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.

Alma Resort Cam Ranh Appoints Homegrown Talent as Spa Manager

Alma Resort Cam Ranh Appoints Homegrown Talent as Spa Manager

CAM RANH, Vietnam (August 2022) – Nguyen Thi Thanh Hang, a professional with more than 15 years of hospitality wellness experience, has been named spa manager at Alma Resort’s Le Spa.

Born and bred in nearby Nha Trang, Hang joins the 30-hectare resort’s Le Spa after five years as the spa manager at Vinpearl Resort & Spa Long Beach Nha Trang’s Akoya Spa.

Upon graduating from Khanh Hoa College with a major in hotel and restaurant management, she began her hospitality career in 2006 as a receptionist at Nha Trang’s Ngoc Dung hotel. In 2007 Hang became a qualified masseuse at Khanh Hoa Medical College and worked as a spa therapist at Six Senses Hideaway Resort Ninh Van Bay for almost four years.

From 2011 until 2017 Hang was a spa therapist and spa trainer at Six Senses Spa at Missoni Hotel, later renamed Symphony Style Hotel, in Kuwait. She returned to Khanh Hoa province in 2017 as the spa manager at Vinpearl Resort & Spa Long Beach Nha Trang, situated next door to Alma, and from 2019 to 2021 was also the spa director overseeing the Akoya Spas at 14 Vinpearl properties across Vietnam.

Hang has won various awards throughout her career including ‘Best Spa Manager’ across the Vinpearl Group.

“Hang has a strong work ethic, can-do attitude, effectively leads her team and genuinely strives to improve the guest experience day in and day out; so much so she’s already developed an incredible new spa menu based on all-natural treatments in the few weeks she’s been here,” said Alma’s managing director Herbert Laubichler-Pichler.

Le Spa features 13 separate treatment villas sprinkled onto the landscape, each named after a different Vietnamese flower, as well as ‘his and hers’ saunas and steam rooms, two lounges, and a beauty salon.

Chef Bishan Singh Negi has taken over as Executive Chef at Novotel Guwahati GS Road

Novotel Guwahati GS Road is pleased to announce that Chef Bishan Singh Negi has recently joined the team as Executive Chef.

Prior to this role, he had worked as Executive Sous Chef in Westin Hyderabad Mind space & The Den hotel Bengaluru. Chef Negi (he loves to be called as Chef Negi) was born & brought up in Uttarakhand, he completed his degree from SHREE SHAKTI COLLEGE OF HOTEL MANAGEMENT Hyderabad.

He had done his specialization from SUAN DUSIT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL at Thai embassy & had been associated as certified Trainee in Oberoi Bangalore & Oberoi New Delhi) under Chef AUGUSTO.

Chef Negi has total 22 years of experience. He started his career from Taj Deccan in 2001 followed by Oberoi New Delhi & Trident Gurgaon. In 2009 he moved to Marriott & worked in various Courtyard by Marriott properties in Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Chennai as Pre-opening sous Chef , Executive Chef & Head chef respectively. He had a stint with IHG in Chennai as well where he worked as Executive Sous chef at intercontinental Mahabalipuram followed by another tenure in Marriott, as pre-opening Executive sous chef at JW Marriott Jaipur before moving to Den hotel, Bangaluru.

He is an explorer by choice & he loves to explore new places, experience new culture & try new cuisines.

“Guwahati has a different vibe compared to other metro cities; entire northeast is in a growing phase now. Guwahati is an emerging city & people are open to explore new cuisines, which makes me more comfortable and gives me a platform to introduce new culinary experience for guests. Our team is small but cultural diversity is here. I am looking forward to be a part of this family & to have an amazing experience with Accor.” – Chef Negi

Hyatt Regency appoints Kovid Ummat as Cluster Director, Marketing, for Hyatt Regency Dehradun & Hyatt Regency Jaipur Mansarovar

Hyatt Regency appoints Kovid Ummat as Cluster Director, Marketing, for Hyatt Regency Dehradun & Hyatt Regency Jaipur Mansarovar

India, August, 2022: Hyatt Regency by Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced the appointment of Kovid Ummat as the Cluster Director of Marketing for two properties —Hyatt Regency Dehradun, the first 5-star hotel and the largest luxury hotel in the state of Uttarakhand and Hyatt Regency Jaipur Mansarovar, the first Hyatt Regency property in the city.

Kovid, who brings to the brand a rich and diverse experience spanning nine years, will be orchestrating all marketing and communication strategies for both these hotels. While adept in ATL and BTL communication, he also has a comprehensive understanding of surrogate advertising.

He will be responsible for generating market specific-content to drive business growth and profitability and also for planning and executing strategies to strengthen the unrivalled and competitive positioning of the two hotels.

