Arbind Singh Appointed as Deputy VP Operations at Absolute H

Arbind Singh Joins Absolute Hotel Services as Deputy Vice President, Operations & Pre-Opening

By Nishang Narayan

Published on November 29, 2024

Absolute Hotel Services India has announced the appointment of Mr. Arbind Singh as the Deputy Vice President, Operations & Pre-Opening. A seasoned hospitality professional with over 25 years of diverse experience, Mr. Singh is set to bring a process-driven approach and operational expertise to the organization’s growing portfolio.

Driving Operational Excellence

In his new role, Mr. Singh will oversee vital functions across operational and pre-opening properties, ensuring they embody the essence of the Absolute Hotel Services (AHS) brand. Known for his strategic vision and ability to transform challenges into opportunities, Singh is poised to play a key role in strengthening the company’s functional efficiencies.

Speaking about the appointment, Mr. Shalil Suvarna, Senior Vice President of Absolute Hotel Services - India & South Asia, remarked, “Considering our company’s growth trajectory, Arbind’s joining strengthens our endeavour to deliver on key performance metrics. His proven ability to create transformative experiences will add immense value to our stakeholders and teams.”

A Vision for Innovation

Expressing his enthusiasm, Mr. Singh shared, “I am genuinely excited to join Absolute Hotel Services and see tremendous latitude in this ever-evolving space of creating memorable experiences for our internal and external partners. I look forward to collaborating with our talented teams to continuously innovate and enhance our service levels to global standards.”

About Absolute Hotel Services (AHS)

Headquartered in Bangkok, Thailand, AHS is one of Asia's fastest-growing hospitality management and branding companies. With regional offices in India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Europe, the company operates a diverse portfolio of hotels, resorts, and serviced residences.

AHS brands, including U Hotels & Resorts, Eastin Grand Hotels & Resorts, Eastin Hotels, and Travelodge, cater to luxury and economy segments, resonating with global travelers and stakeholders alike. The company also ventures into niche areas such as golf through Absolute Golf Services and operates the Travelodge brand in Thailand and Vienna House under Vienna House Asia.

With Mr. Singh’s addition, Absolute Hotel Services reinforces its commitment to delivering innovative solutions and elevating hospitality standards across its global footprint.

The Ritz-Carlton, Pune Appoints Dirham Haque as Director of Culinary

By Hariharan U

Published on August 22, 2026

The Ritz-Carlton, Pune has appointed Dirham Haque as Director of Culinary, strengthening its culinary leadership team with a hospitality professional who brings more than 15 years of experience across India and the Middle East.

Haque has built his career across leading luxury hospitality brands including ITC Hotels, The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and JW Marriott. His experience spans luxury hotels, specialty restaurants, banqueting operations and pre-opening projects, with a focus on culinary innovation and operational excellence.

Prior to joining The Ritz-Carlton, Pune, Haque served as Director of Culinary at JW Marriott Hotel Kolkata, where he oversaw seven restaurants and bars as well as extensive banqueting operations.

Earlier in his career, he was part of the pre-opening team at Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru at Embassy ONE, contributing to the launch of six restaurants and bars before taking on the role of Executive Chef.

Haque began his culinary journey at ITC Maurya, New Delhi, where he was part of the acclaimed Dum Pukht team. His professional experience also includes pre-opening responsibilities at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai, leadership roles at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray in Dubai, and exposure at Al Mahara at Burj Al Arab.

During his tenure with The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts in Gurgaon and Dubai, Haque played a key role in the operations of Ananta at The Oberoi, Dubai, which earned three Black Hats, a prestigious regional culinary accolade.

In his new role at The Ritz-Carlton, Pune, Haque will oversee the hotel's culinary operations while focusing on strengthening its dining experiences, culinary innovation and gastronomic offerings.

Speaking about his appointment, Dirham Haque said, “Joining The Ritz-Carlton, Pune is an exciting milestone. I look forward to working with the excellent team here to curate memorable dining experiences, win more accolades and uphold the brand’s iconic gold standards of service.”

His appointment comes as The Ritz-Carlton, Pune continues to strengthen its position as a luxury hospitality destination in the city. Haque's experience across Indian and international luxury hospitality, specialty dining and large-scale culinary operations is expected to further support the hotel's focus on distinctive dining experiences.

