Anna Marie Presutti Named First Female President & CEO of San Francisco Travel in 115 years

Anna Marie Presutti Named First Female President & CEO of San Francisco Travel in 115 years

By Nishang Narayan

Published on September 25, 2024

The San Francisco Travel Association has appointed Anna Marie Presutti as its new President and CEO, making her the first woman to hold this position in the organization’s 115-year history. Presutti, who had been serving as interim President and CEO since mid-May, officially steps into this leadership role, overseeing San Francisco Travel’s global efforts to market the city as a prime destination for conventions, meetings, and leisure travel.

Tourism remains a cornerstone of San Francisco’s economy, contributing $9.3 billion in total visitor spending and generating nearly $610 million in tax revenues in 2023. With 23 million annual visitors, tourism supports nearly 63,000 jobs in the city.

"After an extensive national search, we found the best candidate was already leading the charge. Anna Marie is a dynamic and bold advocate for San Francisco," said John Anderson, Chair of San Francisco Travel’s Board. "Her deep familiarity with the organization, coupled with her passion for the city, makes her the ideal leader to take San Francisco Travel to new heights."

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Presutti has over two decades of experience in San Francisco’s tourism and hospitality industry. Before assuming this role, she served as Vice President and General Manager of Hotel Nikko San Francisco, where she became the first female vice president for Nikko Hotels International in 2006. Her impressive career includes leadership roles at Kimpton Hotels, ITT Sheraton, Hilton Hotels, and Sunstone Hotel Properties.

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As the newly appointed President and CEO, Presutti aims to rejuvenate San Francisco’s convention business and highlight the city’s culinary scene, arts, and cultural strengths. “I am passionate about this city and its future. We are on the brink of a significant recovery, and my focus will be on building momentum to restore San Francisco’s status as a top global destination,” said Presutti.

Her accomplishments have earned her several accolades, including being named one of “The Most Influential Women in the Bay Area” by the San Francisco Business Times and receiving the Hotel Council of San Francisco’s Peter Goldman Award of Excellence.

San Francisco Travel, the official destination marketing organization for the City and County of San Francisco, continues to play a pivotal role in promoting the city’s vibrant tourism industry as one of the top US destinations for tourism and business travel.


Grand Mercure Bangalore Appoints Tarushree Singh as Director of Sales & Marketing

Grand Mercure Bangalore Appoints Tarushree Singh as Director of Sales & Marketing

By Hariharan U

Published on June 23, 2026

Grand Mercure Bangalore has announced the appointment of Tarushree Singh as its new Director of Sales & Marketing, strengthening the property’s commercial leadership as it continues to consolidate its position as a leading all-suite business hotel in Koramangala.

With over 18 years of experience in the Indian hospitality industry, Tarushree brings extensive expertise across commercial strategy, revenue management, and business development. She has worked with leading hospitality brands including The Oberoi Group, ITC Hotels, Accor, Radisson Hotel Group, and The Oterra.

In her most recent role as Director of Sales & Marketing at The Oterra, Bengaluru, she led the property to its highest-ever revenue performance while driving significant growth in average daily rate (ADR). Her performance earned her the “Leader of the Year” recognition for delivering the highest annual revenue growth since the hotel’s inception.

Over the course of her career, she has held key positions across multiple properties in Bengaluru, Pune, and Hyderabad, including Radisson Blu Pune Kharadi, Novotel Pune, Novotel HICC Hyderabad, and ibis & Novotel Bengaluru Techpark.

Commenting on the appointment, General Manager Parag Shah said Tarushree brings strong strategic clarity and deep market understanding, particularly of Bengaluru’s evolving hospitality landscape. He added that her proven ability to drive revenue growth in competitive markets makes her well-suited to lead the hotel’s commercial strategy.

Tarushree Singh said Koramangala sits at the intersection of Bengaluru’s startup ecosystem, corporate demand, and a vibrant lifestyle scene. She noted that Grand Mercure Bangalore is uniquely positioned to serve these segments and outlined her focus on strengthening corporate partnerships, expanding MICE opportunities, and growing the extended stay segment.

With this appointment, Grand Mercure Bangalore aims to further strengthen its commercial performance and reinforce its position in one of Bengaluru’s most dynamic hospitality markets.


ibis Appoints Mahi Teja as General Manager of ibis Coimbatore City Centre

ibis Appoints Mahi Teja as General Manager of ibis Coimbatore City Centre

By Hariharan U

Published on June 23, 2026

ibis Hotels has announced the appointment of Mahi Teja as General Manager of ibis Coimbatore City Centre. The appointment marks a significant leadership milestone for the hospitality professional, who brings close to 14 years of industry experience across sales, hotel operations, and business management.

