The Ummed Jodhpur Palace Resort and Spa appointed Amit Soni as New General Manager

Renowned as the ‘force to reckon with’ among the industry peers, Mr. Amit Soni, the recently appointed General Manager of The Ummed Jodhpur Palace Resort and Spa, is known for being a meticulous planner, strategist, and hospitality visionary who believes in teamwork being the ultimate precursor to organizational success. 

The hospitality virtuoso with more than twenty years of experience is known for being associated with and experiencing the changing scape of hospitality in the country since the 2000s till date. His association with The Ummed Jodhpur has him actively involved and responsible for a gamut of strategic and dynamic initiatives for the hotel that includes spearheading business development, operations, and administration with his core strength lying in resort operations and sales and marketing.

Amit started his career as Catering Assistant with The Imperial New Delhi in 2000 and worked his way up through grit and determination, to become the Assistant Food and Beverage Manager with Shiv Vilas, Jaipur in 2011. In between, he was associated with renowned brands such as ITC Maurya, ITC Maratha, Radisson MBD, and ITC Mughal.  His mettle shone in his decisive demeanor and situation handling as he came to be the Food and Beverage Manager of ITC Fortune Park Hotels in 2015.  His last assignment before his current position was as the F&B Manager of Indiana Palace Jodhpur in 2017. Through the years, the industry veteran has developed his skills in pertinence to integrated and leisure marketing and has worked vehemently to keep himself updated with the latest developments of the industry.

A through-and-through gentleman, with his foundation, steered deep in his hotelier background, Amit has always believed that it is only through sheer determination and continued hard work that one can reach the zenith of organizational success.

Chef Sankha Dasmahapatra appointed as the Executive Chef at Courtyard by Marriott Shillong.

With over a decade of culinary experience, Chef Sankha Dasmahapatra is an experienced Executive Sous Chef with a demonstrated history of working in the Hospitality Industry and has been appointed as the Executive Chef at Courtyard by Marriott Shillong.

With a passion for cooking, Chef Sankha Dasmahapatra has earned his bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management from Annamalai University. He has an incredible line of work with leading hospitality chains like JW Marriott Kolkata, JW Marriott Chandigarh, JW Marriott Mussoorie, Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa, Goa, Hyatt Regency Delhi and Hyatt Regency Kolkata to name a few. His last assignment was with Raffles Udaipur as an Executive Sous Chef.

Chef Sankha’s extensive knowledge of all facets of hotel operations, remarkable leadership capabilities, strong record in refining banquet operations and restaurant management while maintaining the highest quality standards have all contributed to his exponential success

During his career, he has added several honors to his merit, “Legend of the month”- Month of April -2019 (JW Marriott Kolkata), 2019- Times Food Guide Awards (JW Kitchen), Awarded with the prestigious award Best “Hyatt Culinary Employee” in India, Month of November – 2013 by The Executive Chef Marin Leuthard (Hyatt Regency Delhi). Chef Sankha’s culinary expertise ranges from Thai, Indian to Italian cuisines.

Chef Sankha is an avid traveller who also enjoys music in his spare time.

Abhishek Mukherjee has been appointed as Director of Sales at Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata

With an illustrious career spanning over 13 years, Abhishek Mukherjee brings with him vast knowledge and understanding of hospitality sales and marketing. He has been appointed as Director of Sales at Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata.

As the director of sales, he will be in charge of overseeing and guiding the hotel's sales team in engaging with other teams to implement successful strategies and identify opportunities for growth.

This goal-oriented and conscientious individual has a proven ability to create a collaborative work environment with the help of training, mentoring, and the practice of empathy. Abhishek has enjoyed exponential career growth with top-tier hospitality brands since completing his graduation with Bachelors's in Hospitality and Hotel Administration from IHM Kolkata. He started his career by working with The Paul, Bangalore as Front Office Associate and his past roles included working in hotels likeThe Leela Palace, Bangalore; Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, Bangalore; Hyatt Regency Kolkata to name a few.

His strength is his ability to understand the links between sales and profit with excellent sales and negotiation skills. His extensive expertise in various roles across Sales – driving loyalty programs, driving cluster sales and business development would contribute to his new role to oversee and head all operations across various specialties of Sales. 

