Alma’s Herbert Laubichler-Pichler named Vietnam’s Best General Manager

A hospitality veteran with life-long experience making guests feel welcome at hotels and resorts in Asia and Europe has been recognized as “Vietnam’s Best General Manager” in the prestigious “Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2024”.

Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Macau readers deemed Herbert Laubichler-Pichler, who has been at the helm of 30-hectare resort Alma for five years and worked and lived in Vietnam since 2008, the country’s best general manager. He received the accolade last night at an awards ceremony in Bangkok.

“Austria-born Herbert Laubichler-Pichler is the hospitality life-timer at the helm of Cam Ranh’s Alma―a 384-suite resort with 14 food and drink outlets and 12 beachfront swimming pools. Having worked across Vietnam’s best hotels for nearly 18 years, the industry veteran brings together leadership, vast experience, and local cultural familiarity to showcase Vietnamese hospitality at its finest,” Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Macau’s website states.

Laubichler-Pichler, who, in addition to Alma, has managed some of the country’s most acclaimed hotels including the Nam Hai in Danang, The Reverie Saigon and The Anam Cam Ranh, said he was thrilled to receive the recognition but wanted to share it with the resort’s “hugely supportive” owner and “exceptional” team at Alma.

“I am so thankful for the privilege to work with such a genuinely supportive owner and talented team of hospitality professionals at Alma, who tirelessly work day in and day out; our staff members are our greatest ambassadors and obviously play a crucial role in the guest experience,” he said

Born into a hotelier family, Laubichler-Pichler started out in the industry working at his parents’ guesthouse in his native Austria as a bellboy at 10 years of age during the summer season. He later studied hotel management at the Hotel and Catering College Schloss Klessheim and became a certified chef before steadily rising through the ranks to become the general manager at properties in Austria, Germany and Cyprus. He also studied an Executive MBA in Hotel and Tourism Management with Chur University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland.

Readers of Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Macau also voted Alma in the top five of the “Best Hotel Pools in Vietnam” category.

Alma is home to an awe-inspiring host of world-class facilities including 12 swimming pools that cascade down to the beach, an eclectic range of restaurants helmed by leading chefs, a science museum and a 6000sqm water park with a lazy river, wave pool and water slides.

Travel + Leisure Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Macau said of the awards: “Taking in the hospitality industry in 15 countries and territories as well as the travel industry more broadly across Asia-Pacific, the Travel+Leisure Luxury Awards winners for 2024 reflect the ballots of you hotel guests, frequent fliers, cruise-lovers, points guys, and wellness junkies, and highlight the places and people that make for the best high-end wanderlust. With so many tried, trusted and true hotels getting your votes, and well as the slew of new openings in the region and ideas in luxury hospitality percolating out there, we’ve put together a special print edition: The Hotels Issue 2024.”

Budget Reaction Quote from Mr. Srikant Peri, General Manager, Dharana at Shillim

As the General Manager of Dharana at Shillim, I'm thrilled by the government's proactive measures to bolster the tourism sector, particularly the initiative to offer long-term interest-free loans for the promotion of iconic tourist centers. This progressive approach underscores a commitment to showcasing India's rich cultural and natural heritage on a global stage.

Furthermore, the government's emphasis on integrating green energy initiatives within the tourism industry is a significant stride towards sustainability. At Dharana, we believe in embracing this initiative, aligning with our ethos of environmental stewardship. By harnessing renewable energy sources and implementing eco-friendly practices, we aim to minimise our environmental footprint while offering guests transformative wellness experiences amidst nature. 

This concerted effort signifies a progressive shift towards sustainable tourism, where economic growth harmonises with environmental conservation. Together, let's embark on a journey towards a greener, more resilient tourism industry—one that not only enriches the lives of travellers but also safeguards the beauty of our planet for generations to come.

Waibhav Rawat has been appointed as General Manager at Renest River Country Resort Manali

Waibhav Rawat joins Renest Hotels & Resorts at Manali as the General Manager. He brings with him over a decade of experience. In his role at Renest Manali, he will spearhead property operations and implement growth strategies to achieve and sustain leadership in the market. His responsibilities include but are not limited to all phases of the hotel, including sales and marketing, human resources, food and beverage, budgeting/forecasting, empowering associates to provide superior customer care to the guests, communication, and problem-solving amongst others. Waibhav has experience working with renowned brands like Lemon Tree and Fortune Hotels.

