Appointment | The Thinnai Appoints Janitha C. Madawala as New General Manager

The Thinnai Welcomes New General Manager

The Thinnai Group of Hotels is pleased to announce the appointment of Janitha C. Madawala to the role of cluster general manager. Janitha is an accomplished hotelier and brings more than 15 years of hospitality experience with him with a strong Food & Beverage background, having set up award-winning operations at various domestic and international hotel brands.

His multi property operational experience, leadership skills and comprehensive understanding of the business are distinguishing facets of his career. His skills in managing operations for business hotels, resorts, branded F&B retail concepts, airlines, and cruise lines, with emphasis on Food & Beverage, fiscal management, sales and new product development plus the exposure gained with guests of differing nationalities, holds him in good stead to lead our uniquely appointed hospitality venues, forward. Janitha began his career with Hilton Colombo as an intern in all four major departments as a part of his hotel school Training and honed his skills in leadership positions further in Various luxury Domestic & International brands in South Asia, Middle East & USA.

Born and raised in Sri Lanka, Janitha is particularly focused on guest experience, believing that "luxury service should happen without guests knowing where it comes from".

His recent assignment was with the Carnival Cruise Line in the USA as a Food & Beverage Director in which he oversaw all the culinary and dining services while managing all beverage operations including revenue activities, product innovation and services on - board eight ships.

Janitha is a Graduate of Sri Lanka Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, where he majored in international hospitality management, specializing in food and beverages. Furthermore, Janitha is qualified in CFBE by AHLEI in USA & holds a diploma in Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management from International Council of specialized certification (ICOSOC). He is a member of Institute of Hospitality in the UK, a fellow member of Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association (MCHSGA) in Sri Lanka, and a senior member of Emirates Culinary Guild in UAE.

Appointment | Gaurav Sekhri appointed as Hotel Manager of The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa

Gaurav Sekhri appointed as Hotel Manager of The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa 

National, 3: The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa has announced the joining of Gaurav Sekhri as the new Hotel Manager. Gaurav is an acclaimed personality who has taken up the responsibilities of the overall hotel operations and has ensured to meet the standard of the Westin brand. Having extensive work experience spanning more than 17 years in the hospitality industry across national and international hotels,  Gaurav is not just a dynamic leader but rather an industry visionary with his roots in the traditional scapes of hospitality.
In his role, he will be actively enmeshed in curating an exponential experience of wellness and luxury for the guests, thereby proving his mettle in an array of spheres pertaining to hotel operations, strategic planning, cost and efficiency management, and customer satisfaction, in alignment with the Westin vision of the hotel being the preferred destination and haven for wellness and luxury.

Commenting on his appointment, Gaurav Sekhri, Hotel Manager, said, “I am honored to take up my responsibility as a hotel manager of The Westin Pushkar Resort & Spa. Westin as a brand has been renowned for amalgamating the ethos of luxury hospitality with the traditional and cultural scapes of the destination. At the same time, it is the team that has taken the hotel to the zenith of such service. So I am absolutely enthralled to work with such a splendid team to reach newer heights of recognition and services. ”

Before joining The Westin Pushkar Resort and Spa, Gaurav was working as the General Manager in the Corporate Office of MGM Muthu Hotels in Europe. He started his successful career with Hilton London Hyde Park in 2006 and worked his way through the industry ladder with grit and mirth by working with Hilton London Green Park and Hilton Cobham, England, Hilton Mumbai International Airport, and Hilton Jaipur. 

He is a graduate of Bachelor of Commerce from College of Commerce and Economics, India. Later, he specialized in Hotel and Tourism Management by doing a diploma from the Isle of Man in the United Kingdom. He has been recognized for his efforts and talent with prestigious accolades such as Food and Beverage Manager of the Year- 2013 by Hilton Hotels- UK and Ireland.

Appointment | Meliá Hotels in Koh Samui and Chiang Mai Welcome Senior Recruits

BANGKOK, Thailand (July , 2021) – Thailand’s first two Meliá Hotels International properties have appointed two directors who bring more than five decades of hospitality experience to the table.