He is an avid traveler who enjoys discovering new places and riding his motorcycle.

Hotel Sayaji Pune appoints Nisha Singh Chauhan as the new Human Resources Manager

Pune, March, 2023: Ms. Nisha Singh Chauhan is currently appointed as Human Resources Manager at Sayaji Pune. She looks into employee development workforce management, reviews and implements new HR policies. Chauhan’s last stint was with Sayaji Raipur.

A Bachelor of Arts graduate, she completed her MBA, Specialization in Human Resource Management from Sikkim Manipal University, Raipur. Nisha Chauhan started her career in the hospitality industry as a Human Resources Executive at Hotel Babylon Inn, Raipur and since then has worked with several properties in HR role. “I believe that my strong communication and grooming skills along with creative thinking will enable me to achieve the hotel’s mission and key interests. I look forward to forming fruitful connections and at the same time bring about the transformation needed”, says Nisha Singh Chauhan, HR Manager.

Chauhan’s passion for her role is unmatched and she loves combining elements of fun and creativity in her daily assignments. She will be helming the full spectrum of HR and talent development in the new role and will play a key role in ensuring a strong motivated team to achieve set goals. She believes that great guest experience is immensely connected in great associate experiences, where associates are proud and energized which is reflected in their work and guest experience. She looks forward to creating an engaging, fruitful learning experience and also create environment where all associates embrace the link between purpose and performance.

Sayaji Pune is elated to have Nisha Singh Chauhan as their new Human Resources Manager.

THE ST. REGIS GOA RESORTS MAKES NEW APPOINTMENTS IN THE MARKETING TEAM

The St. Regis Goa Resort appointed Ms. Gargi Guha as Director of Marketing and Communications

Mumbai, March 2023: Situated on the banks of the pristine Mobor beach, The St. Regis Goa Resort is a tranquil paradise for luxury travelers from across the globe. Nestled in the lush greenery along the banks of the river Sal, the hotel offers a soothing and relaxing environment for guests to unwind and relax. With an aim to elevate The St. Regis experience and provide unrivaled luxury experiences to the guests, the hotel has undertaken appointments in both the traditional and digital teams.

At the helm of marketing, the hotel has appointed, Ms. Gargi Guha as Director of Marketing and Communications at The St. Regis Goa Resort.

An experienced professional with over two decades of cumulative experience in sales and marketing, Gargi Guha joins The St. Regis Goa Resort, essentially for her immersive luxury experience. A seasoned communications specialist, Gargi has been a part of the pre-opening teams Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru and Park Hyatt Chennai. Previously, she has also worked with Marriott International under the Ritz Carlton brand in Bangalore. In her current role, Gargi will be largely responsible for positioning and leveraging the brand’s legacy in delivering its messaging as a luxury brand offering exceptional services and experiences.

In her free time, Gargi writes articles for several publications on her areas of interest which include Italian wine, food, and travel. She is certified in WSET Level 2 and has an MBA from the University of Wales.

Supporting Gargi in furthering The St. Regis legacy will be, Ms. Sandhya Sharma as Associate Director of Marketing at The St. Regis Goa Resort.

An ace Certified Hospitality Digital Marketer (CHDM), Sandhya is a marketer with a strong leaning towards digital marketing with her past stint as Digital Client Services Manager of the Marriot Digital Service. She has a keen interest in digital disciplines including SEO, Paid Media, and Social Media, and has had a track record of steering customers toward booking on direct online channels.

She has rich experience working closely with hotels in the Marriott and Hilton brand portfolio in the APEC and North American markets, mostly from the vantage point of being an agency champion. Before joining The St. Regis Goa Resort, Sandhya was in a Corporate Marketing role managing Kaldan Samudhra Luxury Palace Hotel, Chennai, and other Accord brands.

Armed with an Engineering and MBA degree from Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies, Sandhya enjoys travel, poetry writing, and blogging in her spare time.

In a bid to taking the digital footprint further, Mr. Bijo Thomas has been appointed as the Digital Marketing Manager at The St. Regis Goa Resort.