Renest Hotels & Resorts is a unique collection of boutique hotels and resorts that offer experiential stays amidst nature, in picturesque locations across India. With hotels and resorts in key locations of temple towns Shirdi, Tirupati and now Haridwar, popular hill station Manali and business hubs Jaipur and Gandhidham, Renest strives to deliver memorable holiday experiences to all travellers.

Renest River Country Resort, Manali: Located off the bustling Mall Road, this 58-room resort overlooks the river Beas amidst pine and cedar and the majestic Himalayas. The hotel focuses on overall wellness, a theme which remains constant through the food, outlay and peace of the hotel. One can also unwind at its onsite spa, sweat it out at the 24 hours gym, sauna, steam,, relax at the spa or enjoy a game of pool, carrom or table tennis games room, while kids unleash their energy at the kids play area.

Appointments | IHG Hotels and Resorts has appointed Pankaj Gupta as the General Manager of Crowne Plaza New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida.

IHG Hotels and Resorts has appointed Pankaj Gupta as the General Manager of Crowne Plaza New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida.  

Mr Gupta is a self-motivated hotel operation professional with excellent interpersonal skills and a consistent track record. An industry veteran with over 20 years in the hospitality industry, Mr. Gupta brings with him holistic experience including strategic leadership, guest experience, and expertise in revenue analysis, yield management, and sales & marketing. He started his career as a Front Office Associate and since then there is no looking back, he has held various positions and as a General Manager with leading hotels chains: Accor Hotels, Marriott International, and IHG.

His achievements include opening a brand new hotel from the ground up and set up the entire operations, winning the Hotel Leader in South West Asia region in 2018, and many more. He has moved to this role from Holiday Inn Jaipur, spearheading the biggest property in the city center with enormous options for dining and banqueting and he was also responsible for the associates’ elicit performance, culminating fine guest experience and achieving the vision of the hotel.

Taking charge at Crowne Plaza Mayur Vihar, Pankaj Gupta, General Manager said, “I am very excited to embark on this new journey with Crowne Plaza Mayur Vihar. I look forward to creating elevated experiences for our guests and taking the Hotel to the next level of success, hand in hand, with this excellent team”.

As a general manager, he has a diverse leadership team where one style cannot suit all. To make things effective, he usually has a mix of styles which include transformational and coaching. He always keep in mind that one can bring the best out of people when you believe in them and value their past experiences and learning. There might be times when one may come across difficult conversations, at such a situation, his primary objective is to empathize with individuals, understand their viewpoint, analyse and then he comes to conclusions. “He firmly believes leadership is not a position or a title, it is action by setting examples”.

Appointment | Rajesh Kumar - La-Paz Gardens Beacon, Vasco da Gama, Goa as General Manager

Rajesh Kumar - La-Paz Gardens Beacon, Vasco da Gama, Goa

Rajesh Kumar has joined as the General Manager at La-Paz Gardens Beacon, Vasco da Gama, Goa.

He has completed his Diploma from IHM Madras (Diploma in hotel Management), and has done his MBA from the University of Pondicherry.

Rajesh has over 22 years of work experience and has worked in Grand Palace Hotel & Spa – Tamil Nadu, Arcot Woodlands Hotel – Tamil Nadu, Woods at Sasan Resort – Gujarat.

His last employment was with La Villa Shanti – Pondicherry. 

Appointments | Hilton Garden Inn Lucknow appoints Rahul Korgaokar as their General Manager

Prior to joining Hilton, he was the General Manager of Aurika Hotels & Resorts, the luxury brand of Lemon Tree Hotels

Rahul Korgaokar, who has taken over as the General Manager, Hilton Garden Inn Lucknow brings with him over 18 years of rounded experience in the hospitality industry.

Prior to joining Hilton, he was the General Manager of Aurika Hotels & Resorts, the luxury brand of Lemon Tree Hotels.

Earlier Rahul has worked with Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International. He has also done an entrepreneurial stint, running a chain of bars and restaurants in Bangalore.