Kovid has worked in agencies such as Ogilvy and Dentsu handling a range of sectors: FMCG, Alco-Bev, QSRs and Automobiles. He has also held positions in both account management and strategic planning in his stint.

He has worked on some iconic brands such as Chivas, Ballantine’s, Beefeater, Mentos, Centre Fruit, Centre Fresh, Chupa Chups and Honda Motorcycles and Scooters India to name a few.

About Hyatt Regency

The Hyatt Regency brand prides itself on making travel free from stress and filled with success. More than 210 conveniently located Hyatt Regency urban and resort locations in more than 30 countries around the world serve as the go-to gathering space for every occasion – from efficient personalized, high-touch business meetings to energizing family vacations. The brand offers stress-free environments for seamless gatherings and empathetic service that anticipates guests’ needs. Designed for productivity and peace of mind, Hyatt Regency hotels and resorts offer a full range of services and amenities, including the space to work, engage or relax; notable culinary experiences; technology-enabled ways to collaborate; and expert meeting and event planners who can take care of every detail. For more information, please visit hyattregency.com. Follow @HyattRegency on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and tag photos with #HyattRegency.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose – to care for people so they can be their best. As of December 31, 2021, the Company’s portfolio included more than 1,150 hotel and all-inclusive properties in 70 countries across six continents. The Company's offering includes the Park Hyatt®, Miraval®, Grand Hyatt®, Alila®, Andaz®, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt®, Destination by Hyatt™, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt®, Hyatt Ziva™, Hyatt Zilara™, Thompson Hotels®, Hyatt Centric®, Caption by Hyatt, JdV by Hyatt™, Hyatt House®, Hyatt Place®, UrCove, and Hyatt Residence Club® brands, as well as resort and hotel brands under the AMR™ Collection, including Secrets® Resorts & Spas, Dreams® Resorts & Spas, Breathless Resorts & Spas®, Zoëtry® Wellness & Spa Resorts, Alua Hotels & Resorts®, and Sunscape® Resorts & Spas. Subsidiaries of the Company operate the World of Hyatt® loyalty program, ALG Vacations®, Unlimited Vacation Club®, Amstar DMC destination management services, and Trisept Solutions® technology services. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.

Monu K Bhardwaj to Lead the HR Division for The New Shop with his broad knowledge of employee welfare and human resources!

India, August 2022: The NEW Shop, India’s fastest growing convenience commerce company announces the appointment of Mr. Monu K Bharwaj as the Head of the Human Resource Division.  He has a track record of working in the retail sector and has experience in human resources, competent in sourcing, screening, HR policies, business planning, and budgeting. He holds an MBA with a specialization in HR and OB from Guru Jambheshwar University and is a strong human resources expert. As they continue to offer more services throughout India, The New Shop is excited to employ his abilities. Mr. Monu headed the HR division for WHSmith prior to joining The New Shop.

The NEW Shop began operating in important transit hubs, including roads and train stations, in Delhi NCR. Since then, it has had unheard-of growth as a result of seizing key strategic locations throughout the city, and it now operates over 50 stores in the NCR. The NEW Shop plans to have more than 1,000 stores by 2025, the bulk of which will be in residential areas, and to see exponential development. The NEW Shop currently operates in six cities: Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Indore, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Agra. 

The brand believes that an omnichannel delivery approach will dominate the convenience commerce market because it improves brand identification and product differentiation, which are currently absent in rapid commerce or conventional retail models. It also helps win customers' confidence and loyalty. The New Shop's hyperlocal delivery approach guarantees that consumers receive convenience goods and services in 30 minutes or less, 24hours a day and 7 days a week,it seeks to change the overall Indian consumer experience by providing such instant convenience at reasonable pricing. 

“Mr. Monu K. Bhardwaj has a wealth of experience in the field. I firmly believe he will lead The New Shop to its position as one of India's top convenience stores serving the entire world thanks to his outstanding vision and leadership. And we are confident that because of his management skills, he would look out for The New Shop's employees' needs and guide it to new heights in terms of business strategy.,” said Aastha Almast, Co-Founder, The NEW Shop.

The NEW Shop is a reasonably priced convenience store that offers a product selection that includes both established and cutting-edge direct-to-consumer brands. Fresh food and FMCG items such packaged foods, snacks, tobacco, beverages, pet care, over-the-counter prepared foods, personal care, home care, cleanliness, stationery, and other essentials are sold in The NEW Shop. With a variety of offerings that redefine convenience commerce, such as ATM services, courier services, freshly cooked food, etc., the brand aims to enter not just new product categories but also new service categories.