He has been a key player in the resort’s branding since October 2022 and handling all aspects of marketing for the hotel. Proficient in web-based solutions, OTA management, performance marketing, etc, he enjoys handling social media the most, often getting involved in the end-to-end content creation process from ideation to execution stages, scripting, directing, and also shooting videos. His expertise spans across mediums and he is adept at crafting marketing collaterals on most platforms.

Before joining The St. Regis Goa Resort, Bijo has had experiences handling marketing functions in several global brands like Hilton, Hyatt and other brands of Marriott International.

A musician at heart, Bijo is a songwriter and vocalist who can be found toggling between different instruments when not crafting content for the next campaign. Bijo has a Master’s in Media & Communication from Christ University in Bangalore.

Sayaji Pune appoints Chef Yashwant Sopne as their new Executive Chef

Pune, March 2023: Sayaji Pune is pleased to announce the appointment of Chef Yashwant Sopne as the new Executive Chef. Having started his journey as a Commi 3 chef in restaurants, he got his first entry into star properties with Ginger Hotel as a Commi 1 chef. He has come a long way since then. With his vast experience, Chef Yashwant has developed a strong repertoire to deliver a memorable experience to his diners.

With a penchant for cooking, Chef Yashwant uses the kitchen as his blank canvas to paint it wild with his unstoppable passion and innovative flavors that will linger on in your memory.

With almost 23 years of experience, Chef Yashwant has gained great exposure in the culinary field. Prior to joining Sayaji Pune, Chef Yashwant has been associated with several renowned hospitality brands such as Intercontinental hotel group, (IHG) Hilton Worldwide, Accor Hotels, Marriott International, The Orchid Hotel (Asia's first five-star Ecotel Hotel), Citrus Hotels & Resorts, Taj Group of Hotels to name a few. His last stint was with Ramani Hospitality as their Corporate Executive Chef.

Chef Yashwant has hands-on experience in Indian Cuisine Speciality, Italian, French, and Fusion food. Along with the kitchen, his responsibilities include taking care of guests’ special requests, monitoring hygiene and safety at work, curating special occasion menus, supervising the entire operation of restaurant & banquet events, and overlooking overall culinary operations. Chef Yashwant will also be accountable for maintaining high standards of discipline among his associates and mentoring them.

Commenting on his appointment, Chef Yashwant said, “I am delighted to join the team at Sayaji Pune & I look forward to elevating the dining experience for guests and developing a great rapport with my team”.

An accomplished culinary professional, Chef Yashwant Sopne looks forward to creating magic through innovation and experimentation with dishes to deliver a memorable dining experience for guests. The Sayaji Pune team is stoked to have him on board.

Hyatt Centric MG Road Bangalore appoints Neha Gautam as Assistant Manager – Marketing & Communications

She will be responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of marketing and communication initiatives for the hotel

In her new role, Neha Gautam will be working closely with all departments to assess and support their internal and external communication needs and coordinate with all the media handles. 

Previously Neha served as the Multi-Property Marketing Manager for The Oterra, Otium by The Oterra- Bangalore, Otium by The Oterra- Goa & 46 Ounces. 

She is a graduate in Marketing from Christ Academy Institute for Advanced Studies, Bangalore.

Shibani Malhotra takes over as the General Manager of Four Points by Sheraton Kochi Infopark

Starting as a key member of the pre-opening team with Renaissance Hotel & Convention Centre and Marriott Executive Apartments in Mumbai, Shibani successfully opened the first conversion hotel for Marriott in India in 2006, the Hyderabad Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre.

Prior to this role, she was the Multi-property Director of Finance at Marriott Hyderabad & Convention Centre and Courtyard by Marriott, Hyderabad.

She is also involved with the Society for Cyberabad Security Council in Hyderabad and holds the position of President of WICCI, Telangana Chapter. Shibani is married to Atul, and they are a nuclear family of four, including their son Aryaveer and a canine member, Junior.