With experience spanning multiple luxury brands and diverse culinary environments, Haque brings a combination of operational expertise, international exposure and culinary leadership to his new position at The Ritz-Carlton, Pune.

Summit Hotels & Resorts Appoints Sudhir Gupta as Corporate General Manager – Finance

By Hariharan U

Published on August 21, 2026

Summit Hotels & Resorts has appointed Sudhir Gupta as Corporate General Manager – Finance, strengthening its leadership team as the hospitality company continues to expand its portfolio across India.

Gupta brings more than 15 years of experience in hospitality finance and financial operations. His expertise includes financial planning and analysis, budgeting, management reporting, taxation, cost controls, hotel pre-openings, and finance systems.

In his new role, Gupta will oversee the finance function across Summit Hotels & Resorts. His focus will be on strengthening financial controls, improving reporting systems, and supporting the company's growth and expansion plans.

Before joining Summit Hotels & Resorts, Gupta served as Cluster Financial Controller for Marriott Surat and Courtyard by Marriott Surat, where he handled finance operations for both hotels. His responsibilities included budgeting, business reviews, financial reporting, revenue recognition, taxation, cost and inventory accounting, vendor negotiations, and financial controls.

Over the course of his career, Gupta has also held finance leadership and operational roles at Southern Hotels Pvt. Ltd., 1589 Hotels Pvt. Ltd. (Clarks Collection), JHM Interstate Hotels, Crowne Plaza and The Oberoi Group. This has given him experience across both corporate and property-level hotel finance.

His experience also covers hotel pre-openings, accounting and operating system implementation, performance analysis, and the development of financial processes across multi-property portfolios.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Sumit Periwal, Director, Summit Hotels & Resorts, said, "As Summit enters its next phase of growth, building stronger corporate systems behind our expanding portfolio is an important priority. Sudhir brings a valuable combination of hotel-level financial understanding and multi-property corporate experience. His exposure to budgeting, controls, systems and pre-openings will be particularly relevant as we strengthen our financial framework and scale the business across new markets."

The appointment is part of Summit Hotels & Resorts' ongoing efforts to strengthen its corporate leadership and build scalable systems to support its growing hospitality portfolio.

Website: Summit Hotels & Resorts

Aureya FM Appoints Vivek Kalia as Chief Operating Officer

By Hariharan U

Published on August 21, 2026

Aureya FM, formerly WTC Trades & Projects and Brigade Group's facilities management arm, has appointed Vivek Kalia as Chief Operating Officer.

Aureya FM provides integrated, technology-enabled facility management services across sectors including commercial, retail, co-working spaces, and community projects. In his new role, Vivek will oversee the company's operations, business growth, customer experience, and organisational effectiveness.

Welcoming the appointment, Vineet Verma, Managing Director, Aureya FM, said, "Vivek's unique blend of military and corporate leadership, along with his vast experience will be crucial in the role of COO to further strengthen our organisation. His disciplined approach, strategic thinking and strong focus on execution will bring valuable perspective as we continue to build on our foundations and pursue new opportunities for growth. We are confident that Vivek's leadership will help us navigate the evolving business landscape, strengthen our operational capabilities, and foster a culture of excellence and innovation."

Vivek brings over 21 years of experience from his career as a retired Indian Naval Officer, where he held various command and staff appointments. His time in the Navy helped him build expertise in leadership, strategic decision-making, and managing teams in complex environments.

After his naval career, Vivek spent seven years with Airbus, where he established and expanded the company's training business across India and South Asia. He later moved to Airbus Defense and Space, where he led strategic defence sales campaigns and worked with customers to address key business and operational requirements.

Speaking about his appointment, Vivek Kalia, COO, Aureya FM, said, "I am honoured and humbled by the opportunity and look forward to working closely with the team. My experience has taught me the importance of discipline, teamwork, resilience and a clear focus on execution. This is an exciting prospect, and I am committed to unlocking new possibilities, strengthening our capabilities and creating sustainable growth."

With Vivek joining as COO, Aureya FM aims to further strengthen its operations and build on its existing capabilities while exploring new opportunities in the evolving facilities management sector

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Arbind Singh Joins Absolute Hotel Services as Deputy Vice President, Operations & Pre-Opening

Driving Operational Excellence

A Vision for Innovation

About Absolute Hotel Services (AHS)

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The Ritz-Carlton, Pune Appoints Dirham Haque as Director of Culinary

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