Appointment | Double Tree by Hilton Pune-Chinchwad appoints Ashwarya Varma as Marketing and Communication Manager

She will elevate the brand’s positioning, drive engagement and raise revenue levels through innovative marketing campaigns and PR activities

DoubleTree by Hilton Pune-Chinchwad has announced the appointment of Ashwarya Varma as the Marketing and Communications Manager. She shows immense credibility and promises to shoulder responsibilities in order to carry out all marketing and PR driven activities. Bringing on table years of experience she is all set to elevate the brand’s positioning, driving engagement and raise the revenue levels through innovative marketing campaigns and PR activities.

Ashwarya has nearly six years of professional work experience and prior to joining DoubleTree by Hilton Pune-Chinchwad, her last stint was with a PR agency- Adfactors PR where she was responsible for carrying out all key communication and PR activities for several major brands.

Ashwarya holds a PGD in Media and Communication as well as a BBA in Media and Communication from Whistling Woods International, Mumbai. Commenting on her appointment, Ashwarya said “I am truly elated and excited to be a part of the team at DoubleTree by Hilton Pune-Chinchwad and I look forward to forming strong connections with my associates, great repertoire with guests and lasting binds with the media fraternity. It is an honor to receive this opportunity and will strive hard to deliver my best in raising the hotel’s status to higher levels”.

Appointment | Sahara Star appoints Piyush Sinha as its new Chief Engineer

He will oversee all aspects of the engineering department ensuring better efficiency in product, time, and finance

Sahara Star Mumbai has appointed Piyush Sinha as its new Chief Engineer. Piyush Sinha will oversee all aspects of the Engineering department ensuring better efficiency in product, time, and finance. He will be implementing best business practices to achieve organizational goals and reduce the carbon footprint of the property for contributing to a safer environment.

His qualifications include specialization in B. Tech with an executive MBA degree in Project and Operations Management from IIT Ghaziabad. Piyush Sinha brings along a decade of comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire safety operations with a first-rate pre-opening experience of several luxury Marriott properties. Prior to joining Sahara Star, Piyush was associated with the Ritz Carlton Pune and has spent a considerable period working with several iconic Marriott Properties PAN India.

Appointment | Kumar Videsh is Operations Manager of Four A Lords Resort, Jammu

He has over 13 years of experience in leading the banqueting, food and beverage, room service, and ODCs

Kumar Videsh has joined Four A Lords Resort, Jammu as Operations Manager. He has over 13 years of experience in leading the banqueting, food and beverage, room service, and ODCs.

The 35-year young Kumar has a Diploma in Hotel Management and catering technology. He spent the initial days of his career at Four Points Vashi, Mumbai as food and beverage Associate and later joined Radisson Kandla, Gandhidham as Team Leader before shifting to Westin Pune, Koregaon Park as food and beverage Executive.

Kumar then moved to Fern Hotel, Ahmedabad as banquet manager, Hotel Clarks Avadh, Lucknow as food and beverage Manager, Fern Hotel, Jaipur as food and beverage Manager, Binori Hotels Ahmedabad as food and beverage Manager. He was also associated with Lithosphere by Upper Crust, Ahmedabad as Operations Manager. He signed off his innings at Nexus Lords Club, Gandhidham and rejoined FALRJ as Unit Head.

Appointment | Conrad Bengaluru appoints Dhinakaran Kuppusamy as HR Director

Having started his professional journey in 1992 with ITC Hotels Park Sheraton and Towers, Chennai, his previous assignment was with the InterContinental Abu Dhabi as the Head of Human Resources

Dhinakaran Kuppusamy has joined Conrad Bengaluru as the Director of Human Resources. He is a seasoned veteran in Hotel Operations and Human Resources, with over 29 years of experience.

Having started his professional journey in 1992 with ITC Hotels Park Sheraton and Towers, Chennai, his previous assignment was with InterContinental Abu Dhabi as the Head of Human Resources. Dhinakaran’s body of work also includes a successful tenure with The Zuri Whitefield Bengaluru, Crowne Plaza Bengaluru Electronics City, InterContinental Hotels Group – Area Director of Human Resources – South India, Crowne Plaza Dubai, Millennium Place Dubai as a Cluster DHR.