Thai nationals Wuttipong Tanteraponchai and Vipasiri Napawongdee have been named cluster director of sales and marketing and cluster director of marketing communications respectively for both Meliá Koh Samui and Meliá Chiang Mai.

Meliá Koh Samui, which opened in January 2020 on the shore of Koh Samui’s Choeng Mon Beach, and Meliá Chiang Mai, slated to debut in the fourth quarter of 2021 in the Kingdom’s mountainous north, are part of a nationwide roll-out of properties by the prominent Spanish hotel group in partnership with Thailand’s leading integrated lifestyle real estate group Asset World Corporation.

Wuttipong most recently worked as director of sales and marketing at The Sukhothai Bangkok, leading a team of sales and marketing communication professionals to help successfully manage the hotel’s transition to a hybrid Alternative State Quarantine (ASQ) hotel in the wake of COVID-19. Beforehand, he worked at The Okura Prestige Bangkok for more than seven years, firstly in the role of director of sales for two years before being promoted to director of sales and marketing. He has also been cluster director of sales at Pan Pacific Hotels Group Singapore, director of sales (corporate & MICE) at The Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa, director of sales The Westin Grande Sukhumvit Hotel, Bangkok.

Vipasiri’s appointment follows an eight-year stint as director of marketing communications at The Okura Prestige Bangkok, where she implemented impressive communications efforts and organised an array of charitable initiatives. Previously, she was director of marketing communications at Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa and InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort and director of PR and marketing communications at InVision Hospitality.

Wuttipong embarked on his hospitality career early 1991 as a tour coordinator at The Royal Cliff Beach Resort, steadily rising up the ranks as a guest service agent at The Mansion Kempinski Bangkok and The Royal Orchid Sheraton & Towers before becoming the assistant manager in the front office at The Embassy Suite Windsor Palace’s front office. He then progressed to senior sales management positions with The Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, The Bangkok Marriott Resort & Spa and The Oriental Bangkok.

Vipasiri started her career in hospitality communications as a PR coordinator for the Royal Garden Resorts Group in Thailand before becoming a PR executive at Chiva-Som International Health Resort and the PR manager at JW Marriott Bangkok.

Meliá Koh Samui’s host of facilities include 159 rooms, 41 suites including “boat suites” made from refurbished merchant vessels, two restaurants, a swim-up bar, a lagoon pool, a two-level infinity pool, an executive lounge, spa, fitness centre, ballroom and conference facilities and, for families, a kid’s club, outdoor playground and mini water park.

With 260 rooms, Meliá Chiang Mai will soon cut the ribbon on a host of amenities including a 360-degree rooftop bar – the highest in the city – featuring two bars connected by a glass bridge, as well as an executive lounge, two restaurants, a pool bar and lobby bar, spa, gymnasium, ballroom and other function venues, kid’s club and more. 

Appointment | Deepak Booneady Named Vice President, Commercial at Sun Siyam Resorts

Deepak Booneady, who first joined Sun Siyam Resorts as the Group Director of Business Development, has been named Vice President, Commercial. In a press release issued by Sun Siyam Resorts, Deepak is credited with contributing to significant business growth for the company through his fresh ideas and novel thinking.

“We are successful because of great team members. I have an incredibly passionate and innovative team that is leading the brand, locally and internationally. They are empowered and inspired to be a leader in their field,” said Deepak.

Deepak has over twenty years of experience in the luxury travel industry. His last post before joining the group was with Mauritius-based hospitality group LUX* Resorts and Hotels as Regional Director of Sales and Marketing overseeing product promotion and sales growth.

Sun Siyam’s laid-back luxury resorts, within the idyllic natural surroundings of the Maldives and Sri Lanka, present extraordinary experiences and sanctuaries for the free-spirited while transporting guests into a realm of paradise.

