THE ST. REGIS CHICAGO ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE TEAM AHEAD OF MAY 2023 OPENING

Industry Veterans Team up to Deliver on Iconic Luxury Brand’s Standards of
Service, Tradition and Excellence at Chicago’s Best Address

CHICAGO – March 2023 - St. Regis Hotels & Resorts announced its executive team of St. Regis Chicago, ahead of the hotel’s May 2023 opening. Designed by world-renowned architect Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang and developed by Magellan Development Corporation, the 101-story St. Regis Chicago is the tallest building in the world designed by a female architect, and will offer guests a waterfront luxury oasis with best-in-class services and amenities. Led by General Manager Oliver Gibbons, the executive leadership team brings together seasoned luxury hospitality experts who will carry through the brand’s visionary spirit, avant-garde style, and bespoke service.  

“Building a dynamic team to exceed on the brand’s rich legacy of service and uncompromising commitment to excellence was crucial to introducing the iconic St. Regis brand to Chicago,” said Oliver Gibbons, General Manager at St. Regis Chicago. “We have curated a team of highly accomplished, passionate, and gracious leaders, with impressive luxury hospitality experience, and we look forward to introducing guests to Chicago’s premier destination, offering five-star accommodations, ultra-luxury living, elevated dining, and restorative wellness experiences.”

The St. Regis Chicago Executive Team Includes:
Oliver Gibbons, General Manager at The St. Regis Chicago Hotel and Residences

Gibbons will lead The St. Regis Chicago team and oversee the day-to-day operations of the property, which includes a 192-room hotel, 393 ultra-luxury residences; two restaurants in partnership with Chef’s Evan Funke and Hisanobu Osaka; a holistic wellness, spa, and fitness center; and more than 10,000 square feet of dynamic meeting and event space. Gibbons has played a vital role in leading the team through the completion of the hotel’s development over the last two years.

With extensive knowledge and more than two decades working in the international luxury hospitality industry, Gibbons has held leadership positions at esteemed properties, including the Forbes Five-Star recognized L’Ermitage Beverly Hills and Waldorf Astoria Chicago, which followed over a decade’s tenure with Accor luxury hotels and resorts in Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the United States.

Frederick J. Pérez, General Manager at The Residences at the St. Regis Chicago

As the General Manager of The Residences at the St. Regis Chicago, Pérez will oversee day-to-day operations of The Residences and ensure resident satisfaction at the 393-unit ultra-luxury property. Beginning his career with Marriott in 2000, Pérez has worked in a variety of hotel roles over the last two decades, most recently as Director of Operations at The Ritz-Carlton Club & Residences, Vail, and as Director of Residences at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Mexico City.

Yago del Rincon

Director of Operations at The St. Regis Chicago

With more than two decades of luxury hotel leadership experience across seven Ritz-Carlton hotels (including Hotel Arts Barcelona – a Ritz-Carlton Hotel and the Forbes Five-Star Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park) and executing nearly 20 hotel openings, del Rincon joins the team as Director of Operations, with the goal of enhancing operations through his commitment to impeccable service and industry-leading innovation.

Jackie Collens, Director of Sales and Marketing at The St. Regis Chicago

As Director of Sales and Marketing, Collens is responsible for exceeding guestroom and catering sales, revenue, and marketing goals. Collens brings two decades of experience from flagship, luxury hotels throughout New York City. Collens held leadership positions at the famed Waldorf Astoria and Towers as well as The St. Regis New York. Previously, she was the Asset Manager for Ty Warner, owner of Four Seasons Hotel New York. These iconic hotels further validate her invaluable industry experience and deep insight into the luxury marketplace. 

Becker Lara, Director of Engineering at The St. Regis Chicago, Hotel and Residences

Lara will lead the engineering teams and projects for both The St. Regis Chicago Hotel and Residences. Lara has vast experience in the Chicago hotel market, including leading engineering operations for the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, during a successful, major renovation.

Kamil Kowalski

Director of Finance & Accounting at The St. Regis Chicago

As Director of Finance & Accounting, Kowalski will be responsible for guiding all financial operations. Kowalski has served in leadership roles across several Marriott Chicagoland hotels, including Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel and Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel.  

Rita Grant, Director of Human Resources at The St. Regis Chicago Hotel and Residences

Grant will lead human resources efforts for both The St. Regis Chicago Hotel and Residences including building, acquiring, and retaining top talent across all divisions and levels. Grant has held a number of human resources roles, most recently at the JW Marriott Minneapolis Mall of America, where she was a member of the 2015 opening team and contributed to the property winning many accolades.