Having pursued his MBA in HR from Bharathiar University, Dhinakaran comes with a wide spectrum of knowledge pertaining to the industry. Hence, his new role at Conrad Bengaluru would primarily focus on various areas such as employee well-being, resourcing, talent development, supporting and encouraging excellence in customer service.

On his appointment, Dhinakaran said, “Embarking on a professional journey with Conrad Bengaluru, I am delighted to be a part of Hilton hotels. I am looking forward to developing new and effective strategies and capabilities that further enhance the overall growth of Conrad Bengaluru’s culture and vision.

Appointment | Henna Punjabi is the Marketing and Communications Manager at The Westin Chennai Velachery

She will be responsible for diverse marketing, communications, media relations, social media and digital marketing activities

The Westin Chennai Velachery has appointed Heena Punjabi as Marketing and Communications Manager. She will be responsible for diverse marketing, communications, media relations, social media and digital marketing activities. Her role engages her to enhance brand visibility of the hotel along with positioning and marketing of Food & Beverage presence of award-winning restaurants and the Spa in the Hotel.

Henna is a seasoned hospitality sales and marketing professional, holding 6+ years of enriching experience in the industry. She started her career with Holiday Inn Chennai launching the property and then moved on to work with different brands in Bengaluru where she set up communications, brand language. She then returned to Chennai with Dineout, spearheading sales and acquisitions for Dineout Passport. She has successfully penetrated the market and set benchmarks while working on different events and collaborations for the brand.

At The Westin Chennai Velachery, Henna, looks forward to creating robust marketing strategies by channelizing maximum tools to create engaging, effective and relevant marketing and communication campaigns. In her leisure time, she likes to read mystery novels and solo travel.

Appointment | Taj West End Bengaluru appoints Sandip Narang as Hotel Manager

He will be responsible for positioning the hotel as a landmark property in the city, in addition to managing its commercial objectives, and delivering world-class experiences to its guests

Sandip Narang has been elevated to the position of Hotel Manager at the Taj West End, Bengaluru. With nearly three decades of experience working as a chef at IHCL, Narang brings with him a repertoire of knowledge and experience both in the field of culinary as well as hotel management and operations.

In his new role, he will be responsible for positioning the hotel as the landmark property in the heart of the city, in addition to managing the hotel’s commercial objectives, and delivering world-class experiences to its guests. He says, “Having spent my last few years in the city, I’m thrilled to be leading the team at Taj West End. I look forward to working with the entire team on further elevating the bespoke service and innovative guest experience that the Taj group of hotels are known for.”

Having graduated from the Bombay catering college, he started his culinary training at the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers. Over the years, he has led and been a part of various teams catering to heads of state and celebrities both in India and around the world; organized food promotions in various countries around the world, in addition to extensive touring of the Middle East and launching the successful restaurant, ‘SOUK’.

A highlight in his career was when he essayed the role of personal chef to former Indian Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee on his trips to Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkey, in 2002-03.

His past roles include the responsibilities of Executive Chef at the lush Taj West End, Bengaluru, Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, Maldives, and the stunning Taj Lake Palace Udaipur. 

In his spare time, he can be found rewatching Amitabh Bachchan classics and building a secret collection of fountain pens.

Appointment | Mercure Chennai Sriperumbudur appoints Susanta Kumar Jena as Housekeeping Manager

At Mercure Chennai, he will be responsible for Housekeeping operations and Mercure organic Garden

Mercure Chennai Sriperumbudur has appointed Susanta Kumar Jena, as Housekeeping Manager. He brings with her over 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has worked under ITC Kakatiya Hyderabad and his last assignment was with Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre as Housekeeping Manager.

At Mercure Chennai, he will be responsible for Housekeeping operations and Mercure organic Garden. Mercure is a mid-scale brand that combines the strength of an international network with locally inspired experiences.

