Courtyard by Marriott Tirupati has appointed Sagar Jadhav as its new Food and Beverage Manager. Bringing over 11 years of hospitality experience, he will oversee the hotel's food and beverage operations, focusing on dining experiences, service standards and operational excellence.

Sagar has worked with several established hospitality brands, including The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace, Novotel Imagica Khopoli, Courtyard by Marriott and JW Marriott. His experience covers restaurant operations, banqueting, event management and guest services.

Before joining Courtyard by Marriott Tirupati, he served as Food and Beverage Manager at Novotel Imagica Khopoli, where he led the department's operations. During his tenure at The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace, he held various roles, including Assistant Director of Events, Banquet Manager, Restaurant Manager and Assistant Banquet Manager.

Earlier in his career, Sagar worked as a Food and Beverage Executive at Courtyard by Marriott, Chennai. He began his hospitality journey with JW Marriott, Juhu, as a Guest Service Associate. Along with his operational experience, Sagar brings knowledge of bar operations and hospitality technology. His exposure to restaurants, banquets and events adds to his experience in managing diverse food and beverage functions.

In his new role, he will focus on maintaining consistent service standards and strengthening the hotel's food and beverage offerings, while contributing to engaging dining experiences for guests.

Summit Hotels & Resorts has announced four appointments across hotel operations and business development, strengthening its management team as the company expands its presence across the Eastern Himalayas and other leisure destinations in India.

The appointments include Shubhodip Chakraborty as Unit Manager at Summit Norling Resort & Spa, Gangtok; Rajnish Kumar Rai as Unit Manager at Summit Rungkhung Village Resort, Arunachal; Vivek Sherpa as Unit Manager at Summit Gangchen, Lachen; and Sankhadeep Chakraborty as Business Development Manager at Summit Hotels & Resorts.

Shubhodip Chakraborty brings over 15 years of experience in front office and rooms division management. His earlier experience includes Park Prime, Vedic Village Spa Resort, Peerless Inn, Regenta Orkos, Kolkata and The Pride Hotel. At Summit Norling Resort & Spa, Gangtok, he will oversee property operations, service delivery and revenue performance.

Rajnish Kumar Rai joins Summit Rungkhung Village Resort – The Signature Collection, Dirang. He most recently served as Property Manager at Grand Stay Hotel, Bahrain, following a five-year tenure at Premier Hotel, Bahrain. His earlier experience includes Courtyard by Marriott and Raintree Hotel in Chennai. In his new role, he will handle hotel operations, guest services and commercial performance.

Vivek Sherpa has been appointed Unit Manager at Summit Gangchen in Lachen. He previously worked at Sinclairs Retreat Resort, Ooty, and has held operational roles across hospitality properties in Goa and Ahmedabad. His experience covers guest relations, reservations and coordination across hotel departments.

Sankhadeep Chakraborty joins as Business Development Manager, bringing experience across hospitality, e-commerce and other sectors. He previously worked as Business Development Manager at OYO, focusing on hotel acquisitions and partner relationships. Earlier, as Regional Sales Manager at Absolute Foods, he led a 35-member team across North India. His professional experience also includes Ninjacart and American Express. At Summit, he will focus on business development, property partnerships and expansion opportunities.

These appointments come as Summit Hotels & Resorts strengthens its operational and commercial capabilities to support its growing portfolio. With an established presence across Sikkim, North Bengal and the Northeast, the company is pursuing expansion through its Mandir, Offbeat and Signature Collections, along with new hotel partnerships in emerging leisure and spiritual destinations.

Hyderabad-based travel and tourism professional Mohan N.S.N. (NSN Mohan) has been elected World President of SKÅL International for 2027, becoming the first Indian and the first Asian to lead the global tourism organisation in its 93-year history.

He was elected at the 85th SKÅL International World Congress 2026, held in Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa. A member of SKÅL International Hyderabad 606, Mohan's election marks a significant milestone for Hyderabad, Telangana and the Indian tourism industry.

Founded in 1932 and formally established as an international association in 1934, SKÅL International is one of the world's largest and oldest professional organisations bringing together the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. Headquartered in Torremolinos, Málaga, Spain, it has an estimated 13,000 members across 295 clubs in 78 countries. India has 22 clubs spread across 19 cities.

The organisation is an Affiliate Member of UN Tourism and maintains associations with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and other international tourism bodies. Its philosophy, "Doing Business Among Friends," focuses on building professional relationships through friendship, trust and international cooperation.

SKÅL brings together professionals from across the tourism ecosystem, including hotels, airlines, travel agencies, tour operators, tourism boards, cruise companies and hospitality businesses. It also promotes responsible and sustainable tourism, environmental awareness, cultural understanding and international friendship.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of SKÅL International Hyderabad's 40th anniversary celebrations, Mohan outlined his priorities for the 2027 presidency. His plans include expanding the organisation's global presence, attracting new members and improving member retention.

"We aim to expand SKÅL's presence from the current 78 countries to 100 countries and increase the number of cities in which we operate from 295 to 350. We also plan to grow our global membership from approximately 13,000 to 15,000. Equally important is retaining our existing members and strengthening the organisation at every level," he said.

Mohan also highlighted the importance of stronger engagement with governments to support tourism development.

"One of my key priorities is to make the Union Government and various State Governments understand the importance of SKÅL and the role it can play in tourism development and promotion. SKÅL brings together experienced tourism professionals from across the world. Their knowledge, networks and industry experience can contribute meaningfully to the growth of tourism," he said.

His election also brings attention to Hyderabad's four-decade association with the organisation. SKÅL International Hyderabad 606 celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2026. With a member of the local chapter taking on the global leadership role, the city has an opportunity to strengthen its connections with international tourism professionals, tour operators and hospitality businesses.

The development could also create opportunities for Telangana's tourism sector. SKÅL's international network can help promote the state's heritage sites, temples, lakes, forests, wildlife destinations, rural tourism experiences, resorts and weekend getaways. It could also support international visitor outreach, tourism familiarisation visits, business partnerships and investment opportunities.

Hyderabad, with its international connectivity and hospitality infrastructure, can further strengthen its position as a gateway to Telangana. The city also has an opportunity to build its profile as a destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE).

D. Ramchandram, Co-Chairman of the Tourism Committee at the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI), said the election was a matter of pride for Hyderabad and India, while highlighting the opportunities it could bring to the state.

"Having an Indian global President from SKÅL International Hyderabad is a matter of immense pride for our city and country. But beyond the recognition, this is a tremendous opportunity for Hyderabad and Telangana.

"SKÅL's strength lies in its extensive international network of tourism professionals and the relationships it has built over more than nine decades. We should make effective use of this network to promote Telangana's tourism destinations, connect our hotels, resorts and tour operators with international counterparts, encourage tourism investments and attract visitors from across the world.

"Telangana has immense untapped potential in heritage tourism, nature tourism, spiritual tourism, rural tourism and weekend getaways. Hyderabad, with its international connectivity and hospitality infrastructure, can serve as the gateway.

"My larger thought is that Hyderabad should use its new international tourism leadership position to become a stronger gateway for Telangana tourism to the world. We should translate this historic achievement into meaningful partnerships, increased international visibility and tangible economic benefits for the state."

Dr. Valmiki Harikishan, President of SKÅL International Hyderabad, also described Mohan's election as a proud moment for the chapter and the Indian tourism fraternity. He highlighted the importance of using this recognition to build international tourism partnerships and promote Telangana as a global destination.

Mohan's election marks more than an individual achievement. It gives Hyderabad and India an opportunity to strengthen their presence in the international tourism community and build new connections across the global travel and hospitality industry.