Mahi joins the Coimbatore property after building a diverse career with leading hospitality brands, including Accor and Hyatt Hotels. Having started his journey in sales, he has progressively expanded his expertise across commercial functions, revenue management, guest experience, and operational leadership.

Over the years, he has held multiple roles within the Accor network, gaining experience across both commercial and operational domains. This blend of expertise has helped shape a leadership style focused on business performance, guest satisfaction, and talent development.

In his new role, Mahi will oversee the strategic and operational direction of ibis Coimbatore City Centre, with a focus on strengthening service excellence, driving business growth, and fostering high-performing teams.

Commenting on the appointment, Tejus Jose said Mahi’s journey within Accor reflects his commitment to continuous learning, operational excellence, and collaborative leadership. He noted that Mahi’s understanding of both commercial and operational functions positions him well to lead the hotel through its next phase of growth.

A strong advocate of professional development, Mahi has completed several leadership programmes through Accor Academy, including the International Emerging Leaders Programme (2020), the General Leadership Programme (2023), and the MEA APAC Master’s Programme – General Manager in Making (2025).

Most recently, he served as Hotel Operations Manager at ibis Bengaluru Hosur Road, where he played a key role in enhancing operational efficiency, guest satisfaction, revenue performance, and team development.

Speaking on his appointment, Mahi expressed enthusiasm about leading the Coimbatore property, highlighting his focus on delivering memorable guest experiences, strengthening collaboration, and ensuring operational excellence.

The appointment reinforces Accor’s continued investment in leadership development as it expands the ibis brand footprint across India and strengthens its presence in key business and travel destinations.


Chennais Amirta IIHM Appoints Abanindra Nath Biswal as Principal of Chengalpattu Campus

Chennais Amirta IIHM Appoints Abanindra Nath Biswal as Principal of Chengalpattu Campus

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 22, 2026

Chennais Amirta International Institute of Hotel Management (IIHM) has announced the appointment of Abanindra Nath Biswal as the Principal of its Chengalpattu Campus, strengthening the institution's leadership with a seasoned hospitality professional who brings more than three decades of industry experience.

Biswal has been part of the hotel industry since 1992 and has held several leadership positions across renowned hospitality brands in India and overseas. Prior to taking up his new role, he served as Executive Chef at Grande Bay Resort, Mahabalipuram, a position he held from May 2022. He also worked as Chef at Radisson Blu Chennai Egmore between January 2021 and May 2022.

Throughout his career, Biswal has built expertise in culinary operations, strategic planning, food and beverage management, quality compliance, and client servicing. His professional journey includes leadership roles at Mangifera Cuisines Chennai, Clarion Hotel Chennai, Holland America Line USA, Apollo Hospitals Chennai, Aloft Bangalore, Chancery Hotel Bangalore, Fortune Kences Hotel Tirupati, Hotel Swosti Plaza, The Park Hotel Kolkata, Star Cruise Singapore, and Taj Connemara Chennai.

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Known for his strong communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, Biswal has worked in multicultural environments and is proficient in multiple languages. His experience spans hotel operations, large-scale banqueting, outdoor catering, menu development, quality management, and team leadership.

Over the years, he has successfully managed large hospitality operations, including hotels with extensive banquet facilities, specialty restaurants, and large outdoor catering events. His portfolio includes handling major events such as Aero Show 2007, IPL matches, and large-scale corporate functions catering to thousands of guests. He has also played a key role in introducing Italian, Western, and Mediterranean menus, standardising recipes, implementing operational procedures, and enhancing business performance through innovative food concepts.

Biswal's achievements extend beyond hotel operations. He has been actively involved in hospitality education and training, serving as an External Examiner for food production at Canon School of Catering and Hotel Management, Chennai, and I.H.M Bangalore for several years. He has also participated in food festivals, culinary competitions, and industry development programmes throughout his career.

Academically, Biswal is an alumnus of Tamil Nadu Open University and I.H.M. Bhubaneswar, Odisha. He was recognised as an institute topper during his hotel management studies and received the Best Cocktail Award at the 1st All India All Rounders Competition held at IHM Dadar, Mumbai. He has also completed Niveaux Un and Niveaux Deux at Alliance Francais Chennai.

In addition, he is a member of the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA), which is affiliated with the World Association of Chefs.

With his extensive industry exposure and commitment to hospitality education, Abanindra Nath Biswal is expected to play a significant role in strengthening academic excellence and industry-oriented learning at the Chennais Amirta IIHM Chengalpattu Campus.

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