"After having worked across leading retail chains in India, I know that The New Shop is the disruption that was much needed in the retail sector. I was amazed to see the scale and efficiency this young Indian startup has achieved in less than 2 years. I am happy to join this super charged up team to build India’s largest convenience commerce company and for creating millions of job opportunities in our country.” says Mr. Monu on taking over as the HR Head.

About The New Shop:

The New Shop is India's fastest-growing omnichannel convenience commerce company. It operates 24-hour convenience stores that sell and deliver within 15-30 mins fresh food and FMCG products such as packaged food, snacks, tobacco, beverages, pet care, over-the-counter and ready-to-eat food, and personal care items, home care, hygiene, stationery, and other necessities. Incepted in the year 2019, The New Shop is the brainchild of Aastha Almast (Co-founder and Head of Business), Charak Almast (Co-founder and Head of Operations), and Mani Dev Gyawali (Co-founder and Head of Technology). The New Shop stands for 'Next-gen Everyday Shopping' that offers a wide range of products and services that cater to the needs of the modern, millennial, and Gen Z consumer. All the stores have a sleek and contemporary design and are equipped with state-of-the-art technology that makes shopping a seamless and convenient experience. It also offers hyperlocal delivery services with its own delivery fleet through its own mobile application. So far, The New Shop has 57 operating outlets in India, spread across Delhi and NCR, Mumbai, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Agra. It is expanding to India's major cities via mass transit hubs such as airports, train stations, gas stations, tourist attractions, motorways, and residential neighborhoods. The New Shop aims to be India's largest ‘convenience commerce brand with a fabulous customer experience and quick deliveries.

Rishabh Jain joins as Director of Sales & Marketing at Crowne Plaza Greater Noida

Crowne Plaza Greater Noida strengthens its leadership team by elevating Rishabh Jain under IHG’s Room to Grow as the Director of Sales & Marketing. Rishabh brings along a wealth of expertise in the Sales & Marketing and Revenue Management domain. In his new stint, he will be responsible to drive commercial objectives and enhance the brand positioning.

An industry veteran with more than 16 years of experience across renowned hospitality brands in India with excellent interpersonal skills and a consistent performance record, Jain will now be leading all facets of the Sales & Marketing discipline for the IHG’s largest Crowne Plaza in Southwest Asia.

Having proved his mettle in the previous assignment with Holiday Inn Jaipur City Center and the other leading brands like Marriott International, Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces, he has led sales, revenue and marketing teams in both; pre-opening as well as established hotels. His extensive expertise in various roles across Sales – Unit, Pre-Opening, Weddings, and MICE segment would contribute to his new role to oversee and head all operations across various specialties of Sales and Marketing. He will be responsible for optimizing the hotel revenue performances and business development verticals and will also be strategizing very closely with the food and beverage team to enhance their visibility and drive the reputation of the hotel. His new position will see him taking on elevating leadership role, leading a dynamic team as well as tactically assisting the marketing roadmap for the hotel.

General Manager, Sharad K Upadhyay comments, that the appointment of a Sales & Marketing Director represents a key role in our overall strategy to provide a strong customer focus. Rishabh will be an integral part of our hotel, and I am certain that he will further elevate the business strategies and positioning, and optimize revenue performance across areas. The entire team looks forward to his collaboration to achieve new heights. 

In his new stint, Jain quotes, “I am excited to be spearheading the Sales & Marketing vertical for Crowne Plaza Greater Noida. The hotel is strategically located close to the corporate, industrial, and residential hubs of Greater Noida. Spread over 8 acres, the contemporary business hotel features 398 well-designed spacious rooms including apartments and suites, 6 award-winning dining outlets, and 51000 sq. ft. banqueting space, fitness center, spa, salon, and an outdoor pool.

Guneet Makhija is the new F&B Manager and New Training Manager at Grand Mercure Bangalore

He has a career spanning over 12 years in the food and beverage department

Guneet Makhija, F&B Manager and New Training Manager, Grand Mercure Bangalore.

Guneet Makhija has been appointed as the Food and Beverage Manager for Grand Mercure Bangalore; part of the Accor portfolio in India.

With a career spanning over 12 years in food and beverage, Guneet is a dynamic and accomplished catering and food service professional with prior work in social and corporate markets. Well-organized and dependable with excellent leadership skills who has worked across markets in Mumbai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Bahrain. Guneet has been part of couple of Pre-opening projects and here will lead the hotel’s food and beverage department and make sure to elevate the guest experience.

Prior to joining Grand Mercure Bangalore, Guneet was the Restaurant manager at JW Marriott Sahar Mumbai. He’s previously associated with JW Marriott Bangalore, Hyatt Regency Ahmedabad, Hyatt Regency Chandigarh, and Ramee Grand Spa Bahrain.