Jasmeet Chowdhary is now the General Manager – Sales (Travel Trade) at Lemon Tree Hotels

She will be responsible for increasing awareness about Lemon Tree Hotels and its distinguished brands in the travel trade, in order to increase market share

Jasmeet Chowdhary’s goal is to retain the existing market share while working to cultivate new audiences, through innovative sales strategies.
 
With a career spanning over 20 years, Jasmeet has worked with illustrious brands like The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, The Claridges, The Leela Palaces, Hotels & Resorts and Fairmont Raffles Hotels International. In her previous role, she was responsible for leading the Sales & Marketing as a Vice-President with HRH Group of Hotels, Udaipur.
 
She completed her graduation in Economics from Delhi University, and has recently finished a course in Digital Marketing & Analytics from ISB Hyderabad.

Crowne Plaza New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida has appointed Samir Kumar as the new Director of Finance & Business Support

Samir Kumar brings 14 years of rich experience to the Hospitality Industry. He has been associated with Novotel Imagica Khopoli, Ritz Carlton Bengaluru, Jaypee Hotel Noida, Claridges Hotel, New Delhi & his Last assignment was with Marriott Indore.  He completed his Chartered Accountant from ICAI in 2009 &  BCom (Hons) from Ranchi University in the year 2002.

He will provide financial expertise to enable successful implementation of the brand service strategy and brand initiatives while maximizing the return on investment. 

Jitendra Nakhwa has been appointed as the Executive Chef at InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort

With over 20 years of culinary expertise Jitendra has played an instrumental role in innovating new culinary dishes, spearheading the culinary teams and related operations

Jitendra started his culinary journey with Grand Hyatt Mumbai as Commis Chef and then soon moved to London with Hilton London Gatwick as Commis Chef. Thereafter, he also worked in USA with Master Chef Jose Gutierrez and learn nuances of French fine dining.

In 2007 he decided to come back to India, working with brands like Hyatt in Pune and Hyderabad as Executive Chef. Jitendra is not new to IHG as he was also the Executive Chef at Holiday Inn Cochin in 2017.

His last assignment was with Radisson Blu Dharamshala Resort as the Pre-opening charge of overall Food & Beverage Service & Production.

His forte includes food styling, restaurant food concept creation and menu engineering with a strong focus on improving service while preserving the highest levels of quality.

The Lexicon Group of Institutes appoint Mr. Sagar Chitre as the Principal of Lexicon Institute of Hotel Management

Pune, Mar, 2023: The Lexicon Group of Institutes announces the appointment of Mr. Sagar Chitre as the Principal of the Lexicon Institute of Hotel Management. Mr. Chitre brings with him a rich experience of over 2 decades in the Hospitality Industry. 

A progressive leader and hospitality educator who possesses a strong work ethic and integrity, Mr. Sagar Chitre strives to create value in the field of hospitality education for budding hospitality professionals. With his rich and varied experience in the hospitality Industry gathered through working with eminent hospitality businesses in India and overseas, Mr. Chitre has won many accolades to his credit. Some of his most valuable experiences, during his tenure as an industry professional, have been with reputed global brands such as Marriott International and Sol Melia. 

Mr. Sagar Chitre possesses a Master’s degree in Hospitality & Tourism along with a Postgraduate Education from the United Kingdom and is currently pursuing his PhD. As an academician, Mr. Chitre has worked in various leadership roles, with the most recent being the Principal of a renowned institution. He is also skilled in administration and management, thereby ensuring stringent adherence to policies and standards of excellence in academia.

Mr. Chitre will be taking over the reins of the institute from Mr. Gladwin Rego, who has assumed the responsibility of guiding and mentoring the students by joining the Governing Council of the Lexicon IHM. Speaking about his appointment as the Principal at Lexicon IHM- Mr Sagar Chitre said, “I am thrilled and excited about my new responsibilities as the Principal of Lexicon Institute of Hotel Management. The Lexicon Group is a prestigious organization and has been driving academic excellence by providing budding hoteliers with quality education and enriching learning experiences. It is my pleasure to be a part of this endeavour to nurture young hospitality aspirants, support them in their journey and help them transform into successful hospitality leaders of the future. “

An avid food lover and a passionate biker, in his free time, Mr. Chitre loves to explore new locales, experience the food, savour the culinary delights and discover its beauty through travel. Lexicon IHM continues to grow by setting new benchmarks in the world of hospitality education and is ready to further thrive with Mr. Sagar Chitre taking the helm.