Sun Siyam Resorts’ fifth property, Siyam World, in Noonu Atoll, Maldives, will be Deepak’s first pre-opening with Sun Siyam Resorts and the team has bold plans for introducing a revolutionary product with never seen before experiences with a twist of Maldivian culture – from the country’s biggest floating water park, to a peerless WOW! The 24-hour premium all-inclusive concept that offers a tantalizing selection of health, fitness, and wellness activities, excursions, water sports, kids and teens activities, and way more excitement around every corner. Siyam World, Maldives will officially open on 28th October 2021.

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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 | JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu Appoints Industry Veteran Preetaya Guha As Executive Housekeeper

PREETAYA GUHA

JW MARRIOTT MUMBAI JUHU APPOINTS INDUSTRY VETERAN  PREETAYA GUHA AS EXECUTIVE HOUSEKEEPER  

The flagship property of JW Marriott Hotels in India welcomes the new Executive Housekeeper who  possesses over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry.  

Mumbai, 22nd July, 2021 – JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu is pleased to announce the appointment of  Preetaya Guha as the new Executive Housekeeper, effective as of July 2021. Preetaya will play a  pivotal role in leading the housekeeping operations at the iconic flagship hotel.  

Preetaya comes with an experience of 15 years in the hospitality industry, having previously  worked with prestigious brands such as The Oberoi and Trident Hotels. She is known to possess  excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills with proven abilities in team  management and guest relationship management. She is well-versed with modern housekeeping  techniques, optimum resource utilization strategies and the implementation of the highest safety  and hygiene standards within hotel operations. 

At the JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu, she will be instrumental in further enhancing the procedures of  Marriott International’s ‘Commitment to Clean’ program which ensures utmost safety and hygiene  for guests and associates across all functions. Preetaya and her team will drive their efforts towards  the overall maintenance of the hotel to enable smooth operations and ensure an elevated experience  for guests. 

About JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts  

JW Marriott is part of Marriott International’s luxury portfolio and consists of beautiful properties in gateway cities and distinctive resort locations around the world. These elegant hotels cater to  today’s sophisticated, self- assured travelers, offering them the quiet luxury they seek in a warmly  authentic, relaxed atmosphere lacking in pretense. JW Marriott properties artfully provide highly  crafted, anticipatory experiences that are reflective of their locale so that their guests have the time  to focus on what is most important to them. Currently, there are 70 JW Marriott hotels in 26  countries; by 2019 the portfolio is expected to encompass more than 100 properties in over 30  countries. Visit us online, on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.  

About Marriott International, Inc  

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and  encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,500 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 132  countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership  resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy™, its highly-awarded travel  program. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest  company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and  @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.

Appointment | Deepak Verma joins The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace as their Director of Sales and Marketing

The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace has announced the appointment of Mr. Deepak Verma as the Director of Sales and Marketing, spearheading the hotel’s business development, brand reputation, and planning strategies to strengthen the positioning of the hotel.

Deepak comes with a rich experience, spanning over 13 years, where he excelled in hospitality business development, strategic management and knowledge of various market segments. In his career, he has been associated with some of the leading Indian and global luxury brands, such as The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts and Accor. In each of his previous roles, he contributed immensely towards creating milestone achievements for the respective organization. In his last assignment as Director of Sales at the Pullman and Novotel New Delhi Aerocity, Deepak was instrumental in boosting the collective business for the twin properties. 

A dynamic team leader, Deepak, in his current role, will be focusing not only on the business recovery of the hotel post the pandemic but would also work towards reinforcement of the brand and its core ethos. He will also strive to create new and sustainable business streams for the hotel. 

Hailing from West Bengal, Deepak was based out of New Delhi for most of his professional career. An ardent movie buff, he likes spending time at home, watching a series or a movie with his family. 

About Westin Hotels & Resorts

Westin Hotels & Resorts, hospitality’s global leader in wellness for more than a decade, empowers guests to transcend the rigors of travel while on the road through the brand’s Six Pillars of Well-being: Sleep Well, Eat Well, Move Well, Feel Well, Work Well, and Play Well. At 225 hotels and resorts in nearly 40 countries and territories, guests can experience wellness offerings that include the brand’s iconic and award-winning Heavenly Bed, a game-changing gear lending program, TRX fitness equipment in the signature WestinWORKOUT™ Fitness Studios, delicious and nutritious menu offerings, and more. Stay connected to Westin on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Westin is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com.