Guneet has avid interest in cooking and exploring new places to capture local trends of F&B.

Dr. Sanjay Khanzode is the new Wellness Consultant - Fazlani Natures Nest

Dr. Sanjay Khanzode 

 With over 25 years of experience in setting up and operating international hotel spas and wellness centers, Dr. Sanjay Khanzode has been recently appointed as the Wellness Consultant for Fazlani Natures Nest, a Wellness Retreat. Widely popular as a holistic wellness resort, Fazlani Nature’s Nest is conveniently situated between Mumbai and Pune.

Dr. Khanzode is a qualified medical doctor and an internationally recognized Spa leader, educator, and advocate in the field of Spas and Wellness hospitality. He started his career with Rajvilas - an Oberoi Hotel in 1997 as a Spa executive. Some of his other previous positions include Spa Medicine/Wellness services Director at Ananda, The Himalayas and Spa Director at Park Hyatt Goa, Resort and Spa. Dr. Khanjode has also served Grand Hyatt Bali as Cluster Director of Spa and Recreation. He was a part of the Global Hyatt’s prestigious group of Wellness Specialists, where he attended to any hotel seeking assistance in new spa openings, assisted Hyatt Spas in training and devising new treatments, as well as helping in operations or conduct MORs.

Blessed with extensive knowledge in medical, health and beauty sciences and a trained practitioner of aesthetics and preventive medicine, Dr. Khanzode has brought to the spa environment a holistic approach to the management of the lifestyle challenges of today’s world. 

Trained as a medical practitioner with a Bachelor’s degree in Medicine, he went on to pursue his advanced training in Wellness, Aesthetics and Cosmetology from the Bretlands Beauty Training Centre, England. During the course of his CIDESCO and CIBTAC studies, he also acquired specialized training in stress management, alternative therapies like Dead Sea Mineral treatments and Promotive Health care certification from Apollo hospitals.

Dr. Khanzode’s distinctive approach to wellness strategies in hotel spas are based on a combination of the best of Western medicine and cutting-edge aesthetic science with age-old healing techniques from the Far East.

In his new role at Fazlani Nature’s Resort, he will be responsible for creating unique wellness Experience in Amarine Wellness, addressing various lifestyle ailments. He will also create and introduce a new Spa menu of services at Amarine Wellness and Spa combining Naturopathy and Ayurveda with European Spa science.

Dr. Khanzode has been invited as a guest lecturer at the World Spa and Wellness Convention Dubai, 2017, Spa China Summit in Ningbo, China 2013, and the Annual CSI Conference 1999 (Cosmetologists Society of India). An avid reader and a foodie, his own idea of relaxation is being with friends and family.

FAZLANI NATURES NEST

Wellness By Design is the leitmotif at Fazlani Natures Nest, a luxurious haven to refresh, rejuvenate and rebalance body, mind and soul. Overlooking the majestic Sahyadri mountains and surrounded by dense green lands with a plethora of flora and fauna, Fazlani Natures Nest resort which sprawls over 68 acres of land is a rich ecosystem that offers a breath-taking vista of lush greenery beside sparkling azure blue lake waters. The spectacular panorama of natural beauty will spellbind you. Luxury wellness resort is conveniently located between Mumbai and Pune and despite the pristine nature of this hideaway resort it is easily accessible from both cities. Traditional approaches like Ayurveda, Naturopathy, and Yoga are used for treatments combined with unique interesting methodologies like meditative corners, equine therapy, and AAT (Animal Assisted Therapy).  The wellness cuisine at Fazlani Natures Nest draws from its large organic farms and fruit orchards for a Farm to Fork approach to ensure that only the freshest, healthiest, and fully balanced meals are brought to the guest table. 

Onkar Singh is the new Vice President - Hospitality & Wellness Operations, Fazlani Natures Nest

Mr. Onkar Singh

With 27 Years of experience garnered in some of the top hospitality brands across India, Onkar Singh has been recently appointed as the Vice President of Hospitality & Wellness Operations at Fazlani Natures Nest. The wellness resort is conveniently situated between Mumbai and Pune. 

With an extensive experience in hotel operations, along with diverse associations with a number of hospitality bigwigs, Singh will be responsible for overseeing the entire operations of Fazlani Natures Nest, creating the scope for enhanced revenue share and establishing the resort as a go-to wellness destination for discerning travelers seeking a one-of-its-kind wellness experience. Singh in his new role will bring his proficiency to manage the entire gamut of the wellness resort management operations to achieve desired business targets.