Appointment | DoubleTree by Hilton Pune-Chinchwad appoints Apoorva Tripathi as Finance Manager

She will be responsible for preparing the operational budgets with regular forecasting of reports and will be accountable for the financial health of the organization

DoubleTree by Hilton Pune-Chinchwad has appointed Apoorva Tripathi as the Finance Manager. She will be responsible in preparing the operational budgets with regular forecasting of report as well as be accountable for the financial health of the organization.

Apoorva Tripathi secured her CMA course from The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India and started her professional journey nearly nine years ago. During her tenure she has had the opportunity to work with several hospitality brands such as The Taj Group, Le Meridien, Renaissance Race Course Hotel etc. In the course of her working at The Renaissance Race Course Hotel Bengaluru, Apoorva was instrumental for generating and providing accurate and timely results in the form of reports, presentations, providing direction and assistance to other organizational units regarding accounting and budgeting policies and procedures, and efficient control and utilization of financial resources, and much more.

A dynamic team leader, Apoorva looks forward to working with her team in achieving the key financial aspects of the hotel. In her leisure time, she loves spending time reading books, listening to music, playing badminton, and singing.

Commenting on Apoorva’s appointment Vinay Nair, General Manager said, “We are pleased to welcome Apoorva on board. We look forward to doing some great work with her to ensure streamlining of our financial and budgeting processes, financial modeling, and much more”.

In all her prior positions, Apoorva has played a key role in accelerating the brand’s goals which have resulted in her achieving senior positions. Throughout the years she has been a go-getter, loyal and seasoned professional at every organization that she has been a part of.

At DoubleTree by Hilton Pune-Chinchwad, Apoorva will be working closely with the leadership team to positively impact the hotel’s financial goals. “I am thrilled to embark upon this journey and be presented with this opportunity. The hotel has a special place in the heart of many in Pune, to ensure that it carries on; driving the financial operations and taking them to greater heights will be my main focus,” said Apoorva Tripathi, Finance Manager, DoubleTree by Hilton Pune-Chinchwad.

Accor appoints Vinay Gupta as Director of Operations for ibis India portfolio

Accor announced Vinay Gupta’s appointment as the Director of Operations for ibis and ibis Styles, India portfolio. He is a veteran in the Hospitality sector with over 25 years of experience managing hotels, alongside being the founder of an aspirational food and beverage concept, with his last role being Vice President at SAMHI Hotels.

Throughout his career span of 25 years as a hotelier, he has handled different roles from being in an entry level role to managing different portfolios for a single brand, to being a General Manager of different hotels across three different continents.

He has an MBA Degree from The University of Central Lancashire, UK and a Diploma in Hospitality from IHM, Pusa Road. He also holds a BA Hons in Hospitality from Lancaster University, UK.

On his appointment, Vinay Gupta said, “I am delighted and honored to be back with Accor, it feels like homecoming in so many ways. Ibis has had a great journey with 20 hotels currently operating across the nation and five under development. ibis and ibis Styles are the fun and youthful global brand by Accor, I look forward to work on taking it to newer heights. We have a highly motivated and exceptional team that runs our hotels as well as a strong and loyal guest base. I look forward to being a part of this exciting journey ahead.”

On this occasion, Puneet Dhawan, Senior VP Operations, India and South Asia for Accor, “We are thrilled to welcome Vinay back to the Accor family with this new and exciting role. Our Ibis portfolio continues to grow from strength to strength and I am sure his insights and support will be invaluable for the team as we continue to expand the portfolio in the coming years.”

Congratulating Vinay, JB Singh, President and CEO- InterGlobe Hotels, said, “We are delighted to welcome Vinay to Interglobe and the ibis family. He holds a rich and a diverse experience in this industry and brings strong expertise with him. We are confident that his knowledge and approach to the business along with his passionate outlook will help us grow aggressively over the next few years.”

Appointment | Sayaji Hotels Limited Appoints Sonia Sharma as Director of Human Resources

Sonia brings over 12 years of experience in the field of Human Resources in India and abroad.