Rahul is an alumnus of the Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad (Taj Group), and the Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development. Having climbed the ladder through the F&B route, Rahul has been a part of a number of pre-opening projects for both hotels & restaurants, including in his most recent role with Aurika.

Rahul is married and both he and his wife are extremely fond of dogs, and they have 2 of their own. Other than that, Rahul is an avid reader, traveler, and a self-proclaimed gourmand. He balances his love for food with his affinity for fitness. Rahul has mastered a number of languages which include French and German, in addition to Hindi, Marathi, and English.

Appointment | Rahul Korgaokar appointed as General Manager,Hilton Garden Inn

Hilton Garden Inn, Lucknow, has appointed Rahul Korgaokar as General Manager. With 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Korgaokar has worked with Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International. He has also done an entrepreneurial stint, running a chain of bars and restaurants in Bangalore.

An alumnus of the Institute of Hotel Management, Aurangabad (Taj Group) and the Oberoi Centre of Learning and Development, he served as the General Manager of Aurika Hotels & Resorts, the luxury brand of Lemon Tree Hotels, before joining Hilton. Having climbed the ladder through the F&B route, Korgaokar has been a part of a number of pre-opening projects for both hotels and restaurants.

Appointment | Balagi Singh appointed as General Manager, ibis Jaipur Civil Lines

Balagi started with Accor as Asst Manager Housekeeping at Novotel Hyderabad Airport and his last role was of the Hotel Manager of Novotel Chennai Sipcot

ibis - a smart economy brand from the Accor stable announced the appointment of Balagi Singh as General Manager of ibis Jaipur Civil Lines. In his new role, Balagi will head the hotel’s overall management and operations. His appointment reflects on ibis’ belief in strong leadership and recognising each person’s value, enabling the group to grow and innovate in the service of its customers.

Commenting on Balagi Singh’s appointment, Sylvain Laroche, Director of Operations, ibis & ibis Styles, India said, “It gives me immense pride in announcing the appointment of Balagi Singh as the General Manager of ibis Jaipur Civil Lines. In his association with Accor for more than 13 years, Balagi has demonstrated immense leadership skills and creative thinking for the hotel group. I am certain he will bring the same commitment with his new role, looking over day-to-day operations and management of ibis Jaipur Civil Lines. A warm welcome and heartiest congratulations to Singh on this new role.”

Commenting on his appointment, Balagi Singh, General Manager of ibis Jaipur Civil Lines said, “I am delighted to have been given this new role and thankful to the management for their belief in me. My association with Accor for more than a decade has been gratifying. I am confident that with the exceptional team at ibis Jaipur Civil Lines and our joint commitment towards ibis hospitality, we will take ibis to greater heights.”

With over 18 years of experience in the hospitality sector, Balagi Singh has been a part of the Accor family for 13+ years, performing varied roles across a range of hotels and geographies. Balagi started with Accor as Asst Manager Housekeeping at Novotel Hyderabad Airport and his last role was of the Hotel Manager of Novotel Chennai Sipcot.

Appointment | Bassim Ouachani Named General Manager for the Motto by Hilton New York City Chelsea

Motto by Hilton New York City Chelsea announces the appointments of Bassim Ouachani as General Manager and Ryan Cortese as Director of Sales and Marketing for the hotel slated to open this fall. Located in New York’s iconic Chelsea neighborhood, Motto Chelsea will feature 374 rooms, including a variety of flexible accommodation options, a vibrant signature restaurant, expansive fitness center and more.

Bassim Ouachani, General Manager, with two decades of experience in hospitality, will oversee all day-to-day operations at Motto Chelsea working to ensure profitability, efficiency and overall guest experience. Prior to joining the Motto team, Ouachani served as General Manager for Arlo Soho, a 325-room property in New York City. Ouachani has also held leadership positions with brands including Sofitel Luxury Hotels and Highgate Hotels. Ouachani earned an associate degree in Hospitality Management from LaGuardia College and has continued his hospitality education at New York University.