Appointments | Vikalp Raj appointed as DoSM at St Regis Mumbai

Anuraag Bhatnagar of Leela, Gaurav Singh of Marriott International, Zubin Songadwala of ITC Hotels and Somnath Mukherjee of IHCL speak about the city and its potential.

Vikalp Raj joined The St Regis Mumbai as Director of Sales and Marketing. Raj brings with him a wealth of experience of over 16 years in the hospitality industry. His early foray in the industry equipped him to specialize his skills in successfully driving revenue through targeted strategic plans suited to the market conditions of the hotels under his purview. His numerous accomplishments helped him to swiftly rise up the ranks in a very short span of time.

Having secured his degree in Business Management from Alliance Business School, post a hospitality degree from the prominent Institute of Hotel Management, Bangalore, Raj joined Marriott International immediately after a short stint in two leading hospitality organizations.

Having proved his mettle with some of the leading brands of Marriott International like JW Marriott and Sheraton, he has led sales, revenue, and marketing teams in both pre-opening hotels and well-established hotels. His successes in his most recently held role as Director of Sales and Marketing with Sheraton Grand Bangalore at Brigade Gateway include an award-winning increase in market share and a significant growth year-on-year in revenue, for rooms & and catering sales.

Raj continues his journey with Marriott International and will lead the dynamic sales and revenue teams at The St. Regis Mumbai to achieve revenue targets, forge relationships with internal and external stakeholders while balancing property STR, achieving Revpar, and assessing competition and hotel intelligence.

Appointment | TAAI appoints Mr.Himanshu Talwar as Executive Director

A new position in the TAAI Secretariat, Talwar will be responsible for the liaising, networking, coordination and communications with various Ministries, departments of the government and other agencies

Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), the national body of travel agents in India, is learned to have appointed Himanshu Talwar as its Executive Director. A new position in the TAAI Secretariat, Talwar will be responsible for liaising, networking, coordination, and communications with various ministries, departments of the government, and other agencies. He will be based in the national capital - Delhi.

Talwar informed his movement through LinkedIn. He comes to TAAI from the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) where he was Assistant Secretary-General and Additional Director of FHRAI’s Institute of Hotel Management.

A multi-faceted personality, Talwar is an international TEDx speaker and author of many books. An MBA, he has to his credit Executive Management Programmes from Said Business School (SBS), University of Oxford, Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta, and IIM Bangalore. He holds a Doctorate and D. Litt (HC) in Business Management.

Along with a prolific educational background, Talwar also works assiduously for social causes and has been given the 'Indian Achievers' Award 2020 for Social Service. Recipient of many national-level awards, Talwar has been working for international organizations and supporting not-for-profit organizations for more than a decade, and made significant contributions in the field of transforming people’s life as a life coach, skill development, legal and professional education.

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Appointment | South Woodford's Grand Trunk Road Appoint Arup Dasgupta as Head Chef

Chef Dasgupta’s work is known from the exclusive Michelin star eateries of the French Riviera to the very best London hotels such as The Lalit’s Pan Indian Baluchi

Grand Trunk Road recently received a Michelin plaque for 2021 and is celebrating their recent reopening by announcing its new Head Chef, Arup Dasgupta.

Expertly skilled for many years in the complexities of Western and Classical Indian fare, as well and the many varied avenues of Asian cuisine, Chef Dasgupta’s work is known from the exclusive Michelin star eateries of the French Riviera to the very best London hotels such as The Lalit’s Pan Indian Baluchi, where his culinary expertise has continued to bring sumptuous character and unforgettable flavor.

Launched in 2016 and famed for pairing ancient dishes with traditional cooking methods, via recipes collated from the legendary trail across hundreds of years, Grand Trunk Road has become a singular experience renowned for setting the standard for Indian food in the capital.

