Lakkimsetti Siva Kumar Joins Bengaluru Marriott Hotel Whitef

Bengaluru Marriott Hotel Whitefield Appoints Lakkimsetti Siva Kumar as Director of Finance

By Nishang Narayan

Published on January 15, 2025

Bengaluru Marriott Hotel Whitefield has announced the appointment of Lakkimsetti Siva Kumar as its new Director of Finance. In this critical role, Kumar will oversee the hotel’s financial operations, focusing on shaping strategic financial policies, optimizing operational efficiencies, and driving the hotel’s continued success.

Kumar joins Bengaluru Marriott Hotel Whitefield following his impressive tenure as Director of Finance at Aloft Bengaluru Outer Ring Road, where he played a pivotal role in enhancing financial processes, managing the property’s finances with precision, and contributing significantly to its overall performance. His extensive experience in senior financial roles at top hospitality brands such as Marriott and Accor has solidified his reputation as a strategic and results-oriented finance leader.

Starting his journey as a Finance Voyager at MHRS in Kochi, Kumar’s career trajectory is marked by versatility and in-depth expertise in financial management. His strong leadership and innovative approach have consistently delivered outstanding results, positioning him as a key asset in the competitive hospitality sector.

Speaking on his new role, Kumar said:

“As Director of Finance at Bengaluru Marriott Hotel Whitefield, I look forward to collaborating with the team to enhance the hotel’s financial performance and contribute to its growth.”

Vivek Sharma, General Manager of Bengaluru Marriott Hotel Whitefield, shared his excitement:

“We are thrilled to welcome Siva to our leadership team. Siva’s expertise in hospitality finance will drive the hotel’s financial strategy, strengthen operational controls, and align with Marriott International’s vision for growth and innovation in Bengaluru’s hospitality landscape.”

With his vast experience and strategic outlook, Kumar is well-equipped to lead Bengaluru Marriott Hotel Whitefield’s financial operations, ensuring its strong financial foundation. His appointment aligns with the hotel’s commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences and achieving sustainable growth in a competitive market.

Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse Elevates Chef Pankaj Sah as Executive Chef

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 6, 2026

Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse has announced the elevation of Chef Pankaj Sah as its Executive Chef, recognising his culinary expertise, leadership, and dedication to delivering exceptional dining experiences.

Chef Pankaj has built a strong career through years of passion, commitment, and continuous growth. Over the years, he has successfully handled both culinary and administrative responsibilities, managing day-to-day kitchen operations, leading large-scale events, and creating memorable dining experiences for guests.

Since joining Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse, Chef Pankaj has played an important role in strengthening the hotel's culinary offerings. His focus on quality, innovation, and consistency has helped elevate the guest dining experience while inspiring the culinary team to maintain high standards across every aspect of the kitchen.

In his new role as Executive Chef, he will lead all culinary operations at the hotel, mentor and develop the culinary team, and continue to drive operational excellence through creative and guest-focused dining experiences.

Speaking on the appointment, the General Manager of Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse said:

"Chef Pankaj's elevation from Executive Sous Chef to Executive Chef is a reflection of his remarkable talent. His passion and ability to create exceptional dining experiences have significantly contributed to our success. We are confident that under his leadership, we will scale new heights in culinary fiefdom."

Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse congratulated Chef Pankaj Sah on his promotion and expressed confidence that his leadership will continue to strengthen the hotel's culinary reputation and contribute to its future success.

Hyatt Place Vithalapur Appoints Bhuwan Chandra as General Manager

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 6, 2026

Hyatt Place Vithalapur, Gujarat, has announced the appointment of Bhuwan Chandra as its new General Manager, further strengthening the hotel's leadership team as it continues to focus on operational excellence, guest satisfaction, and sustainable business growth.

In his new role, Bhuwan will oversee the hotel's next phase of growth by enhancing guest experiences, improving operational efficiency, driving commercial performance, and positioning Hyatt Place Vithalapur as a preferred choice for both business and leisure travellers from Gujarat and across India.

Bhuwan brings more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including 14 years with Hyatt Hotels Corporation. Having joined Hyatt Place Vithalapur during its pre-opening phase in May 2025, he played a key role in building the operational framework of the 108-room hotel.

Sharing his thoughts on the appointment, Bhuwan said:

“I look forward to delivering exceptional guest experiences for guests at Hyatt Place Vithalapur while fostering a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement at the property with my team.”