Sayaji Hotels Limited has announced the appointment of Sonia Sharma as Director of Human Resources. In her new role she will be responsible for all HR policies in Maharashtra and Gujarat regions and will report to Vice President-Operations and People for all strategic Human Resources initiatives. All the HR Managers in the region and Corporate Office will report to her.

A seasoned hospitality professional, Sonia brings over 12 years of experience in the field of Human Resources in India and abroad. She has worked with preeminent hospitality brands like Hyatt Hotels, Hilton Worldwide, Accor Hotels and Atmosphere Maldives.

Her career highlights entail pre-openings of some of the most prestigious hotel projects like Andaz, New Delhi and Conrad, Bengaluru which earned her various hospitality accolades like Hotelier India Award for Best HR Person of the Year. She is also a Certified Academic Trainer from Accor and have launched several award winning initiatives in the field of Learning and Development, Diversity and Inclusion.

Sayaji Hotels will soon expand its footprints nationally with property openings in Itarsi, Udaipur, Morbi, Bhuj, Dwarka, Satara, Dehradun, Bhopal, Rewa, Aurangabad, Tadoba, and Vizag.

Appointment | Neeraj Rawoot is Executive Chef at JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort and Spa

He will spearhead the culinary teams and related operations, curating menus and presenting innovative dishes with a distinctive twist

JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort and Spa has appointed Neeraj Rawoot as its Executive Chef. At the newly inaugurated luxury property, the chef will be spearheading the culinary teams and related operations, curating menus and presenting innovative dishes with a distinctive twist. Guests will be able to enjoy these exquisite and modern gastronomical escapades across the property’s premium fine dining outlets such as Aaleeshan, Truffle and Co. East, VISTA and Flamingo Bar.

Hailing from Jamshedpur, the spirited chef, a food and beverage enthusiast himself, began his culinary journey in the capital city with stints at the Imperial Hotel. With over 22 years of rich proficiency in stirring up Indian, Thai and Nouvelle Western cuisines, Chef Neeraj is passionate about curating an experience that nourishes the soul. 

His portfolio includes training at some of the country’s top hotel chains and gaining a refined experience by working at some of the renowned hotels including The Leela Ambience Hotel and Residences, Gurgaon, Sofitel Mumbai, Hilton Chennai, Grand Hyatt – Mumbai and President Park Bangkok amongst others. He credits his speciality in Indian tandoor and curry making to his tenure at the Great Kebab Factory at Radisson, New Delhi.

Speaking on his appointment at the JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort and Spa, Chef Neeraj commented, “I am honored and overwhelmed to join the JW Marriott family, a brand which has a unique culinary structure. This is my first stint with Marriott, and I am looking forward to curating memorable and delicious gourmet experiences for our cherished guests.”

A seasoned and accomplished culinary professional, the Chef, for two consecutive years has been awarded the BW Hotelier Award for Executive chef of the Year, National level (2019) and Western India (2020). His versatility combined with leadership skills and the ability to remain calm in a chaotic environment ensures he has all the makings for success. 

To unwind, the chef indulges in music, movies, and swimming. With linguistic fluency in Thai and a profound interest in learning new languages, Neeraj believes that studying/exploring a new cuisine is incomplete without an understanding of the unique characteristics of a place’ local people and culture.

Appointment | Martijn Zengerink has been promoted to hotel manager at Crowne Plaza Dubai Jumeirah.

Martijn Zengerink has been promoted to hotel manager at Crowne Plaza Dubai Jumeirah. Working at the property since its transition from Ramada to IHG Hotels & Resorts, he has been a driving force behind a number of the hotel’s successes.

Namely, he helped to increase the hotel’s ADR by AED60 year-on-year through new revenue strategies and oversaw the launch of Brick Wall Sports Bar. He was previously been EAM in charge of F&B and hotel operations manager at the property.