 Megan Candioto, Director of Revenue Management at The St. Regis Chicago

Candioto brings nearly two decades of experience working with international hotel brands and will be responsible for hotel’s top line revenue strategy. She has held positions at the Forbes Five-Star Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lake; Four Seasons Resort Nevis; Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel; Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara; and most recently with Park Hyatt Chicago, relaunching the property after an extensive renovation.

Supporting the executive leadership team are Director of Wellness, Kerri Stokes, and Executive Butler, Rafael De Valdes. Stokes joins the team with more than a decade of luxury wellness and spa experience, including the Spa & Health Club at Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Chicago, and The Spa at the Peninsula Chicago, and will oversee all spa, wellness and fitness operations. As Executive Butler, De Valdes will oversee the St. Regis Butler Service team, a personalized, signature offering that ensures each guest’s individual preferences are understood and anticipated at every turn. De Valdes previously held the role of Director of Guest Services at Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, where he managed a team of 25 Butlers.

Chandan Sharma is the New Director of Sales of JW Marriott Kolkata – Marriott International

With over 10 years of luxury hospitality sales experience in Gurgaon and Bengaluru, a passionate individual, Mr. Chandan Sharma has been appointed as the Director of Sales at JW Marriott Kolkata. 

In this current role, this result-driven professional is in charge of planning and implementing the hotel’s sales strategy, maximizing revenues, exploring new business opportunities, setting the annual budget, and putting together strategies amongst other duties. He establishes effective sales strategies in all market sectors to increase hotel earnings, developing sales strategies based on research of consumer buying trends and market conditions and selling luxury experiences to the guests.

Chandan hails from Delhi and pursued his Bachelor of Arts: in Hotel, Motel, And Restaurant Management from RIG Institute of Hospitality & Management, Greater Noida. Bringing on board a wealth of experience in the hospitality and sales domain, Chandan has previously worked with leading luxury brands including  The Oberoi Gurgaon, The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore, Pullman Gurgaon (now Le Meridien Gurgaon) Marriott Gurgaon & Prrathaa Weddings, Bengaluru (Luxury Wedding Planning company), where he focused on handling Sales and Marketing, operations, revenue management, recruitment and training. He possesses excellent market connections and has a solid business acumen.

Known for a track record of success in directing sales teams and creating results for the sales division, his peers also regard him as the paradigm of a leader who sets the example and motivates his team to thrive in the face of adversity.

He enjoy playing table tennis & cricket and loves to travel.

Sharad Singh elevated to Director of Operations at the Westin Goa

Sharad Singh, who joined the Westin Goa as the Director of Food and Beverage, has been promoted to Director of Operations. Sharad will continue to lead day-to-day Hotel operations and relationship management in his new position. Additionally, he would also focus on business requirements and processes.

Sharad Singh brings his extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in this filed with 17 years of extensive experience in operations, strategy planning, marketing and promotions, customer relationship management, and spotting hotel trends, Sharad will in his new appointment oversees all aspects of the hotel’s planning and service.

In addition to training with technical knowledge and customer handling which he believes it’s a paramount priority in today’s times, Sharad will also be primarily responsible of the smooth hotel operations across all verticals. Over the years, he has also become an expert in formulating standard operating procedures that keep the department functioning.

His core competencies lie in strategy planning, policies and procedure formulation, restaurant management, vendor and team management, budgeting, sales and marketing, advertising and promotion planning, and public relations to name a few. 

In his previous roles, Sharad was associated with reputed brands like Sheraton Grand, St. Regis in Mumbai, and various Marriott Hotels in USA, Pune, Jaipur, and Mumbai.

During his time, he received numerous awards and recognition, the most recent was the prestigious Marriott International Award for ‘Best Food and Beverage Operations’ in APEC. 

Fortune Hotels appoints a new layer of General Managers to drive growth and guest experiences

These four experienced professionals will take forward the brand's commitment to exceptional guest experiences across the country

New Delhi, March 2023: Fortune Hotels, a member of ITC’s hotel group is pleased to announce a future-forward, strategic decision of appointing four highly experienced professionals as growth leaders. These able leaders while owning specific areas of operation are expected to make a significant contribution to the brand's strategic goals. Fortune Hotels has created these positions to drive efficiencies within the chain and to further strengthen the brand’s commitment to providing exceptional guest experiences across the country.

Commenting on the appointments, Samir MC, Managing Director of Fortune Hotels, said, “With our growth in sight, these four leaders have been chosen to consolidate our proven service offerings and value add to our legacy by preparing for the future. Each of our General Managers in their new roles including Ajay, Kunal, Saravanan, and Ricardo has had a solid performance track record. In the competitive business of hospitality, we look forward to their collective expertise propelling the Fortune Hotels brand positioning.”