Ryan Cortese, Director of Sales & Marketing, brings more than 11 years of industry experience to Motto Chelsea’s executive team. Since graduating from the University of Scranton with a degree in Communications, Cortese has held various positions with Interstate Hotel & Resorts and Concord Hospitality Enterprises. Most recently, Cortese served as Complex Director of Sales with multiple NYC properties. In his new role, Cortese will lead all sales and marketing strategies for the property, which boasts 3,000 square feet of multi-purpose event space for meetings and social gatherings.

Motto by Hilton New York Chelsea is located at 113 West 24th Street New York, NY 10001

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Appointment | JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar Appoints Kunal Chauhan, General Manager

Kunal Chauhan

A renowned name in the hospitality industry, Mr. Kunal Chauhan has been appointed as the General Manager at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, the city’s most favored luxury business hotel since its launch in 2015. With industry exposure across leading hotel chains in India, Mr. Chauhan was previously the General Manager at The Leela Palace, Bengaluru. Being armed with a diploma from the Oberoi Centre for Learning and Development makes him well equipped to thrive in his chosen field. Furthermore, the stalwart is a passionate individual with strong business acumen, innate ability to elevate brand standards, create bespoke guest experiences, and craft an environment with the finest employee work culture. With 19 years of diverse experience under his belt, Kunal’s key strengths lie in (but are not limited to) hotel operations, marketing, food & beverage, team management, and financial management. He is also committed to stellar financial performance, market share growth, improving service standards as well as maintaining excellent relationships with stakeholders. 

In his new role as General Manager of the JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, Kunal Chauhan envisions a stellar roadmap for the hotel’s leading position within the hospitality landscape. With his robust experience across several disciplines, Mr Chauhan will steer the property to provide experiences that are synonymous with the JW Marriott brand.

Apart from being extremely business focussed, Kunal is also passionate about travel and spending time in the outdoors. His competitive spirit draws him to sports and he can often be found playing Badminton and Squash. Chauhan’s go-getter attitude allowed him to complete the Himalayan 10 day base camp trek in the peak winter season, prior to the pandemic. He is also hopeful of completing the top 5 marathons and top 5 trekking routes across the globe. 

With his extensive knowledge and experience of luxury brands, Kunal is a great asset to  JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar. The hotel continues to provide guests with memorable experiences and uphold the traditions while striving to further enhance service quality and brand value into the future.

Appointment | New Meliá Chiang Mai Announces Edward E. Snoeks as General Manager

New Meliá Chiang Mai Announces Edward E. Snoeks as General Manager

CHIANG MAI, Thailand (July 13, 2021) – A hospitality veteran with three decades of industry experience in Asia and Europe, Edward E. Snoeks, will take charge of the new bleisure hotel Meliá Chiang Mai.

The 260 room and suite hotel is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of this year in the heart of Chiang Mai’s city centre.

Snoeks joins Meliá Chiang Mai after managing the pre-opening of Sindhorn Kempinski Hotel Bangkok & The Residences and working as both Thailand’s regional general manager and general manager of The Okura Prestige Bangkok.

Previously he was the general manager of Crowne Plaza Hong Kong Causeway Bay and vice president of hotel operations at Hong Kong Parkview Hotel Services.

His work in Asia goes back to 1994 when he worked for The Regent Hong Kong’s food and beverage department. Snoeks’ hotel management experience also includes stints at the Marco Polo Hotels in Hong Kong, the Mutiara Hotel Kuala Lumpur and Le Royal Meridien Baan Taling Ngam on Koh Samui.

Comprising a 22-floor tower fronted by an adjoining seven-floor podium building, Meliá Chiang Mai will unveil a host of facilities including two restaurants, two bars, two lounges, a YHI Spa with seven treatment rooms, a fully-equipped fitness centre, swimming pool, ballroom and four additional meeting spaces for business and leisure travellers alike.

“Edward’s exceptional leadership abilities and his rich and diversified experience in opening and managing hotels in Asia make him the obvious choice to take charge of Meliá Chiang Mai, our second Meliá Hotels International property to be opened in Thailand following the successful launch of Meliá Koh Samui,” said Ignacio Martin, Area Managing Director South East Asia at Meliá Hotels International.