Chef Dasgupta’s creativity and flair for delicious imagination will be introduced into the Grand Trunk Road menu with new dishes including the Stone Bass marinated with light Kasundi mustard & coconut, steamed and served with pickled fennel salad, the Lahori Chicken Kebab, with roasted garlic and crushed spices with mint & coriander chutney, and the Five-spice chocolate cake with Orange & lime Ice Cream. An Eight Course tasting menu will be introduced in the very near future.

Owner, Rajesh Suri, says: “Following an intense lockdown period, it is such a thrill to start this new chapter of Grand Trunk Road with Chef Dasgupta as part of the fold; his work will continue to make Grand Trunk Road one of the finest restaurants in the city.”

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Appointment | JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar Appoints Ms. Aparna Passi as Director of Human Resources

Mumbai, 14th July 2021: JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar has announced the appointment of Ms. Aparna Passi as the new ‘Director of Human Resources’. In her new role, Aparna will be responsible for aligning HR policies and programs to drive optimal employee performance and to accomplish corporate goals and objectives.

Aparna joins JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar with a rich and diverse experience of over a decade in this industry. A holder of a B.SC. degree she went on to work in various properties of The Oberoi Group of hotels, JW Marriott in Mumbai as well as real estate giant Kalpataru Limited. 

Apart from being a certified hospitality educator and senior human resource professional, Ms. Aparna Passi is a passionate public speaker and a dynamic human resource professional with extensive experience in recruitment, retention, compensation, training and customer service. 

She is also known for her excellent communication skills, proficiency in planning, budgeting and forecasting, Aparna has demonstrated the ability to collaborate with others to achieve organizational goals and objectives.

With over a decade of experience in this industry, she built her repertoire of expertise in Kolkata, Mumbai, Dubai and Ajman. It is her belief that each pupil must traverse their own journey and through practice all can achieve Professionalism. 

Commenting on her appointment, Aparna says, “I am ecstatic about re-joining Marriott International and for my new role as Director of Human Resources at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar. I believe that through passion and dedication one can overcome any hurdle and that every expert was once a beginner. I look forward to contributing to the success of the hotel and being part of a dynamic leadership team of professionals at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar”..

About JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar

JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar offers effortless elegance and sophistication. Located 1 km away from the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport Mumbai, the luxury hotel makes for an ideal destination for business and stay. With 588 spacious rooms, including 39 suites, the property offers authentic cuisine crafted with passion, care and local flavors. The property offers indoor and outdoor convention space, 11 well-appointed meeting rooms with state-of-the-art conferencing facilities. Spa by JW, the first of its kind in Asia Pacific, extends its host of therapies so one can experience holistic wellness. Visit us online on www.jwmumbai.com. For social media updates, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter on @JWSahar. For more information, follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Google Plus. 

About Marriott International

Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,500 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 132 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy™, its highly-awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on Twitter and Instagram.

Appointment | Alberto Burgio joins Jumeirah Restaurants as chef de cuisine

He takes up the post at Trattoria Toscana in Souk Madinat Jumeirah

Alberto Burgio is the new de cuisine at Italian restaurant Trattoria Toscana, Souk Madinat Jumeirah.

Burgio began his career in Syracuse in 2004 where he learned the art of pizza-making from his mentor, the Pizza World Championship-winning Alfio Russo.

He worked across Italy and UK in various pizzerias as a sous pizza chef. He has previously worked at Grand Hyatt Dubai and has headed Bussola as pizzeria sous chef in Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi in 2015.

He catered to an economic summit between Italy and the UAE while at Grand Hyatt Dubai in 2019.

Appointment | Impresario Handmade Restaurants appoints Alexander Valladares as CMO

Prior to this appointment, Valladares led a team of dynamic marketers as National Marketing Lead for Times of India’s metro supplements and Times life, where he oversaw content, P&L, marketing, and social media growth across 45 supplements.

Impresario Handmade Restaurants announced the appointment of Alexander Valladares as Chief Marketing Officer. He brings with him rich experience of over 14 years across brand building, marketing, content, intellectual property creation, and monetization. At Impresario, he will be responsible for leading marketing activities across the company’s numerous brands, including SOCIAL, Smoke House Deli, Salt Water Cafe, Souffle S’il Vous Plait, and several cloud kitchen brands like BOSS Burger, Hung-Li, Lucknowee, and Goodness To Go.

