Lemon Tree, Premier Mumbai.

Chef Amit started his Culinary journey at Hotel Intercontinental The Grand Mumbai as Management Trainee, then he move to different flagship hotels of India like Sahara star Mumbai, Oakwood Premium Mumbai, Hotel Tunga Regenza Vashi India, Grand Hometel Sarovar Group of hotels, Courtyard By Marriott Pune and Hyatt Vastrapur.

He did his Diploma in Food Production from Rizvi College of Hotel Management and Catering Technology - Mumbai

Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse announced the appointment of Ajit Tiwari as their Executive Chef

With a meritorious experience of around 20 years, Chef Tiwari has worked with renowned hospitality brands across the globe including, various Marriott properties, Taj, Hilton, Hotel Claridges, The Lalit Srinagar & Kolkata and P&O Cruise. In his last assignment, Chef Tiwari was associated with The Lalit Golf &Spa Resort as an Executive Chef. His strong foundation and seasoned experience in culinary operations as well as avant-garde gastronomy makes him the perfect fit to spearhead the diverse Food & Beverage offerings at Holiday Inn Bengaluru.

Chef Ajit Tiwari has commented, “I am extremely excited and thrilled about my role in this budding F&B-driven hotel. I’m looking forward to curating more nouvelle and customer-led experiences for this brand.”

His’ immense credibility and promises to shoulder responsibilities in order to carry out all the daily operations of the restaurant and hotel kitchen. Bringing on the table years of experience, he is all set to ensure promptness, freshness and an exclusive variety of dishes keeping in mind hygiene policies and examining the equipment’s for cleanliness and so on.

On this occasion, the General Manager of the hotel, Jaidev Dutta has quoted, “his incessant curiosity, willingness to experiment and an extensive knowledge of global culinary trends will help create an unparalleled dining experience at our all F&B outlets in the hotel”.

Hotel Le Meridien Nagpur is pleased to announce the appointment of Eugeen Raj Khalkho as Front Office Manager

 Spanning 13 years in the hospitality industry, Eugeen has managed the Front Office department across levels in flagship hotels in India. He started his hospitality journey with “Starwood Hotels & Resort Worldwide”. Eugeen has achieved recognition for his leadership dedication and hand on approach to proficiently handling people in the area of Front Office to consistently generate efficacy in Operations.

Eugeen has previously worked in Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, The Westin Hyderabad, Four Point by Sheraton Bengaluru, Accor Hotels, and Novotel Kolkata. In his last role, he was the Assistant Front Office Manager in Novotel Kolkata Hotel and Residence. 

He did a B.Tec Higher National Certificate: Aviation Hospitality And Travel Management From Frankfinn Institute of Airhostess Training – Hyderabad, then did his Hotel Management from the Indian Institute of Management & Planning – Nagpur.

SANJAY GUPTA APPOINTED AS GENERAL MANAGER OF SHERATON GRAND BENGALURU WHITEFIELD HOTEL & CONVENTION CENTER

Bengaluru, January 2023: Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center has appointed Sanjay Gupta as their new General Manager. A seasoned and versatile hospitality professional with a career spanning over two decades, Sanjay has worked with brands like Hilton, Hyatt Hotels, Grand Hyatt, and Oberoi Hotels and Resorts. Over the years, he has honed his skills in managing a diverse team of people and has championed operational excellence. 

His journey with Marriott International began in 2011 as the pre-opening General Manager of the 100th Le Meridien in Coimbatore followed by Le Meridien Jaipur and most recently he was the General Manager of Le Meridien Gurgaon, Delhi NCR.

He has also been the recipient of some very prestigious awards within the organisation such as the Spirit To Serve Associates Marriott ‘Take Care’ award Asia Pacific Except China (APEC) for the year 2022 and the General Manager of year 2022 from Business World Hotelier as a National winner. Furthermore, he is the third Indian hotelier to be awarded an Honorary Diploma by the Les Clefs d’Or Paris, France.

Through his profound knowledge and dedication to championing the ethos of travel and hospitality, he will be at the helm of day-to-day operations in his new role, ensuring personalized, high-quality service to all guests. 

Speaking at Sanjay Gupta’s appointment, Gaurav Singh, ‎Market Vice President, Marriott International said, “It is with immense pleasure that I welcome Sanjay to his new role at Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center. We are confident that with his passion, commitment & a long gradient of achievements, he will do a fantastic job at serving our guests better and transforming the property in to one of the city’s best hotels.”

Sanjay is a graduate from IHM Kolkata and is an alumni of St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata. He has also completed his Executive Development Program from IIM Ahmedabad and IIT Delhi.

An avid hiker, Sanjay’s idea of unwinding is through cooking and spending quality time with his family and friends.