Clarks Safari Pushkar appointed Pankaj Singh Barthwal as General Manager

Barthwal has a vast experience of more than 18 years in the field of hospitality

A graduate from Purvanchal University, Barthwal has an extensive experience in the field of operations, MICE and staff handling. He has successfully run the operation of different resorts in his tenure.

Remodeling projects, flawless execution of events like LIFW, Bridal Asia are one of his many specialties. He has worked in hotels located in Dubai, Goa, Delhi, Pushkar, etc.

He will be responsible for managing Clarks Safari Pushkar, general administration, staff training, planning, grievance handling, increasing revenue, building a trade network, and implementing new technological advancements on the property. 

Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach & The Bheemili Resort managed by Accor appoints Sai Kumar P as their Talent & Culture Manager

He brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge, having worked in the hospitality industry for over 6 years

Sai Kumar will be responsible for overseeing the overall functions of human resources at the Novotel Visakhapatnam, Varun Beach, and The Bheemili Resort.

He will work closely with the cluster general manager and the team to ensure that the hotel attracts and retains the best talent, creates a positive and engaging workplace culture, and provides exceptional guest experiences.

Sai Kumar is a talented HR professional with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) focused in Human Resource Management & Sales and Marketing from Visvesvaraya Technological University.

Tushar Nagar is the new General Manager of Courtyard by Marriott Shillong – Marriott International

Make it stand out

With over 14 years of combined experience across Operations Management, Quality Management, Training and  Development, Client Management, and Team Leadership, Mr. Tushar Nagar has been appointed as General  Manager at Courtyard by Marriott Shillong, the debut property of Marriott International in the North East region of India..

In this present role, Tushar will don an all-encompassing role and will be responsible for the hotel’s overall performance in addition to front-lining all conversations and shaping the hotel as a leading benchmark in the hospitality industry. His expertise lies in defining operating procedures and service standards, as well as optimizing procurements to enhance the output efficiency of the hotel. 

Tushar has climbed the corporate ladder and has held multiple positions at top-tier hospitality brands after acquiring industrial exposure at Le Meridien Jaipur. He has pursued a Diploma in Hotel Management from IHM  Varanasi and B.Com from Jagatpur PG College, Varanasi. He has served various touted brands like The Oberoi  Amarvilas Agra, JW Marriott Chandigarh, Park Hyatt Chennai, Hyatt Regency Ludhiana, The Westin Pune and  Marriott International.  

He enjoys a great track record and excels in varied roles inclusive of operations, health & safety concerns, training  & development, and futuristic planning. He has displayed paramount efforts in setting up & rolling out successful quality management in service environments, overachieving expectations and exceeding all set goals by enduring customer relationships. He has excelled in achieving the delivery of the highest quality of services & performance standards by providing thought leadership on all operational aspects and reviewing performance, systems, and processes to ensure smooth and hassle-free operations. He is a quick learner with strong adaptability to details which makes him keep going and growing. 

People management skills and guest interaction have been his strong suits. 

Tushar is passionate about cricket and music also enjoys long drives.

Karan Singh Nagra appointed as a Marketing & Communications Manager at JW Marriott Kolkata

Karan Singh Nagra, an insightful marketing professional with an experience of 8 plus years in designing and implementing brand, and marketing strategies across retail, media, and the hospitality industry, has been appointed as the Marketing and Communication Manager at JW Marriott Kolkata. 