The General Managers in their new roles are tasked with driving brand operations, improving the guest experience, and managing stakeholders to deliver consistent growth for regional hotels while focusing on the bottom-line results. Their previous experience of working with successful hospitality brands, multi-property management, and brand strategy, make them important growth drivers. 

Fortune Hotels has been on an aggressive path to expand its reach in tier-2 and tier-3 cities with its upscale to mid-market service offering for business as well as leisure travellers. The hotel chain has closely studied the growth and development of non-metros and spotted opportunities for the future. 

A brief introduction to the General Managers: 

Ajay J Sharma, Area Manager for North region: An experienced hospitality professional with over 30 years of experience who will be leading the North cluster of hotels. Ajay has previously held leadership roles in renowned hospitality brands like Oberoi Hotel, IHG, and Starwood, and is known for his dedication to exceptional service and guest satisfaction.

Kunal Banerjee, Cluster General Manager for East region: A seasoned hospitality professional with over 20 years of experience in successfully launching several hotels across India. After joining Fortune Park Hotels Limited in 2013 as General Manager, he will now lead the East cluster. Kunal has previously worked with luxury and upscale brands like K Raheja Hospitality Mumbai, Holiday Inn Singapore, ITC Sonar Kolkata, Hotel HHI, and Kolkata Fern Hotels.

Saravanan Dhanabalu, Area Manager for South region: With 28 years in hospitality, Saravanan is a highly skilled and experienced hotelier, with a global education and leadership roles in prominent hospitality brands. He has a keen eye for identifying growth opportunities. In his new role, he will be responsible for brand operations and administration of units in the south region.

Ricardo D’Lima, Cluster General Manager for Goa & West Coast region: A talented hospitality management professional with over 22 years dedicated to pre-openings, F&B operations, revenue management, guest relations and overall quality assurance. He has been with Fortune Park Hotels for eight years, and he was recently promoted to Cluster General Manager for Goa and West Coast. 

Hyatt Regency Chennai is pleased to announce the appointment of Saurav Datta as the new Director of Sales & Marketing

Chennai, March 2023 – Hyatt Regency Chennai is pleased to announce the appointment of Saurav Datta as the new Director of Sales & Marketing. In his new role, he will lead the business retention and expansion efforts of the Sales and Marketing team in order to drive revenue growth and will also play a key role in catalyzing the branding and communications efforts of the hotel. 

In addition, his past experience with conventions & MICE along with F&B operations allows him a deeper & holistic understanding of the operational aspects of the hotel industry. Datta will lead the hotel's business development goals to greater heights through strategic leadership.  

In his nearly 19 years of experience in the hospitality industry, he began his career with Grand Hyatt Mumbai's pre-opening team. His career path then led him to Novotel Hyderabad Convention & Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Le Meridian  Hyderabad, and Le Meridian Nagpur which was his last assignment. 

He completed his MBA in Sales and Marketing and a degree in Hotel Management to round out his academic career. In his spare time, he enjoys going on long drives and spending time with family and friends.

Hyatt Regency Dehradun Appoints Sumit Kumar as the General Manager

Dehradun, March 2023: Hyatt Regency Dehradun announced the appointment of Mr. Sumit Kumar as General Manager. An experienced professional, Sumit brings with him over 20 years of extensive hospitality experience.

After successfully holding a degree in the field of Hotel Management from Mangalore University, he started his professional journey with The Oberoi Hotels. By being an integral part of the pre-opening team at Hotel Amarvillas, Agra as well as Trident Jaipur, he has added many feathers to his cap in the world of hospitality. Furthermore, Sumit has pioneered his success by playing a pivotal role in the opening of The Chedi Muscat.

Having worked in different capacities, he has been a strong pillar and a key resource for Hyatt Hotels since his first stint in 2003. Initially, Sumit began his association as a valuable part of the Hyatt family, when he joined Grand Hyatt Dubai. During his career span, he has independently handled multiple signature restaurants at Grand Hyatt Dubai and Grand Hyatt Muscat. Owing to his seasoned industry knowledge, Sumit was appointed as Director of Food & Beverage at The Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa. He has successfully launched the brand Hyatt Place in India with the pre-opening of Hyatt Place Hampi and Hyatt Place Gurgaon as General Manager.

During his last stint as the General Manager at Hyatt Pune he has had a remarkable journey and achieved many milestones. The team at Hyatt Regency Dehradun now welcomes him aboard for yet another successful run in the heart of the hills.