Singh also boasts of a strong background in the food and beverage aspect of the business, providing strategic guidance, identifying, developing, and evaluating business strategy, and delivering high standards of customer service. As a strategic leader and P&L management professional, Singh is known to efficiently devise and validate sales & marketing strategies, ensuring maximum profitability and revenue generation.

Singh in his earlier roles has been associated with Atmantan Wellness Resort as its General Manager. In his illustrious career, Singh has also served hotels including Hyatt Raipur, Hyatt Regency Pune, Park Hyatt Goa Resort, The Leela Kempinski Bangalore, and Taj Holiday Village Resort Goa.

A hospitality graduate from the Institute of Hotel Management & Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition, Goa. Mr. Onkar Singh also holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree from the University of Allahabad. Singh is a fitness/wellness enthusiast who is extremely positive about life and believes in thinking ahead.

“My focus in my new responsibility will be on innovative practices to position Fazlani Natures Nest, A Wellness Retreat as a Global Wellness Destination and achieve operational excellence in the property. I plan to establish a strong bond between the resort and various customer segments to offer seamless service excellence,” commented Singh.

FAZLANI NATURES NEST

Wellness By Design is the leitmotif at Fazlani Natures Nest, a luxurious haven to refresh, rejuvenate and rebalance body, mind and soul. Overlooking the majestic Sahyadri mountains and surrounded by dense green lands with a plethora of flora and fauna, Fazlani Natures Nest resort which sprawls over 68 acres of land is a rich ecosystem that offers a breath-taking vista of lush greenery beside sparkling azure blue lake waters. The spectacular panorama of natural beauty will spellbind you. Luxury wellness resort is conveniently located between Mumbai and Pune and despite the pristine nature of this hideaway resort it is easily accessible from both cities. Traditional approaches like Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Yoga are used for treatments combined with unique interesting methodologies like meditative corners, equine therapy and AAT (Animal Assisted Therapy).  The wellness cuisine at Fazlani Natures Nest draws from its large organic farms and fruit orchards for a Farm to Fork approach to ensure that only the freshest, healthiest and fully balanced meals are brought to the guest table. 

https://fazlaninaturesnest.com/

Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh welcomes new general manager Juan Mercadante

Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh welcomes new general manager Juan Mercadante

Juan Mercandate

Mexican looks forward to embracing Cambodia’s rich culture and warm people

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (August 16, 2022) - Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh, the newest international branded hotel in Cambodia’s capital, is pleased to announce the appointment of experienced general manager Juan Mercadante.

The well-traveled Mexican aims to maintain the high-performance capabilities of one of the city’s top-ranked luxury hotels.

The property has earned widespread acclaim since its opening in January 2021. Most recently, it was ranked “top city hotel” in Cambodia, as leading travel publication Travel & Leisure Asia published its Asia’s Best Awards 2022.

Mercadante, who takes the lead as general manager at the property this August, is looking forward to collaborating with the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh team. “I intend to enhance our personalized and inclusive service. I’m excited to share my knowledge and contribute to the hotel’s continued success,” he said.

He has overseen a succession of projects with Hyatt including rebranding, deflagging, and pre-opening properties. “In my tenure with Hyatt, I’ve had the privilege of working in five different continents, he said. “Each role has been a unique experience that has contributed to my knowledge and skills to become a better leader.”

Over the decades, he rose through the room and management ranks at Hyatt Regency Cancun Mexico, Hyatt Regency Almaty Kazakhstan, Hyatt Regency London -The Churchill and Hyatt Regency Dubai, and Galleria Residence. In 2012, he returned to his hometown to join Hyatt Regency Mexico City as a hotel manager before advancing as a pre-opening general manager at Grand Hyatt Playa Del Carmen Resort, which was the first Grand Hyatt brand in Mexico. Most recently he was selected as pre-opening general manager at the first Andaz brand in South Korea.

With shifts at high-profile city and resort hotels around the world in his background, Mercadante can draw upon extensive experience in the global tourism industry. The passionate world traveler from Mexico City is confident that his solid guidance will ensure Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh remains prominent among Cambodia’s elite hotels.

“Together with my team, we will strive to fulfill the owner’s vision of making Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh one of the leading hotels in the city,” he added.

Ankit Nayyar is now the Director of Revenue at Hyatt Hotels Pune

He will be supervising the revenue management and distribution strategy of the hotel

Hyatt Hotels, Pune announced the appointment of Ankit Nayyar as the new Director of Revenue for Hyatt Hotels, Pune. In his role, Ankit will be supervising the revenue management and distribution strategy of the hotel along with managing day-to-day field operations.