Since rebranding from Ramada, the Crowne Plaza Dubai Jumeirah plans to become the brand’s benchmark not only in the UAE but in the rest of the Middle East. It is one of the first openings under Crowne Plaza’s new brand image, pitching itself towards a more modern set of guests.

Crowne Plaza is one of the most well-established and well-respected hospitality brands there is. Founded back in the 1980s, the brand has been in Dubai alone for well over a decade. Over the years, the commitment to consistency and familiarity has made it immensely popular, with families in particular.

In November last year 2021, we spoke to the cluster GM at the time Joseph Karam to find out about the hotel. He has since moved on to be director of operations for Ishraq Hospitality

IHG is setting its sights on a younger demographic. Crowne Plaza falls into IHG’s Premium Collection of brands, a new collection the group launched earlier this year following a global rebranding. Renaming from InterContinental Hotels Group to IHG Hotels and Resorts, the facelift was launched to tap into a “younger demographic of consumers“, as well as hotel owners, colleagues and future talent”. The evolution of the Crowne Plaza family forms an integral part of this companywide shift.

Appointment | Executive housekeeper appointed at Rixos Doha Qetaifan Island North

The upcoming Rixos Doha Qetaifan Island North has appointed its executive housekeeper to lead the department. Akshay Virkud joins the debut Rixos Doha property from the Alwadi Hotel Doha – MGallery.

Also part of the Accor stable, Virkud was at the Alwadi hotel for over five years as its executive housekeeper. During his stint there, he became an ALL Safe Officer in the early days of its rollout – working to contain the spread of Covid-19 within hotels.

Virkud brings almost two decades of experience to the role, working as a housekeeping assistant at the Trident Hilton Jaipur in 2004. He went on to work as a housekeeping team leader for Grand Hyatt Mumbai for just over a year, moving on to Labriz Silhouette Resort and Spa in Seychelles as an assistant housekeeper.

Following two years with Shangri-La, he went on to join Four Points by Sheraton in Mumbai as deputy housekeeper, later returning to Seychelles as a housekeeping manager with Constance Ephelia Resort.

In 2014, he entered Qatar for the first time, working with Melia Hotels as an executive housekeeper.

Set to open in 2022, the Rixos Doha Qetaifan looks to open in time to welcome World Cup visitors. Accor is partnering with Qetaifan Projects Company, a 100 percent owned subsidiary of Katara Hospitality to manage the new Rixos Doha Qetaifan on the Qetaifan Island North project, an island located off Lusail City.

At the time of the hotel’s unveiling, Mark Willis, CEO of Accor Turkey, India, Middle East & Africa, said: “This development is an excellent opportunity for us to expand our footprint in the region. This will be the first Rixos in Qatar and with the world cup taking place in 2022, we expect it to become a landmark for hospitality and leisure hotel in Doha.”

Meet the leadership team at the Taj Exotica Resort & Spa The Palm Dubai

The new Taj Exotica Resort & Spa The Palm in Dubai has introduced its leadership team. The resort from the Indian operating giant has named its general manager, hotel manager, executive chef and department directors.

Ranjit Phillipose, area director Middle East and general manager of Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai said: “We are very pleased to have launched Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai. We look forward to establishing the Taj Exotica name in the region and showcasing Tajness to our esteemed guests. As a brand, we take pride in everything we do, and the team will embody this in the ethos of their work. I’m confident every guest will enjoy the resort’s unique offerings and world-class hospitality.”

The team at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa The Palm Dubai The Palm

Ranjit Phillipose – area director, Middle East and general manager

A Taj stalwart, Phillipose has been with the group for close to three decades. Starting as a duty manager for Taj Coromandel Hotel in 1993, he became room director for Taj Boston in 2005, later hotel manager of the same hotel until 2009.

He would go on to become general manager of Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad, later general manager of Taj Exotica Resort and Spa in the Maldives. In 2015 he came area director for Taj Goa and GM of Taj Exotica in Goa. From 2016 onwards, he worked in the Middle East, first as GM of Taj Dubai and later as an area director.