Throughout his career with Hyatt, Bhuwan has contributed across several areas, including project planning, recruitment, operational readiness, brand compliance, commercial strategy, and owner relations, ensuring the property consistently meets Hyatt's global standards.

Before taking over as General Manager at Hyatt Place Vithalapur, he served as Director of Rooms at Hyatt Ahmedabad and was part of the successful opening team at Hyatt Place Aurangabad. He has also held operational roles at Hyatt Regency Kolkata and Hyatt Regency Dharamshala, gaining extensive experience in hotel operations and leadership.

With his strong operational background and long-standing association with Hyatt, Bhuwan Chandra is well positioned to lead Hyatt Place Vithalapur through its next chapter of growth.

Dhanya Venkatesh Joins Jungle Camps India as Lodge Manager at Tadoba Jungle Camp

By Hariharan U

Published on August 6, 2026

Jungle Camps India has announced the appointment of Dhanya Venkatesh as Lodge Manager at Tadoba Jungle Camp, strengthening its leadership team with an experienced wildlife hospitality professional.

With nearly two decades of experience across India’s forests, Dhanya brings extensive expertise in wildlife tourism, lodge operations, safari experiences, guest engagement, and conservation-focused hospitality. Her career has combined deep field knowledge with operational leadership, enabling her to create meaningful and immersive experiences for wildlife travellers.

Dhanya’s journey in wildlife hospitality began as a naturalist, guiding guests through some of India’s most diverse wildlife landscapes and interpreting animal behaviour, ecology, and conservation challenges. Over the years, she progressed into leadership roles managing lodge operations, guest services, team coordination, and safari programmes while maintaining her connection with wildlife interpretation.

A multilingual professional, Dhanya is proficient in English, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu, with basic knowledge of Spanish, allowing her to connect with diverse groups of travellers and teams.

A trained naturalist and wildlife guide, Dhanya has worked across several renowned wildlife destinations including Corbett, Satpura, Pench, Tadoba, Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Ranthambore, Gir, and Kaziranga. She has held roles across leading wildlife lodges, contributing to guest experiences, naturalist training, operational management, and sustainable tourism initiatives.

One of the significant milestones in her career was becoming the first and only female driver registered by the Forest Department to operate a 4x4 vehicle inside Corbett Tiger Reserve. The achievement reflected her expertise in safari operations, forest terrain, and wildlife interpretation.

Beyond wildlife guiding, Dhanya has actively contributed to sustainability initiatives within hospitality operations. Her experience includes managing organic gardens, greenhouse production, orchard development, and beekeeping programmes, including initiatives that supported food and beverage operations through locally produced ingredients. She has also worked on composting systems and community-driven sustainability projects involving neighbouring villages.

Commenting on the appointment, Gajendra Singh Rathore, Chairperson & Managing Director, Jungle Camps India, said, “Dhanya's understanding of wildlife, years of operational experience and ability to connect with guests and teams make her a wonderful addition to Tadoba Jungle Camp. Her career reflects the many facets of wildlife hospitality — from guiding in the forest to managing the people and processes that shape a guest's stay.”

In her new role, Dhanya will oversee lodge operations, guest services, team coordination, and wildlife-related experiences at Tadoba Jungle Camp, bringing her field expertise and operational understanding to one of Maharashtra’s important tiger habitats.

The appointment reinforces Jungle Camps India’s focus on strengthening wildlife hospitality through experienced professionals who combine operational excellence with a deep understanding of conservation and destination-led experiences.

About Jungle Camps India Limited

Jungle Camps India Limited (BSE: 544304) was founded in 2002 with Pench Jungle Camp at the edge of Pench Tiger Reserve. It is India’s only publicly listed wildlife safari company and operates five properties across four Central India tiger reserves — Pench, Kanha, Tadoba, and Bandhavgarh.

The group follows a field-intelligence-led approach, with each property positioned near safari gates and supported by experienced naturalists. The company has planted more than 400,000 native trees across its properties and surrounding areas while focusing on sustainable wildlife tourism practices

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Bengaluru Marriott Hotel Whitefield Appoints Lakkimsetti Siva Kumar as Director of Finance

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Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse Elevates Chef Pankaj Sah as Executive Chef

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Hyatt Place Vithalapur Appoints Bhuwan Chandra as General Manager

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Dhanya Venkatesh Joins Jungle Camps India as Lodge Manager at Tadoba Jungle Camp

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