Riyaaz Amlani, CEO & MD, Impresario Handmade Restaurants said, “We are delighted to welcome Alexander to Impresario. He is a seasoned marketing professional with a proven track record of building marketing and content-led properties, and driving consumer-focussed innovations. We are confident that he will use his experience to deepen Impresario’s connection with its customers and drive growth for us.”

The newly appointed Chief Marketing Officer - Impresario Handmade Restaurants, Alexander Valladres said, “I am thrilled to be part of the Impresario family. Coming from a media background, I’m excited about this leap into the F&B industry and what better way to do that than with one of the most youthful and forward-thinking companies in the country. Impresario has an array of vibrant brands that are big on people, pop culture, and creating great experiences - all of the things that light me up personally and professionally - and I’m excited to bring my learnings to such a collaborative environment. I look forward to continuing to build strong communities around our brands.”

Prior to this appointment, Valladares led a team of dynamic marketers as National Marketing Lead for Times of India’s metro supplements and Times life, where he oversaw content, P&L, marketing, and social media growth across 45 supplements. At TOI, he worked on a vast array of campaigns and IPs that have received critical acclaim, including winning the prestigious Gold Glass Lions and a Gold Lion at Cannes (Creativity For Good). His strategic initiatives helped in increasing readership and engagement along with building strong content IPs. He plans to deploy both these skills to strengthen Impresario’s brand awareness and footprint across the country.

Valladares has also been associated with MTV India and FCB Ulka in past stints. As the chief marketing strategist for Impresario, Alexander will oversee all brand functions including PR and communications, content marketing, on-ground activations, consumer marketing and engagement, and ensure they are aligned to support the company’s vision of leadership in the premium casual dining niche of the F&B industry.

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Appointment | Karolina Paliszewska, acting general manager at Habtoor Grand Resort

Karolina Paliszewska’s 20-year career in hospitality has culminated with her first GM role. She now works at the Habtoor Grand Resort, Autograph Collection.

The Polish national stepped into Warsaw Marriott hotel as the director of event management before the turn of the century. What followed were senior roles at JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, London Marriott Hotel West India Quay, Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach and Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City.

In her new role, Paliszewska will oversee the day-to-day operations of the resort including planning, maintaining budgets and owner’s expectations. She will also be responsible for managing all of the hotel’s facilities.

She is one of six new hotel hires at the property, including Zhanar Bakhytova, guest services manager; Nikhil Nair, senior marketing and communications manager; Donnabel Simbulan, HR manager; Alice Brown, executive housekeeper; and Albert Meow, commercial director.

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Appointment | The JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu is pleased to have Deep Vahi as the new Director of Sales & Marketing.

The JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu is pleased to have Deep Vahi as the new Director of Sales & Marketing.

Deep Vahi comes with a rich experience of over 15 years in the hospitality industry; as a recognition of his extraordinary performance he was declared a winner of Marriott International’s Chairman Circle in 2009 and 2010.

In his new role as the Director of Sales & Marketing at the JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu, Deep will play a pivotal role in leading 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 catalysing the branding and communications efforts of the hotel.

Please let me know if you need inputs from the Director of Sales & Marketing on stories about initiatives taken by the hotel which lead to revenue growth during the pandemic, how the hotel has catered to smaller luxury weddings, intimate functions or any other industry story you may be working on. Feel free to reach out to us and we will be happy to facilitate the same for you.

Appointment | Mr. Harpal Singh has been appointed as the new Director of Finance & Business Support at Holiday Inn Jaipur City Centre.

Mr. Harpal Singh has been appointed as the new Director of Finance & Business Support at

Holiday Inn Jaipur City Centre.

Overseeing the hotel's finances, Harpal is an industry veteran with roughly 15 years of

experience in the hospitality industry having previously served as Financial Controller in Crowne Plaza Today, Gurgaon (An IHG Hotel). He has also been associated with brands like

Kingdom of Dreams Gurugram and Radisson MBD Hotel Noida.