A seasoned hotelier, Ankit has been in the Hospitality industry for over 13 years. Prior to joining Hyatt Hotels, Pune; Ankit was the Director of Revenue at Crowne Plaza Gurugram. His deep understanding of the hospitality industry is critical to his role as the Director of Revenue at Hyatt Hotels, Pune.

After pursuing his Bachelors in Arts – Hospitality degree from Chattrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, he started his career with Jet Airways and further worked with the ITC Group, Accor Group and IHG hotels. A professionally established career driven man, Ankit loves to travel and explore different global cuisines!

Puneet Sharma joins Angsana Oasis Spa and Resort, Bangalore as the Wellness Manager

In his new role, Puneet will be responsible for overseeing the entire wellness division of the property and curating special wellness menus

A luxury wellness spa resort, Angsana Oasis Spa & Resort Bangalore, appoints Yoga and wellness expert Puneet Sharma as the new Wellness Manager. 

In his new role, Puneet will be responsible for overseeing the entire wellness division of the property and curating special wellness menus that includes-signature yoga retreat programs for in-house guests, immunity boosting treatments and healing therapies.

Over the course of his career, Puneet has worked with world-renowned hotels and other platforms helping people understand the ancient Indian Vedic practices and their benefits. Puneet has been instrumental in creating the entire journey of Wellness offering for ultra-lux resorts like the Cheval Blanc Randheli operated by Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH) and the Four Seasons Resort in the Maldives.

Though Puneet’s professional journey as a wellness specialist started a little less than two decades ago, he grew up learning and practicing Vedic ways of living since his childhood. He was always passionate about learning about the Vedic philosophy and culture which is what made him choose Sanskrit in School. Puneet later went on to do a Bachelor in Science in Yoga from Svyasa University, Bangalore. As a part of this graduation program, he completed a six months internship program from Soneva Fushi by Six Senses Spa Maldives in 2012.

Whether at work or outside of work, it is all about Yoga and Meditation for Puneet.

On the appointment, General Manager Ashley James said, “We are extremely delighted to welcome Puneet Sharma to lead our Wellness team. We could not have found a better match than someone who has dedicated his life to ancient Vedic & spiritual culture of India and Yoga”.

Angsana Oasis Spa  & Resort, part of the Banyan Tree Group, is truly an urban retreat for the mind, body and soul, designed to uplift the spirit. The property located close to the airports offers a sanctuary not just to day visitors but also to people looking to escape the busy life and get lost in the raw beauty of nature.

The Westin Mumbai Garden City welcomes Shikha Khanna as the Director of Rooms

In her new role, Shikha will helm guest-facing teams in Front Office, the Housekeeping Department, and the discerning Concierge teams

The Westin Mumbai Garden City is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Shikha Khanna as the Director of Rooms of the property. In her new role, Shikha will helm guest-facing teams in Front Office, the Housekeeping Department, and the discerning Concierge teams. She will focus on ensuring bespoke and personalized service while driving Guest Voice, BSA, and Rooms Division Profitability.

Shikha’s appointment marks her return to The Westin Mumbai Garden City, where she spearheaded the housekeeping team back in 2014 – 16 as Executive Housekeeper.

She brings with her over 17 years of experience in the luxury hospitality business with leading hotels, ensuring service excellence with guest-facing teams. Post her Hotel Management education, Shikha commenced her career with Grand Hyatt, Mumbai where she embarked on a role with the Front Office, Housekeeping, and Reservations Division. Her dedication, eye for detail, and guest focus allowed her to grow and rise as she moved up the ranks. Her most recent stint was with Four Seasons, Mumbai, where she consistently contributed to the guest satisfaction score as Assistant Director of Rooms. 

Shikha always puts forth her passion for delivering the highest standards of service while managing and motivating her teams. Her tenure with varied brands and properties equipped her to handle the discerning luxury clientele.

Shikha can be best described as a warm, kind, and wise soul who truly and deeply adores her pets. 

Amandeep Singh is now the Executive Sous Chef at The Westin Mumbai Garden City

Amandeep brings along with him a rich experience of 13 years and a proven ability in managing Culinary Operations

The Westin Mumbai Garden City is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Amandeep Singh as the Executive Sous Chef of the property. His new role responsibilities shall encompass working closely with Executive Chef Vikas Singh and the Kitchen team to identify new and innovative culinary techniques that focus on delivering exemplary dining services to the guests.

Prior to joining The Westin Mumbai Garden City, Amandeep was associated with Hyatt Regency, Kolkata as Chef de Cuisine. His luminous career started in 2009 as a commis in ITC Hotel Agra, after which he joined Radisson Agra. He then successfully climbed up the ranks to being a part of the culinary teams at Holiday Inn Jaipur, Raintree Hotel Chennai, Indore Marriott Hotel, and Marriott Whitefield Bengaluru.