With an incredible track record in his profession, Karan’s key responsibilities include the creation and supervision of a result-oriented multi-platform communications strategy. The functions of the  communication portfolio encompass guidance on marketing collaterals and materials in line with the  brand direction, leading the planning and execution of the overall initiatives and projects related to the  brand, monitoring the success of various campaigns and its efficacy to managing budgets for this segment  

This proactive professional initiated his career after pursuing a Master of Business Administration with a  specialization in marketing. Prior to this, he has served various renowned brands such as Spencer’s Retail  Pvt Ltd - RPSG Group as Assistant Manager Marketing, 91.9 Friends FM- ABP Group as Head  Marketing & Activations, JW Marriott Hotel Kolkata as Sales & Marketing Manager F&B,  

Karan brings a wealth of experience and is known for his excellent communication & interpersonal skills with an innate ability to interact with clients and teams at all levels. He even bagged the Media  Excellence Award for ‘Excellence in Media Marketing’ by the Indywood Media Excellence Awards,  

His favorite hobbies include reading about advertising and marketing. He also enjoys travelling and music.

Saket Verma is the new Director of Sales and Marketing at JW Marriott, Kolkata

With over 12 years of luxury hospitality sales and marketing experience, a versatile individual, Mr. Saket Verma has been promoted to the position of Director of Sales and Marketing (DOSM) at JW Marriott Kolkata. 

This goal-oriented and conscientious individual is in charge of implementing new sales and marketing activities to accentuate hotel room and event sales.   

Saket, a dynamic professional has enjoyed exponential career growth with top-tier hospitality brands since completing his graduation with Bachelor's in Hotel Management and Hospitality Administration from the Institute of Hotel Management, Goa. He undertook his Industrial Training at The Oberoi, Bengaluru, and his professional training at Intercontinental - The Lalit, New Delhi. He has worked with The Oberoi hotels, Accor hotels, Hilton hotels, and Marriott International.

Saket has a proven track record of leading sales teams to success and generating results for the sales and marketing division. One of his strengths is his ability to connect with his guests. His peers view him as the epitome of a leader who sets an example and inspires his team to succeed despite all obstacles.

In his leisure time he loves traveling and he is fond of singing.

Tushar Sikdar appointed Security Manager at Holiday Inn Jaipur City Centre

In his present role, he will be responsible to lead the team of professionals and maintain a glitch-free experience by planning and implementing security protocols at the property in line with global security standards. Tushar has a proven track record of 15 years of extensive experience in Security detailing and handling VIP security protocols.

Tushar has done BBA from Rajasthan Vidhyapeeth and has worked with hospitality brands The Lalit, Marriott International, and Accor. His last stint was as Safety & Security Manager at Double Tree by Hilton, Gurgaon. Tushar belongs to Ajmer and enjoys playing cricket and listening to music. 

DoubleTree Hilton Goa - Panaji appoints Tapajit Bhattacharjee as their new F&B Manager

Goa, February 2023: DoubleTree Hilton Goa - Panaji is pleased to announce Tapajit Bhattacharjee as the new F&B Manager. In his new role, Tapajit brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise from his yesteryear experiences both in India and abroad. 

Having risen the ranks from being a restaurant server to leading a team, Tapajit has engaged with numerous hospitality brands in his rewarding career. In his last assignment, he was overseeing a heritage property offering bespoke hospitality. Having worked in Goa in the past, he is well aware of the market dynamics of this populace state, which is renowned for its concept restaurants and bars. 

Double Tree by Hilton Goa, Panaji is well poised to offer Tapajit a rewarding career with its diverse restaurants and banquet ensemble

Rohit Anand appointed as the HR Manager at DoubleTree by Hilton Agra

Agra, February, 2022: DoubleTree by Hilton Agra has announced the appointment of Rohit Anand as their new Human Resources Manager.

Rohit is a human resource professional with over seven years of experience, having worked with hotels including Four Points by Sheraton Bangalore, Jaisalmer Marriott Resort & Spa, Le Meridian Mahabaleshwar Resort & Spa amongst others.  As a human resource expert, Rohit is a conscientious and compassionate human resources professional with drive for helping employers recruit, develop and retain qualified candidates. 

Rohit brings with him a wealth of knowledge in terms of compliances, associate engagements, management skills, and passion with a positive mindset, excellent interpersonal, coaching and communication skills. 

Armed with a Master of Business Administration in HR & Operations, Rohit is ready to take on any challenge that comes his way. He has also received several accolades and awards throughout her career. Rohit aims at making an effective change in the operational functions of the Human Resources department at the hotel through process oriented and driven strategies to be put in place.