Greg Kocsis – Hotel manager

Originally from Hungary, Greg Kocsis is an experienced hotel manager with international experience in the luxury market, having previously worked in Beverly Hills, Miami, Barbados, London, Oman and Maldives for leading hotel brands over the course of 18 years.

The well-being of staff is a value Kocsis holds close to his heart. He said: “Our colleagues are the essence of our business, as we take care of them, it reflects back on their sincere attitude and dedicated care to our guests, which makes us stand out among our competitors.”

Dorsai Khaghani – director of sales & marketing

With over 15 years of experience, Dorsai Khaghani has led a number of successful launches of some of Dubai’s biggest and most successful hotel brands. She has previously served as a VIP sales executive for Atlantis Dubai, later moving up to manager of international sales at the famous Dubai hotel.

Her move to Taj marks an end to an eight-year career with Sofitel Dubai The Palm where she was director of sales leisure and later DOSM.

Lionel Dousse – F&B director

Swiss-born Lionel Dousse, director of food and beverage at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, is bringing 14 years of experience to this role and has previously worked in Djibouti, Ghana, and Latvia, as well as the UAE. He specializes in creating dining concepts for pre-opening restaurants and bars. 

Dousse is responsible for developing unique dining experiences for the food and beverage operations across the seven outlets, including banqueting with two ballrooms and eight meeting rooms. 

Outlets at the new hotel include Indian spot Varq, Middle Eastern rooftop bar, and lounge Raia, the international Palm Kitchen, British pub Roaring Rabbit, seafood bistro The Coast, and Lime Pool Bar.

Sonu Koithara – Executive chef

Having been a part of the IHCL (Indian Hotels Company Limited) for over 15 years, Sonu Koithara has been an integral part of the culinary teams for several hotels in India and recently in Dubai with the opening of Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers. He has big plans to put Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, The Palm, Dubai on the map.

Dr. Arun Aravind – director of spa

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai will house its own resident Ayurvedic expert. Dr. Arun Aravind, a seasoned wellness professional, joins the team with over 22 years of experience and brings in-depth knowledge of the practice of Ayurveda to the hotel’s spa.  

He is a certified practitioner of Ayurvedic Management of Metabolic Syndrome and has worked in many resort spas throughout India. One of his specialties is curating destination retreat programs that combine holistic wellness practices with lifestyle management.

Appointment | The Westin Pune appoints Girdhar Jangid as Director of Finance

Girdhar Jangid

In his role, he will be instrumental in the preparation of Capex and operational Budgets with regular forecasting of reports

The Westin Pune Koregaon Park has appointed Girdhar Jangid as Director of Finance for The Westin Pune Koregaon Park. In his role, he will be instrumental in the preparation of Capex and operational Budgets with regular forecasting of reports. He will also play a key role in helping drive financial results through optimization of cost and materializing the potential savings.  

A qualified Chartered Accountant, Girdhar has 9.5 years of hospitality industry experience in accounting and finance. Prior to joining The Westin Pune Koregaon Park, he started his career with a CA firm, J G Verma and Co. At the time, Girdhar received several opportunities to interact with major clients that were professionals in the hospitality realm, and is also one of the reasons why he chose to explore his potential in the hospitality space.

Pursuing the same interest, he was associated with W Goa, through the Project Company as Accounts Manager, and later, he joined the hotel during the pre-opening period as Finance Manager. In 2018, he was promoted as Sr. Finance Manager and in 2020, was promoted again as Assistant Director of Finance. 

Some of his noteworthy accomplishments include a “Manager of the Year” award for the year 2018 at W Goa and implementation of GST compliance in W Goa, with zero non-compliance/default cases in the last 4 years. 

Girdhar holds a B.Com in Accounting and Finance (BAF) from Mumbai University. When he isn’t working, one can find him engaging with his hobbies of playing badminton, cycling, listening to music, and playing and watching cricket.

