Grand Hyatt Mumbai has announced the appointment of Namrata Sharma as Area Director of Human Resources. In her new role, Sharma will oversee the people and culture strategy for Grand Hyatt Mumbai and designated Hyatt hotels across the region, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to nurturing talent, leadership excellence, and a people-first workplace culture.

Sharma brings with her over 20 years of extensive experience across luxury hospitality and corporate organizations, with a strong focus on people strategy, leadership development, organizational culture, and HR excellence. Her professional journey spans leading hospitality brands including The Leela, Marriott, Westin, Taj Hotels, and Green Park Hotels & Resorts, along with early-career experience in the corporate sector with 24/7 Customer and Wipro.

Throughout her career in hospitality, Sharma has played a pivotal role in building high-performing teams, strengthening talent pipelines, and fostering inclusive and people-centric work environments. Her expertise in aligning business goals with human capital strategies has consistently contributed to organisational growth and service excellence.

As Area Director of Human Resources, Sharma will be responsible for talent acquisition and development, succession planning, employee engagement, performance management, and strengthening HR governance frameworks. She will also champion Hyatt’s values and service culture, ensuring consistent people practices and meaningful employee experiences across all teams.

Reflecting on her appointment, Sharma said she strongly believes that people are at the heart of every great organisation. She emphasised that leading with integrity, empathy, and purpose enables teams to thrive, innovate, and deliver exceptional guest experiences. She added that she looks forward to building on Grand Hyatt Mumbai’s legacy of excellence, world-class hospitality, and innovation, while nurturing a culture that continues to set benchmarks for guest experiences in the city and beyond.

With this appointment, Grand Hyatt Mumbai further strengthens its leadership team, reinforcing its focus on people development as a key driver of service excellence and long-term success.

Crowne Plaza Muscat Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre has announced the appointment of Chandan Sharma as its new Director of Sales & Marketing, reinforcing the hotel’s leadership team as it sharpens its commercial focus and market positioning.

Chandan brings with him over 16 years of experience across sales, marketing, and commercial leadership roles within the luxury and upper-upscale hospitality space. Known for his results-driven approach, he has consistently delivered revenue growth, built strong commercial teams, and enhanced brand visibility in highly competitive markets.

Before joining Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC, Chandan held senior roles with several leading global hospitality brands. His career journey includes key positions with Shangri-La Hotels, Radisson Hotel Group, Marriott International under the Sheraton Grand, and The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts. Across these roles, he has led hotel sales strategies, managed MICE, catering and banquets, overseen regional sales operations, and driven integrated marketing initiatives.

Over the years, Chandan has earned recognition for achieving sustained year-on-year revenue growth and exceeding budget targets across rooms as well as catering segments. His experience also includes managing high-profile events and government delegations, along with leading landmark large-scale initiatives, one of which received recognition under a Guinness World Record. He is also a recipient of the South Asia Travel Award (SATA).

In his new role, Chandan will oversee the overall sales and marketing strategy at Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC. His responsibilities include strengthening key partnerships, expanding MICE and corporate segments, and positioning the property for steady growth across both domestic and international markets. The appointment reflects the hotel’s focus on long-term commercial performance and a strong market-led approach.

Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty has announced the appointment of Kailash Gundupalli as its new Executive Chef, further strengthening the hotel’s culinary leadership and commitment to guest-centric dining experiences.

With over two decades of experience across luxury hotels and resorts in India, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Thailand, Chef Kailash brings a strong international perspective shaped by diverse cuisines, cultures, and high-performance culinary operations.

Hailing from Andhra Pradesh, his appointment reflects the hotel’s focus on nurturing culinary leadership that is rooted in Indian sensibilities while enriched by global exposure. Known for his clarity-driven leadership style and creative approach, Chef Kailash is a strong advocate of thoughtful innovation, balancing technique, flavour, and storytelling, with a sharp focus on operational excellence and revenue growth.

Chef Kailash began his culinary journey in India before pursuing advanced studies in Culinary Management in Canada. He went on to hold senior leadership roles across North America and Europe, with key assignments in Toronto, Montreal, and London, before returning to leadership roles across India and Southeast Asia.

His career spans iconic hospitality brands including Four Points by Sheraton, Hilton, Novotel, Westin, Marriott, and Grand Sukhumvit Bangkok, where he has led large culinary teams and complex, multi-outlet operations. Most recently, he served as Cluster Executive Chef at The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake and Marriott Executive Apartments, overseeing diverse culinary concepts and high-volume luxury operations.

Speaking on his appointment, Chef Kailash Gundupalli said, “I look forward to exploring Kerala’s rich culinary heritage and contributing meaningfully to Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty’s evolving food and beverage landscape. It’s an exciting opportunity to create experience-led dining journeys while staying true to the brand’s commitment to excellence.”

The appointment underlines Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty’s continued focus on strengthening its culinary identity, nurturing leadership talent, and offering guests distinctive dining journeys that resonate beyond the plate.