Crowne Plaza Greater Noida welcomes Kkeyur Sangani as the Crowne Meeting Director

He is a result-oriented and passionate professional with a wealth of experience in enhancing sales, marketing, and revenue streams

Kkeyur Sangani, a seasoned professional with extensive experience and a demonstrated history of working in the hospitality industry has been appointed as the Crowne Meeting Director at Crowne Plaza Greater Noida. He is a result-oriented and passionate professional with a wealth of experience in enhancing sales, marketing, and revenue streams. He has a deep understanding of the market and has worked with renowned brands, his professional portfolio includes JW Marriot, Jin Jiang International Hotel, InterContinental Hotels Group, PVR Cinemas, etc. His last assignment was as a General Manager of Operations at PVR Limited, Mumbai.

Commenting on his appointment, Sharad K Upadhyay, General Manager, Crowne Plaza Greater Noida, said, “Kkeyur brings a wealth of leadership expertise across the areas of sales & marketing, operations, and business development. We are excited to welcome him back to IHG Family and to our Crowne Plaza Greater Noida Team! Kkeyur as Crowne Meetings Director will be leading the function which acts as the one point of contact for the Meetings and Events requirement of our guests.  

Kkeyur holds an MBA in Hotel Management from the Business & Hotel Management School (BHMS), and a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Management from Arun Muchhala College of Hotel Management, Mumbai. In his free time, Kkeyur loves to spend time with his family.

Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach Appoints Pempo Lepcha As New Recreational Manager

Viskhaptanam January 2023: Endowed with nature’s canvas upfront with a pleasant view of the Bay of Bengal, Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach appoints Pempo Lepcha as the Recreational Manager. Prior to this joining, Pempo has served as Happy Hub Manager with Club Mahindra Emerald Palms Goa and Asst Recreation Manager with Westin Sohna Resort & Spa (Marriott International) along with other Luxury hotels such as Allita Hotels Kurseong, Heritage Village Resort and Spa, Manesar, Gurgaon, Country Inn Bhimtal Resort and Country Inn Tree Tops (Corbett National Park). 

With a wealth of knowledge from his 11 years in the hospitality industry, Pempo has acquired skills and knowledge through exposure to a variety of activities and would be the key resource for all recreation activities facilitated at the property. 

On the occasion of his appointment, Ravi Rai, Cluster General Manager of Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, The Bheemili Resort managed by Accor, and Novotel Vijayawada, said,  “We are confident that Pempo's expertise and passion for the industry will be an asset to our team and help us provide an exceptional recreational experience for our guests.”

Pempo will be responsible for managing and coordinating the activities of employees delivering recreation services, scheduling programs, and coordinating events while empowering employees to provide excellent customer service.

The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts appoints Biswajit Chakraborty as The Cluster General Manager of The Leela Kovalam, A Raviz Hotel and The Leela Ashtamudi

Biswajit has over 35 years of experience across major Indian hotel brands like The Oberoi Hotels and Taj Hotels and has also worked for the Accor Hotel Group

The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts has announced the appointment of Biswajit Chakraborty as The Cluster General Manager of The Leela Kovalam, A Raviz Hotel and The Leela Ashtamudi, A Raviz Hotel in “God’s Own Country.”

Biswajit has over 35 years of experience across major Indian hotel brands like The Oberoi Hotels and Taj Hotels and has also worked for the Accor Hotel Group. Having held leadership roles in various capacities including Hotel Operations, Sales and Marketing and Pre-Openings, he brings with him a wealth of experience and astute business acumen. Biswajit was the opening General Manager of The Leela Kempinski Kovalam in 2005 and is returning to Kerala to lead the iconic beach destination hotel The Leela Kovalam A Raviz Hotel and launch the hidden gem of Kerala Backwaters, The Leela Ashtamudi A Raviz Hotel.

Prior to joining The Leela, Biswajit was with Hotelivate as Managing Director, South India. A staunch believer in the brand’s ethos of “Atithi Devo Bhava”, Biswajit is known to be strategic leader with a humane and effective leadership style focused on placing the guest at the centre of everything he does.

Speaking on the occasion Anuraag Bhatnagar, Chief Operating Officer, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts said, “Biswajit’s return to The Leela family is a key milestone as we embark upon our journey to fortify our presence in Kerala. With his in-depth market knowledge and deep seeded relationships, we are confident Biswajit is poised to further enhance and strengthen The Raviz and The Leela partnership to create a synergy that can propel the State to the centre stage of the global tourism network.”

Speaking about the occasion, Asish Nair, Vice President R P Group said. “We are delighted to welcome Mr Chakraborty to the family, with whom we share a very sound personal bonding for a long time, and our Chairman Dr Ravi Pillai was always captivated by Mr Chakraborty’s extensive experience in successfully managing Uber-Luxury Hospitality products through his unique style of management.”

Biswajit holds a master’s degree in commerce from Bangalore University and has to his credit a Diploma in Hospitality General Management from Cornell University, Ithaca, Upstate New York.