Commenting on his appointment, Girdhar Jangid, Director of Finance, The Westin Pune Koregaon Park, said, “I am honored and pleased to be a part of the Westin family. Learning from my past work experiences, I believe in what I can bring to the table, and as a member in a leadership role, I look forward to mentoring a young team of talented financial professionals. I’m grateful for this opportunity and will continue to do my best in streamlining budgeting processes, looking after the financial modeling, and better my decision-making to support the growth goals of the hotel.”

Commenting on Girdhar’s appointment, George Bennet Kuruvilla, General Manager, The Westin Pune, Koregaon Park, said, “We are pleased to have Girdhar join our team at Westin Pune. We are looking forward to doing some great work with him to utilize our budgets in the most efficient way. With his rich financial experience and better decision skills, we are definitely looking at growth and success for the hotel”

Appointment | Sofitel Mumbai BKC appoints Farshid Billimoria as Director of Revenue

Farshid Billimoria

He will be responsible for driving topline revenue and market share through the implementation of strategic pricing and inventory controls

Sofitel Mumbai BKC has appointed Farshid Billimoria as its new Director of Revenue. He comes with nearly a decade of distinguished hospitality and software experience in Revenue Management and Reservations, with a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management from WelcomGroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal.

In his role, Billimoria will be responsible for driving topline revenue and market share through the implementation of strategic pricing and inventory controls for the hotel including, the Food & Beverage and banqueting areas. His role further involves supporting the Reservations team and working closely with the Sales and Marketing teams to manage room business and online sales.

Billimoria started his career with Accor in 2011 and due to his strong analytical skills and positive attitude, he was appointed as the Cluster Revenue Manager for seven Accor hotels in Chennai within a short span. Prior to joining Sofitel Mumbai BKC, he worked as the Director of Revenue at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach.

Appointment | Depankar Ganguly appointed food and beverage Manager at Hyatt Pune Kalyani Nagar

Depankar Ganguly

Depankar Ganguly appointed food and beverage Manager at Hyatt Pune Kalyani Nagar

Depankar Ganguly, food and beverage Manager, Hyatt Pune Kalyani Nagar.

Hyatt Pune Kalyani Nagar has appointed Depankar Ganguly as the food and beverage manager for the property. He will oversee all food and beverage operations at Hyatt Pune, Kalyani Nagar, encompassing Baan Tao, award-winning pan- Asian restaurant, Fishbowl Lounge, Eighty-Eight the all-day dining multi cuisine restaurant, and banquet operations. He will be responsible for maintaining the service quality, ensuring guest satisfaction, and smooth operations of the restaurants, including delivery services.

This is Ganguly’s first stint with Hyatt hotels. He previously has been associated with brands like Marriott and Pullman, where he was spearheading the Food and Beverage department. A seasoned professional with a career spanning 16 years, Ganguly has a strong background in Food and Beverage Operations, Public Relations, Business Development, General Administration, quality and hygiene standards.

Appointment | Pilibhit House - IHCL SeleQtions appoints Mani Mohan Pathak as their new Executive Chef

Pilibhit House - IHCL SeleQtions appoints Mani Mohan Pathak as their new Executive Chef

National, March, 2022 - Haridwar’s most luxurious address, Pilibhit House, is an artfully restored 100-year-old aristocratic mansion that is now a part of the IHCL SeleQtions group. Pilibhit House is the ‘magnum opus’ of Prasad Heritage Group. Founded more than a century ago by prominent members of the first family of Pilibhit.

Pilibhit House, Haridwar – IHCL SeleQtions has appointed Mani Mohan Pathak as their Executive Chef, to lead their multifaceted culinary operations.

With a rich experience of over 22 years, Chef Mani has served renowned hospitality brands across the globe such as Taj Residency Visakhapatnam, The Lalit Ashok Bangalore and other leading hotels and restaurants across the country. Most recently, Chef Mani was leading the culinary operations at ‘Fox in the Field’ in Bangalore as their Executive Chef.