Amandeep brings along with him a rich experience of 13 years and a proven ability in managing Culinary Operations. He possesses strong knowledge of local, national, and international food preferences taking the property’s outlets to the next level. With his passion and love for a wide array of cuisines, he would be responsible for developing innovative menus ensuring cleanliness in accordance with company standards and health code regulations whilst training and supervising kitchen personnel.

An IHM Bhopal pass-out Amandeep describes his journey as an explorer of not just the destination but the local cuisine as well. His passion for travel and food has taken him across 15 states and 28 National Highway biking trips exploring the local favorites.

He can be best described as an exceptional people person with a penchant for being observant, especially in the kitchen. The opportunity to travel in the industry, and explore places and food cultures has been his source of inspiration.

Wishing Amandeep a fruitful tenure with us, the entire team at The Westin Mumbai Garden City looks forward to working closely with him. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to him.

Seema Taj elevated as Director of Sales at Sheraton Grand Palace Indore

Seema Taj, Director of Sales, Sheraton Grand Palace Indore

Sheraton Grand Palace Indore is delighted to announce that Seema Taj has been elevated as the Director of Sales. In her new role she will be responsible for sales, revenue management, marketing and business operations and will overlook all aspects of sales department.

With over 17 years of experience in the hospitality industry, she has been instrumental in initiating and organising many successful sales initiatives. She started her career in 2005 and has worked diligently with many renowned brands in the industry like ITC Fortune, Radisson and Sayaji Hotels before joining Sheraton Grand Palace Indore. She possesses a strong business acumen and seeks to work towards implementing strategies to elevate the brand presence.

An ardent learner and visionary, bringing along a wealth of experience in the industry, her elevation is a testament to her hard-work and dedication. Sheraton Grand Palace Indore is proud to have her as part of their team and looks forward to her continued success in her new role.

Courtyard by Marriott Pune Chakan appoints Chef Feroz Patel as Executive Chef

Chef Feroz has 15 years of expertise in the culinary field and is well-versed in all aspects of food and beverage operations

Courtyard by Marriott Pune Chakan is pleased to announce the appointment of Feroz Patel as ‘Executive Chef’. With his vast experience, Chef Patel has developed his repertoire to provide an outstanding food experience.

With a passion for cooking, Chef Feroz completed his Hotel Management & Catering Technology (HMCT) degree at Pune University. Chef Feroz has 15 years of expertise in the culinary field and is well-versed in all aspects of food and beverage operations. Prior to joining Courtyard by Marriott Pune Chakan, Chef Feroz has worked with brands like Sarovar Group, Premier Inn, Citrus Hotels, and Carnival Cruise to name a few. His last assignment was with Le Meridian Nagpur as Executive Chef.

Chef Feroz is a recipient of numerous prizes in the Inter-Hotel Chef Competitions in the past years. He specializes in Bakery, Continental and Fusion Foods. His roles and responsibilities include overseeing the hotel’s overall culinary operations, designing the menu, handling and managing the restaurant, curating special occasion menus. Chef will also be responsible for maintaining high standard of discipline among his associates and also for mentoring them.

Talking about the appointment Chef Feroz said, “It is my great pleasure and I am overwhelmed to join the Courtyard Marriott family, a brand that has a unique culinary structure. I am looking forward to this role and working closely with my team”.

A seasoned and accomplished culinary professional, Chef Patel is passionate about curating an experience that nourishes the soul. The team at Courtyard by Marriott Pune Chakan is looking forward to working under his leadership in the kitchen and elevated to learn from his experience and unique culinary creations.

Kairali Ayurvedic Group Appoints Anoop Vijayaraj as General Manager for Kairali

Anoop Vijayaraj has over twenty years of experience in the national and international hospitality industry

Anoop Vijayaraj has been appointed as General Manager for Kairali – The Ayurvedic Healing Village, Palakkad. A seasoned Hospitality professional Anoop Vijayaraj has over twenty (20) years of experience in the national and international hospitality industry.

From ensuring high guest satisfaction ratings to achieving sales targets, Anoop has always excelled in the field. He holds a Bachelor’s in Hotel Management from Himalaya Educational Institute of Management and Technology as well as a Diploma’s Hotel Management and American Hospitality and Lodging Association from Oriental School of Hotel Management

Anoop will oversee operations at Kairali – The Ayurvedic Healing Village, Palakkad, a unique over 60 Acre wellness retreat with NABH certification.