“With a 360-degree rooftop bar featuring two bars connected by a glass bridge, a 21st-floor executive lounge with panoramic views of Chiang Mai, a range of conference facilities and much more, my team and I are looking forward to launching a hotel that promises to exude the mystic splendor of Northern Thailand and draw on Meliá’s warm Spanish hospitality,” added Snoeks.

Appointment | Anantara Iko Mauritius announces appointment of new General Manager

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Pascal Bertrand as the new General Manager at Anantara Iko Mauritius Resort & Villas.

Bringing over 35 years of luxury hospitality experience to his new position, Pascal joins the Mauritius property, which opened in late 2019, to take it forward with his visionary leadership, which he has gained working with international brands in numerous regions.

Appointment | Kunal Onkar appointed as General Manager of U Rivergate Karjat

Absolute Hotel Services India is pleased to announce the appointment of Kunal Onkar as General Manager of U Rivergate Karjat.

A seasoned hospitality professional with Food and Beverage being his forte, Kunal brings on board an illustrious career spanning over two decades of proven track record, experiences across Global Brands, inclusive of foreign assignments in Hotels, Cruise Lines, and Training. Working up the ranks, he started his career as line staff with Oberoi Hotels, one of India’s most respected brands. Thereon had stints with P & O Cruises, Training with an Aviation Institute, however, the majority of the time spent has been with hotels. Midway, he had a 2-year assignment with the Holiday Inn London Heathrow, London (UK). His last job was as General Manager with Park Hotels, one of the popular domestic Brands in India.

Kunal graduated with a Diploma in Hotel Management and Masters in Tourism and has pursued Level B Hospitality E courses from Hilton University London. In his new role as General Manager Kunal will envision a stellar roadmap for the resort’s positioning within the state’s domestic hospitality landscape, thereby take the entire stay experience to a new level while the resort undergoes a detailed transformation and upgrade to an international level. He will oversee the strategic and financial performance of the resort and he is committed to providing the highest quality of hospitality to each and every guest.

He is a fitness enthusiast and likes to explore new horizons in Food and Beverage domain.

Commenting on the appointment, Shalil Suvarna, Vice President – Operations & Pre-Opening stated, “Kunal brings along with invaluable insights across various hotel operations roles that will take the resort to the next level, boosting it into a different league.”

Appointment | WelcomHotel by ITC Hotels, Bengaluru appoint Amandeep Kaur as General Manager

Welcoming Amandeep Kaur as General Manager – WelcomHotel by ITC Hotels, Bengaluru

Amandeep Kaur is the new General Manager of WelcomHotel by ITC Hotels, Bengaluru from June 01st, 2021. 

Earlier, the Resident Manager, ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru, Amandeep was responsible for the operations of the hotel including the Front Office, Food & Beverage, and Housekeeping. Along with operational excellence, her core skills constitute excellent people management & team-building skills while driving a result-oriented, passionate, and ethical work culture.

Amandeep recently bagged the Hotel Manager of the Year award (South 2020) at the India International Hospitality Expo.

An alumna of Welcomgroup Management Institute (WMI), she started her career at ITC Grand Central, Mumbai as a member of the pre-opening team. She then moved on to ITC Sonar, Kolkata, and Sheraton, New Delhi as a part of the housekeeping team. Amandeep played a pivotal role in the opening of the largest hotel in the chain – ITC Grand Chola, Chennai, and thereafter joined as Executive Housekeeper at ITC Grand Bharat, Gurgaon. She subsequently moved to ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru in the capacity of Executive Housekeeper and was promoted to the position of Resident Manager within a year. 

An explorer at heart, Amandeep likes to trek and loves solo traveling. She is also an avid reader. Her favourite moments are with her son and family.

Appointment | Ashwini Kumar is the new General Manager of Hyatt Regency Chandigarh

With more than four decades in the industry, Kumar remains committed and passionate to bringing the best service and product to the customer.

Ashwini Kumar has joined Hyatt Regency Chandigarh as their General Manager. His responsibilities will include managing future growth strategies and key stakeholder relationships for the hotel.

With more than four decades in the industry, Kumar remains committed and passionate to bring the best service and product to the customer.