Commenting on the announcement, Amit Kumar Thakur, General Manager, Pilibhit House said, “We are delighted to have Chef Mani as the Executive Chef leading the culinary operations at Pilibhit House. His arrival is expected to bring an extraordinary addition to our culinary offerings and kitchen team. It is a fantastic opportunity for us to build on our existing offerings and continue to exceed guests’ expectations. With his passion for food, we are excited about the fresh perspective and innovation Chef Mani will add to Pilibhit House’s fine dining experiences.”

His unrelenting passion aside, Chef Mani admits that a flourishing career in the industry has influenced his culinary skills in a substantial way, allowing him to create flavour combinations that impart original and unique qualities to dishes. He is excited to take the lead as Executive Chef and combine the timeless elegance of Pilibhit House with his renewed take on food.

Thrilled about his new beginning with Pilibhit House, Chef Mani Mohan Pathak says “I am motivated to experiment with my culinary philosophy, working with the finest local ingredients to create unique regional and global vegetarian dishes. I look forward to curating exceptional and memorable dining experiences for guests at Pilibhit House.”

Chef Mohan is convinced that food should bring the ultimate joy to guests. An advocate of presenting dishes aesthetically with simplicity, Chef Mani prefers to let his culinary skills and use of complementing ingredients, continue to impress. With Chef Mani spearheading the kitchen team at Pilibhit House, every traveller will head back home with a stomach and heart full of delightful memories.

About Pilibhit House

A realm of tranquillity, Pilibhit House sits charmingly by the Ganges overlooking the glorious Shivalik Himalayas. This heritage residence houses the largest private bathing ghat of the region for the customary dip and some quiet moments with the river.

Tread past the arched doorway into this ancestral mansion, and the constructs of time & regulation melt away. You are led into artfully designed rooms and suites across 3 levels, that either face the open courtyard or offer views of the Ganges. In either case you stay pampered and blissful.

The Dining Room presents a range of international cuisine and the best local home recipes with the food being divinely vegetarian. The alfresco seating ensures views of the Ganges aplenty. If you have something more evocative in mind, the River Deck, Pool Deck by the Mango Tree and The Terrace with their panoramic views will be memorable as dining spots. 

Experience an all-natural Jiva Spa and age-old Indian wellness including a unique Gangetic mud bath, a petite infinity pool and the River Room which is a great spot for curling up with a bestseller or your playlist. The early morning nature walks and Yoga keep your day sprightly and fresh.

Appointment | Mercure Chennai Sriperumbudhur appoints Swarnalatha Siddharthan as Associate Director of Sales

Swarnalatha Siddharthan

Mercure Chennai Sriperumbudhur has appointed Swarnalatha Siddharthan as Associate Director of Sales. She brings with her over 12 years of experience in the hospitality industry and has worked with brands like Hinduja Global Solutions, Trident Hotel – Chennai, Holiday Inn Express – Mahindra World City, Fortune Select Grand – Chennai and Accor Hotels. Her last assignment was with Fairfield by Marriott, Sriperumbudur as Sales Manager.

At Mercure Chennai, she will be responsible for sales and marketing operations to reaffirm the hotel’s standing. Her key strengths being her efficient work ethic, positive attitude, ability to remain calm at stressful situations and ability to multi-task and that’s what sets her apart.

Appointment | Niraj Chotai is the new Director of Sales at The Westin Hyderabad

The hotel has also appointed Niraj Chotai as the director of sales. A strategic thinker, with a heightened knowledge of revenue management, sales forecasting, market evaluation, and overall systems, Chotai also brings about 15 years of experience to table. With experience and expertise in dynamic and fast-paced markets, he has elevated himself through his numerous achievements

Relaying through the early stages of his career, he worked at Jurys Inns Ltd. at Heathrow, London. He moved to Taj Hotels & Resorts London and also worked at Crowne Plaza London St. James, where he was able to acquire major learnings in hospitality components. Chotai also embarked on an entrepreneurial journey with Food Fuel Restaurant in Nagpur.

At The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace, Chotai will be responsible for the annual business and marketing strategies of the hotel. Under his leadership, he shall ensure the desired targets are met and untapped business opportunities are explored.