Welcoming him to the Group MAbhilash K Ramesh, Ex. Director Kairali Ayurvedic Group said “Thanks to his diversified multi-cultural background in the hotel sector, Mr Vijayaraj has in-depth industry insight and knowledge and exceptional experience in handling the Indian market. Moreover, his innate ability to innovate and insights into the dynamic rural landscape will aid Kairali The Ayurvedic Healing Village in exploring new avenues in the future and ensuring that we grow and expand continuously”.

Prior to onboarding the leadership team at Kairali Ayurvedic Group, he worked as a Consultant General Manager and Resort Manager at Kimmane Golf Resort & Munjoh Ocean Resort  in Karnataka & Andaman Nicobar Islands.

Venu Gopal has been appointed as General Manager at Courtyard by Marriott Tiruchirappalli

He will be spearheading property operations and implementing growth strategies to achieve and sustain leadership in the new market

Venu Gopal joins the all new Courtyard by Marriott at Tiruchirappalli as General Manager. With abundant knowledge and close to 22 years of diversified hospitality industry experience, Venu Gopal is all set to take lead of the first international hospitality brand in Trichy.  

He will be spearheading property operations and implementing growth strategies to achieve and sustain leadership in the new market. A passionate hotelier, Venu believes in a customer centric approach and uncompromising quality of service delivered to sustain revenues and develop market share.

Venu holds specialization in Sales and Marketing function and has strong expertise in the Southern Indian market and an expert in pre-opening, product launch & in establishing a foothold in new markets. He was instrumental in the pre-opening of ibis Coimbatore city, the launch of Vivanta by Taj Surya at Coimbatore and the migration of two hotel brands, The Gateway Hotel and Vivanta by Taj as part of the brand architecture exercise.

A natural leader, Venu Gopal believes people make all the difference. He recognizes the importance of creating and nurturing an efficient strong team for smooth operations, delivering a seamless guest experience and actively participating in the development of human assets. 

Started his journey in the hospitality industry in early 2000, Venu has worked with several brands under Taj group of hotels at Kochi, Vizag, and Coimbatore.

In 2016, he assumed his first role as General Manager at ibis Coimbatore and went on to become General Manager of ibis Hyderabad Hitech City in 2019 before accepting his current role at Courtyard by Marriott Trichy.

An avid food enthusiast, Venu likes to cook for his family and friends and during his spare time and travels to research on cuisines in the southern part of the country.

Green Park Hotels and Resorts, Corporate Office appointments Shraddha Khettry as Associate Director Human Resources

With a meritorious experience of over 11 years, Shraddha has worked with renowned hospitality brands across the country

Green Park Hotels and Resorts, Corporate Office is pleased to announce the Appointment of Shraddha Khettry as Associate Director of Human Resources.

With a meritorious experience of over 11 years, Shraddha has worked with renowned hospitality brands including Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Marriot International which includes Premium Brands like Sheraton, Westin, and Le Meridien.

She is an expert in harnessing employee engagement and setting the foundation for great people and work culture. She was previously part of Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Hyderabad, and Le Meridien, Nagpur leading the HR Operations for the Unit. She has also been associated with The Westin Kolkata and contributed to the Pre-opening functions of the Hotel. She is an MBA in Human Resources and with her extensive experience, she will be instrumental in ensuring the growth, development, and nurturing of our team members.

Encompassing the values, visions, ideals, norms, and working language, Shraddha has a knack for bringing together professionals from various diverse cultures to collaborate in harmony in order to achieve the ultimate purpose and vision of the company.

Hyatt Pune appoints Vikrant Dhingra as a Cluster Revenue Manager

With over 6 years of experience, Vikrant brings with him a vast understanding of the Hospitality Sector

Hyatt Pune has appointed Vikrant Dhingra as Cluster Revenue Manager. In his current role as a Cluster Revenue Manager, Vikrant will be a key member of the team, looking after all three Hyatt Properties in Pune i.e. Hyatt Pune, Hyatt Regency Pune and Residences and Hyatt Place Pune Hinjawadi. He would be managing hotel’s revenue function alongside development and implementation of right rate strategy. He will also assist the property in optimizing total hotel revenue and identifying new business opportunities.

Vikrant holds a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management from Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Hotel Management, Chandigarh. Post completing the degree he started his career with IHG Hotels and Resorts but soon became Hyatt Family member by joining the iconic Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty and Hyatt Regency Thrissur as a Cluster Revenue Analyst. In his last assignment, he was working as a Revenue Manager for Hyatt Centric MG Road Bangalore.

Vikrant brings an eclectic understanding of the hospitality sector and likes keeping a proactive attitude towards his actions pertaining to pricing and inventory, market analysis and revenue strategy.

His interest lies in following Cricket and Indian Cricket team religiously and watching Indian web series during his leisure time.

Hyatt Pune team welcomes him on board and wishes him the best.