Ashwini Kumar started his career in the GCC hospitality industry in 1981 working with the Oberoi Hotel in Dammam. In 1989 he moved to Dubai and joined Hyatt Regency, it was here that he developed his passion and approach for hotels with the values of Hyatt that have continued over the past 32 years. From then on he moved to Grand Hyatt Dubai as the EAM of the rooms division, followed by Resident Manager and then Hotel Manager.

After his time at Grand Hyatt Dubai, he led a team of roughly 200 associates as his first position of General Manager for the opening of Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi followed by General Manager of Park Hyatt Jeddah.

His last assignment was leading the team as General Manager at Grand Hyatt Amman. Having managed more than 1,400 associates from across 56 nationalities in the past, Kumar continues to lead by example.

An accomplished hotelier, proven operational innovator, problem solver, and revenue strategist, his mentoring approach ensures that everyone feels responsible and is motivated to progress in their career. He has been known for his experience to bring effective and positive change to their hotels.

On his return to his homeland, he said “I am fortunate to get this opportunity to reconnect with the City Beautiful where I had spent unforgettable years as a student at DAV College.”

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Appointment | Amit Kumar joins Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa as its new General Manager

He joins Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa taking on the responsibility of strengthening the hotel operations and spearheading the team with his impressive interpersonal & management abilities.

Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa, the experience-driven beach resort in Chennai has announced Amit Kumar as its newly appointed General Manager.

He joins Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa taking on the responsibility of strengthening the hotel operations and spearheading the team with his impressive interpersonal & management abilities and knack of innovative strategic planning. He will continue to enhance the stellar services and guest experiences established at the hotel.

Kumar, a highly motivated and dynamic hotelier, is set to take the reins in these unprecedented times and steer the hotel’s objective of creating a safe and welcoming destination for guests. With his astute leadership in managing hotels, he will focus his efforts on ensuring the wellbeing of the hotel team and safeguarding the health and best interests of guests.

In the course of his enriching experience of 17 years in the hospitality industry, which includes a decade spent with Marriott International Hotels, Kumar has been well recognized for his excellent communication skills, revenue driving qualities, and valuable marketing strategies for F&B.

Prior to this move, he served in the same capacity at Courtyard by Marriott Chennai. Having also worked with Global Brands like Hyatt, Carlson, Starwood and now Marriott International, Amit has honed his knowledge in the field through the course of his career and is a testament to his belief that dedication and a strong foundation is one of the key steps to success.

He was awarded RVP F&B Leader of the Year for South Asia in 2014 and under his leadership, Marriott Chennai received “Best Iconic Hotel” from Times Award, “Company with Great Managers Award powered by The Economic Times” award, and many more accolades.

In his roles, Kumar ardently helped raise RPI to double digits, market share, drive digital revenue growth, improvise OTA performance, and focused on digital marketing. Moreover, he also garners traction for leisure business and contributes to enhancing the Food & Beverage reputation at the hotels he is assigned.

Kumar did his schooling in Meerut from Dewan Public School and furthered his academics with a degree in Hotel Management, Catering Technology & Applied Nutrition from IHM Hyderabad. He is an avid athlete and likes to play basketball in his spare time.

When it comes to his personal and professional life, Kumar strongly believes - “Do it with passion or don’t do it all” and trusts that “There is no shortcut to success.”

Appointment | Samit Kazi is the new General Manager of Novotel Kochi Infopark

Kazi comes with almost 18 years of industry experience in operations & sales

Novotel Kochi Infopark announces the appointment of Samit Kazi as their new General Manager.  A seasoned hospitality professional, Kazi comes with almost 18 years of industry experience in operations & sales while being based in various cities like Hyderabad, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune & NCR.

In his new role, Kazi will be focusing on spearheading key operations for Novotel Kochi Infopark and will supervise the hotel’s growth and expansion. Novotel Kochi Infopark is a 128 room’s hotel located in the Kochi IT HUB within 30 min drive from Kochi Domestic and International airport.

He has had the opportunity to hold various sales and operational positions at several Accor hotels and at Accor India corporate office.

Kazi began his journey with the Accor Group as the Associate Director of Regional Sales for Andhra Pradesh hotels in the year 2011. Further to this, he moved to Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre as the Director of Sales. A year later, he was appointed as the Director of Sales – India for Accor Group.