The Ambassador Mumbai welcomes Chef Sandeep Chowdhary as the new Executive Sous Chef

Mumbai, March 2023: India’s celebrated iconic hotel from the imperial times, The Ambassador, Mumbai has recently announced the appointment of Chef Sandeep Chowdhary as its new Executive Sous Chef. The hotel has been popular for its culinary fanfare over the past decades in-line with its bespoke, luxurious hospitality in the most popular locality of the maximum city.  

Chef Sandeep will overlook on further continuing the exemplary gastronomic history of the hotel while catering to contemporary guests with his years of expertise. Equipped with an experience of over 15 years in the culinary sphere, Chef Sandeep excels in preparing the choicest regional recipes from across the globe as desired by the guests. With great insights about the importance of seasonal and regional ingredients and the recipes, Chef Sandeep’s menu designing skills are indisputable.

Chef Sandeep previously worked with Mumbai’s popular hotels including The Orchid Hotel, Mumbai; Sun n Sand, Mumbai and The Resort, Mumbai. In his new role at The Ambassador, Mumbai, Chef Sandeep will ensure the smooth functioning of the kitchens of Flavours Café – an all-day coffee shop and The Society – the fine-dine multi-cuisine restaurant. He will also curate contemporary recipes and innovate experiential food concepts to suit the diverse guest palate.

Elated with the appointment, Chef Sandeep Chowdhary, said, “It’s an honour to serve the guests at The Ambassador Mumbai. One of the oldest hotels in the city, The Ambassador Mumbai has been catering to generations of new and revisiting patrons. It’s truly a pleasure to have gotten the chance to be able to present my culinary skills at the hotel while being able to learn better from the diverse and large chef team here.”

Manvendra Rashk, General Manager of The Ambassador, Mumbai, said, “Chef Sandeep is an asset to The Ambassador, Mumbai. His in-depth knowledge of global remote locations and their recipes is truly inspirational. His passion to serve the guests the best sensorial experience through his culinary creations says all of how the gastronomic fanfare of the hotel will elevate further. We welcome Chef Sandeep into The Ambassador Mumbai family.”

Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach and The Bheemili Resort managed by Accor Welcome Sunal Thakur as the New Executive Chef

Visakhapatnam, March 2023: Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach and The Bheemili Resort managed by Accor is pleased to announce the appointment of Sunal Thakur as their New Executive Chef. With over 24 years of experience in revenue generation, client relationship management, liaison and coordination, inventory management, financial management, and team management, Sunal Thakur brings a wealth of knowledge to the hotel's culinary team.

In his new role, Thakur will be responsible for creating innovative menus for various outlets and events, managing kitchen staff, and ensuring the highest standards of food quality and consistency. As an asset to any hotel or hospitality establishment, he is expected to elevate the culinary offerings of Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach to new heights.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Mr. Ravi Rai, Cluster General Manager of Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, Novotel Vijayawada Varun, and The Bheemili Resort managed by Accor said,

"We are delighted to welcome our new Executive Chef, Sunal Thakur, to our team. With his exceptional expertise in managing kitchen operations, we are confident that he will elevate our culinary offerings and enhance guest satisfaction. His proven track record of upholding the highest standards of food quality and safety makes him a valuable addition to our team. We look forward to his contribution in maintaining our reputation as a leading hospitality destination."

Sunal Thakur previously has worked in renowned properties such as previously The Radisson Hotel,  Vivanta By Taj where he opened “TADO”  the pastry shop, and Movenpick Hotel to name a few and has catered for numerous high-profile events, including the British Tobacco Company, Indian President Ms. Pratibha Patil, etc. His ability to deliver exceptional services to a diverse range of clients is a testament to his expertise and professionalism in the culinary industry. Moreover, his selection as an external examiner at the IHM, Gwalior, by the Tourism Department Govt. of India, and his service as a judge for various culinary and chef competitions reflect his outstanding credibility and expertise.

DoubleTree Hilton Goa - Panaji Appoints Nilesh Naik as their New Associate Director of Sales

DoubleTree by Hilton Goa-Panaji is excited to welcome Nilesh Naik as their new Associate Director of Sales. Nilesh brings over 8+ years of experience in the hospitality industry, having previously worked in various sales and marketing roles in prominent hotels across India. He has exhibited great expertise as well as a passion for establishing and retaining long-term relationships with customers.

As the Associate Director of Sales, Nilesh will play a key role in driving our hotel's sales and marketing initiatives. His responsibilities include identifying new business opportunities, developing strategic partnerships, and managing our existing client base. Nilesh will also be working closely with our operations team to ensure that our guests receive the highest level of service and satisfaction during their stay.

We are confident that Mr. Naik's skills and experience will make him a valuable asset to our team here at DoubleTree Hilton Goa - Panaji.

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.