Spearheading the hotel’s business strategy, Harpal will continue to evolve innovatively finance structures, processes, and effective controls, further strengthening risk management practices, as well as developing and mentoring our Finance executives across the hotel.

Harpal’s impressive background will benefit the hotel as we seek to progress our operational and financial performances. We believe he is the ideal leader to elevate our profit growth for a strong and sustainable future," said Pankaj Gupta, General Manager.

Harpal has completed his MBA in Finance from JIMS, Delhi, and is passionate about Travelling, Playing Cricket, and Badminton.

Appointment | Dinesh Rai appointed as GM at Crowne Plaza Kochi

Prior to him moving to Crowne Plaza Kochi, he held the position of General Manager with Four Points Kochi where he was responsible for pre-opening of the hotel.

Crowne Plaza Kochi has appointed Dinesh Rai as General Manager. With over two decades of experience in operation and business development, Dinesh is known for his leadership qualities complemented by diverse work experiences. He brings valuable knowledge from the wide-ranging assignments with prestigious international and Indian hospitality groups. He has worked with leading brands such as Marriott, Accor, IHG and Taj Hotels during his previous assignments.

In his new role, Rai will be responsible for the continued success of the hotel by combining cutting-edge hospitality with innovative experiences for the guests. He has consistently displayed an incisive business sense along with fostering an environment of innovative thinking for driving revenues and operational excellence in all his assignments. With an outstanding reputation in establishing personal connections with guests and associates alike, his approach to work has always been commendable.

On his new appointment, Rai says, “Crowne Plaza Kochi is a Luxury Hotel with perfect embodiment of world-class service and True Hospitality. I look forward to advancing the plan we have in place, to expand our brand’s reach, build stronger connections with the local community, maintain fruitful relationships with our partners and deliver genuine experiences for our guests. Apart from devising strategies for strong Rooms and Social business, focus will be to leverage on Food and Beverage capabilities to curate novel offerings for our house guests and the residents of Kochi.” Prior to him moving to Crowne Plaza Kochi, he held the position of General Manager with Four Points Kochi where he was responsible for pre-opening the hotel.

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Appointment | Brian Hashkowitz is Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi’s new general manager

Hashkowitz has been with Marriott for more than 20 years

Brian Hashkowitz has been appointed general manager of Le Royal Méridien in Abu Dhabi. The hotel is part of the Marriott International portfolio and Hashkowitz has been with the group for more than 20 years.

He moves from JW Marriott Marquis for his new role in the UAE capital. He was hotel manager at the Dubai property, where he oversaw the operation of 1,608 keys and 15 F&B outlets.

He said: “I am very excited to join Le Royal Méridien Abu Dhabi. The property [is] situated in the city’s vibrant commercial district, and is known for its exceptional F&B venues, modern facilities and for its strong positioning in this active market.

“I look forward to my time working with the hotel’s extraordinary team.”

Hashkowitz has worked for Marriott since 1999. He was positioned in hotels from New York to London before moving to the Middle East.

Since 2006 he has held various executive roles, including director of rooms, director of food and beverage and director of operations.

Before joining the JW Marriott Marquis, he was at Marriott Hotel Al Jaddaf and Marriott Executive Apartments Al Jaddaf as hotel manager.

While there he led the restructuring of the leadership team, leading to boosts in profitability, efficiency and customer and associate satisfaction.

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Appointment | Nitin Thakur appointed as OYO's new Head of Communications

Nitin comes with over two decades of experience and would be responsible for looking at both internal and external communications for OYO

OYO has announced the appointment of Nitin Thakur as the Head of Communications. In this role, Nitin will be responsible for driving OYO's reputation forward and delivering the company's mission of empowering entrepreneurs of small and independent hotels and homes by providing full-stack technology that increases earnings and eases operations while bringing affordable and trusted accommodation that guests can book instantly.