In the year 2019, he was appointed as Resident Manager for Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre and Hyderabad International Convention Centre. He later went to Novotel Imagicaa Khopoli (Mumbai) on a mission as General Manager to manage the re-opening of the resort property.

Having spent a substantial time in Accor Group, Kazi has previously worked with some esteemed hospitality brands such as Taj, Marriott, Leela and Starwood.

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Appointment | Nishanth Vishwanath joins The Ritz-Carlton, Pune as General Manager

Vishwanath will lead the dynamic luxury team to sustain the hotel’s positioning as one of the most preferred destinations for the social and business elite in the country.

The Ritz-Carlton, Pune has appointed Nishanth Vishwanath to lead the luxurious downtown hotel as General Manager.

At The Ritz-Carlton, Pune, Vishwanath will lead the dynamic luxury team to sustain the hotel’s positioning as one of the most preferred destinations for the social and business elite in the country.

A veteran hotelier, driven by passion and creativity, Vishwanath is a multi-cultural hospitality icon with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Having commenced his career with Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel (2001) as part of the Food & Beverage team; he has swiftly moved up the ranks across Marriott International's myriad brands spanning the last two decades.

He has a proven record of implementing strategic initiatives delivering financial success in tandem with customer satisfaction. During his operational tenure, he has played a critical role in building F&B Reputation and establishing hotels such as Renaissance Mumbai and JW Marriott Pune as leading conference and wedding venues in the country.

Within two and half years, he moved to JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru as the Director of Operations. Following a very successful stint at positioning JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru as a premier destination in the city, he was then promoted as the General Manager for Courtyard by Marriott Chennai.

His most recent role comprised that of the prestigious Area Director - Operations for South & East India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. While his early years allowed him to hone his skills to develop award-winning concepts and drive revenue and reputation; his role as Area Director and General Manager over the last few years has given impetus to his growth and appointment into the luxury market.

Vishwanath uses his creative flair to increase employee engagement, implement standards, drive guest voice scores, build relationships with key stakeholders and grow hotel market share at exemplary levels.

He has also been a key Mentor and part of many Core pre-openings task force assignments and has been a recipient of several notable recognitions in his career and has consistently exhibited excellent leadership skills. His track record shows an innate ability to drive excellence across associate engagement, customer satisfaction, and profitability.

Armed with a degree from Mangalore University, Vishwanath is an avid traveler and takes a keen interest in exploring new places, history, and culture. He is also a fitness enthusiast and enjoys reading in his leisure time.

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Appointment | Aramness appoints Vijay Krishnan Vazhvelil as the General Manager

Vazhvelil brings with him over 25 years of experience with leading hospitality brands

Aramness, a luxury adventure travel company that owns and operates lodges and arranges guest’s journeys to the most beautiful wilderness areas in India, recently appointed Vijay’ Krishnan Vazhvelil as the General Manager to soft and grand open four Wildlife Safari Luxury Lodges.

Vazhvelil brings with him over 25 years of experience with leading hospitality brands such as Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Starwood Hotels & Resorts (Associated with Starwood brands such as Le Meridien, Four Points by Sheraton & Design Hotels), American Express Banking Corporation, Alila Hotels & Resorts - Boundless Lifestyle Brand of Hyatt Hotels International and Windsor Golf Resort & Country Club.

He brings an array of skills and core competencies to the table & he is extremely proficient in the fields of Managing Complex Hotel, Resort & Safari Lodge Operations, Soft & Grand Opening Hotels & Resorts, Marketing & Sales, Business Planning and Project Management Processes, Room Division Operations, Food, Bar & Nightclub Management, Revenue Management & Electronic Marketing Management. His last operational role was being the General Manager of Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, Nairobi, Kenya – A Relais & Chateaux Golf Resort.

Vazhvelil’s principal skills lie in the seamless functioning of all activities in the hotel & resort Management Operations as well as Marketing & Commercial Strategy of the functioning of a hotel, along with smooth communication between his office and the other areas. His vast experience with various kinds of employee engagement activities and environments has given him the right knowledge to maximize human capital productivity through the use of multi-skilling, multi-tasking, and multi-flexible scheduling to meet the financial goals of the business as well as the expectations of the guests.

With exceptional leadership skills to boast of, he strongly believes that a leader is only as good as his team and he ensure his team is satisfied and reaching its highest potential through regular communication and strong company values. Not only that, he also constantly evaluates local, national, and international market trends in Hotel Management and Operations, Designs of Hotels, Resorts & Safari Lodges, New Nightclubs & Bars Designs, Marketing & Revenue Management to make sure that the hotel’s management remains competitive and of cutting edge.

Aramness Gir National Park will be the first luxury lodge in a planned portfolio of luxury lodges across India and perhaps beyond.

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Appointment | ibis appoints key leaders to head its hotels across India

Ajit Jose, Saumitra Chaturvedi, and Sandip Satange, the dynamic leaders to lead three key properties of ibis and Anant Leekha as Cluster General Manager in their new roles

ibis - a smart economy brand from the Accor stable, has recently announced the appointment of Ajit Jose and  Sandip Satange as General Managers of ibis Kolkata Rajarhat and ibis Coimbatore City Centre respectively, Saumitra Chaturvedi as the Deputy General Manager of ibis New Delhi Aerocity, and  Anant Leekha as cluster General Manager of ibis Navi Mumbai and ibis Vikhroli.

Their appointments are a testament to ibis’ belief in strong and dynamic leadership and deliver upon the values ibis stands for. In their new roles, they will head the hotel’s overall management and operations.

Commenting on the new appointments, Sylvain Laroche, Director of Operations, ibis & ibis Styles, India said, “We are proud to announce the appointment of the four dynamic leaders. We are excited to have them on board with us. Ajit, Saumitra, Anant, and Sandip have been contributing to the Accor family for a long time now and we have immense trust in their leadership. They will play a key role in the day-to-day operations as well as the management of our Kolkata, Delhi, Coimbatore, and Mumbai properties. On behalf of the entire team, I extend a warm welcome and congratulate them on their new roles.”

Anant Leekha has been with Accor for 13 years in various roles. He is currently Deputy General Manager at ibis New Delhi Aerocity and in his previous assignment, he led the opening of ibis Pune Hinjewadi and managed the ibis Pune cluster for 2 years.

Commenting on his appointment, Anant Leekha, Cluster General Manager of ibis Navi Mumbai and ibis Vikhroli, said, “I am delighted and honored with the opportunity to be leading ibis Navi Mumbai and ibis Vikhroli – the 20th ibis hotel slated to open in Q3 of 2021. I am excited to have the chance to lead an exceptional team and we will always look for new ways to make our guests’ stay memorable.”

Ajit Jose comes with over 22 years of hospitality experience including 4 years with Accor India. He joined Accor in May 2016 as General Manager of ibis Kochi City Centre and was key to the successful opening and stabilization of the hotel.

Commenting on his appointment, Ajit Jose, General Manager, ibis Kolkata Rajarhat said, “I have been a part of the Accor family for 4 years now. I started my journey with ibis Kochi City Centre and I look forward to working with the ibis Kolkata team and take ibis to greater heights.”

Saumitra Chaturvedi comes with over 18 years of overall hospitality experience including over 5 years with Accor India. He was instrumental in relaunching ibis Jaipur Civil Lines while positioning the property as a go-to leisure destination.

Commenting on his appointment, Saumitra Chaturvedi, Deputy General Manager, ibis New Delhi Aerocity, said, “I have been a part of the Accor family for over 5 years now. As I venture on to expand my roles and responsibilities in New Delhi, I thank the management for believing in my potential. I look forward to contributing to ibis’s culture of greatness and hospitality.”

Sandip Satange joined ibis Coimbatore as Hotel Manager in Feb 2020 and has been successfully handling the property over the last 1 year. He has been redesignated as General Manager of the 129 rooms ibis Coimbatore City Centre recently.

Commenting on his appointment, Sandip Satange, ibis Coimbatore City Centre, said, “I am delighted to have been given this opportunity. Along with my team, I am confident that we will achieve a higher level of hospitality and deliver every guest a personalized experience. Looking forward to a great learning experience.”

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