A seasoned professional, Nitin comes with over two decades of experience and would be responsible for looking at both internal and external communications for OYO. He would be a part of OYO’s global leadership team.

Commenting on the development, Kavikrut, Chief Growth Officer - OYO, said, “At OYO, we are firm believers in communicating proactively and transparently. Since OYO’s early days, our communication strategy across the press, social media, and new emerging mediums has been a key lever in establishing OYO as a brand that is recognized and trusted by partners and guests alike. I am excited to welcome  Nitin to the leadership team and partner with him to further our communications strategy. As OYO recovers from the pandemic, Nitin will enable our OYOpreneurs to bring the OYO story to more partners and guests across the world.”

Rohit Kapoor, CEO of OYO -  India & Southeast Asia added, “I am thrilled and equally excited to collaborate with a veteran like Nitin who brings in a great deal of experience and learning to OYO. As both India and OYO move ahead on the path of recovery from the impact of COVID-19, Nitin would play an important role in steering our communication efforts for all stakeholders, including our patrons, guests, and OYOpreneurs. We are glad to have him on board and look forward to collaborating closely with him.”

Nitin Thakur, the newly appointed Head of Communications for OYO, said, “Today, OYO is synonymous with building technology for small and independent hotels and homes. The company has been truly innovative across the industries it operates in and has emerged as one of the few globally local brands from India. Its footprint extends across India, Southeast Asia, and Europe among other geographies. I am truly excited to take on this mandate and work with passionate, mission-oriented individuals for continuing the momentum of OYO’s recovery and communicating its fabulous journey to the world.”

Prior to OYO, Nitin was a part of the Group Executive Leadership Team at the Max Group where his role involved strengthening the Group’s reputation through traditional and digital media and providing leadership and guidance for strategic campaigns such as mergers & acquisitions for the Group’s operating companies, crisis management, etc. In his previous tenures, Nitin has worked with Microsoft India, managing product advocacy and communications and large communication consultancies advising various Tata Group companies on their reputation management.

New Appointment | IHCL announces three strategic leadership roles

The leadership roles have been created to sharpen focus on customer centricity, drive diversity and inclusion and institutionalize owner/partner engagement

Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), South Asia’s largest hospitality company, announced three strategic leadership roles, which will sharpen focus on customer centricity, drive diversity and inclusion and institutionalize owner/partner engagement.

Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, said, “We have identified three Strategic Areas to create sustainable competitive advantages and build our future. Customer Centricity has always been a key differentiator for IHCL, and Taj being rated the World’s Strongest Hotel Brand stands testimony to this. Fundamental to our success is the focus on Diversity to nurture an inclusive and diverse workplace. Finally, in pursuance of our asset-light growth strategy with ~70 hotels signed in the last three years, strengthening Owner Relations has never been more important for IHCL’s future. As a result, we have identified three experienced and veteran leaders who will champion each of these strategic imperatives in an institutionalized manner.”

The Three New Strategic Functions Created Are:

1. Customer Centricity: With insights, relationships, and personalization defining the future of customer engagement in the hospitality industry, Ritika Gupta will be responsible for creating business value through customer centricity and relationship management. With close to three decades of experience with the organization in various customer-centric roles, Ritika brings in the right mix of customer focus and relationship orientation to lead this function.

2. Diversity: In order to further promote IHCL as a diverse and inclusive organization, Rakhee Lalvani will take on the new role of Diversity Head and will be responsible for developing and implementing best practices to promote diversity and inclusion in the organization. A senior leader with close to 30 years of experience at IHCL, Rakhee is well-positioned to spearhead this strategic initiative.

3. Owner/Partner Management: As we continue to pursue asset-light growth and add more owners to our family, cultivating and strengthening owner relationships is critical to secure our future. A seasoned business leader with approximately two decades of experience at IHCL, Ram Maheshwari has taken on the responsibility to streamline owner/partner engagement processes and develop robust relationships.

The three leaders will closely work with the Managing Director & CEO on these strategic initiatives. Rakhee, Ritika, and Ram will drive these important imperatives while retaining their current roles and responsibilities in the organization.

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