Courtyard by Marriott Kochi Airport has announced the appointment of Manas Lal as its new Hotel Manager, effective from 27th August 2026. Manas brings over 20 years of experience across luxury and premium hotel operations, with a strong background in Rooms Division, hotel management, revenue enhancement and operational excellence.

Before taking up his new role at Courtyard by Marriott Kochi Airport, Manas served as Hotel Manager at Pullman Resort Al Marjan Island, UAE. Prior to that, he held the positions of Director of Operations and Director of Rooms at the same property.

His career also includes leadership roles with Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, Marriott Hotels in Pune, and Sofitel The Palm Resort & Spa in Dubai. Over the years, he has progressed through roles including Front Office Manager, Assistant Director of Rooms, Director of Rooms, Director of Operations and Hotel Manager. With experience across Jumeirah, Marriott and Accor, Manas brings a broad understanding of hotel operations and guest service to his new position. His focus has remained on guest satisfaction, team development and delivering strong operational performance.

“I believe great hospitality begins with genuine connections,” said Manas. “My goal is to create an environment where our associates feel inspired and our guests feel truly valued at every moment of their stay.”

In his new role, Manas will bring his leadership experience and operational knowledge to Courtyard by Marriott Kochi Airport, with a focus on creating memorable guest experiences while supporting the hotel's operational goals. Known for his commitment to team development and guest satisfaction, Manas looks forward to bringing his leadership, expertise and vision to the property.

Black Rock Hotels & Resorts has appointed Abhay Kumar as Cluster Associate Director of Sales as the company continues to strengthen its commercial team and expand across Rajasthan's leisure, MICE and destination wedding markets.

In his new role, Abhay will lead the sales and business development strategy for Pushkara Resort & Spa, Ajmer. He will also support the commercial growth of Black Rock Hotels & Resorts' expanding portfolio across the region.

Abhay brings over nine years of experience in hospitality sales, with a background in business development, client relationship management, revenue generation and strategic partnerships. During his career, he has worked with leading hospitality brands including Fairmont & Raffles Jaipur (Accor), Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels and ITC Hotels.

His experience includes managing luxury weddings, MICE, corporate business, travel trade and key account relationships. He has also been involved in luxury hotel pre-openings, large-format conferences, destination weddings and revenue-driven sales strategies. With this experience, Abhay is expected to play an important role as Black Rock continues to focus on experiential hospitality and event-led destinations across Rajasthan.

Commenting on the appointment, Anshul Bhargava, Founder, Black Rock Hotels & Resorts, said, "As Black Rock enters its next phase of growth, strengthening our commercial leadership is a key priority. Abhay brings a strong understanding of luxury hospitality sales, MICE, weddings and relationship management, having worked with some of the industry's most respected brands. His experience will be instrumental in expanding the market presence of Pushkara Resort & Spa while supporting our broader vision of building one of Rajasthan's leading hospitality management companies. We are delighted to welcome him to the Black Rock family and look forward to the energy, ideas and leadership he brings to the team."

Speaking on his appointment, Abhay Kumar said, "I'm excited to join Black Rock Hotels & Resorts at such an important stage of its journey. The company has built a strong reputation for managing distinctive hospitality destinations, and I look forward to contributing to the growth of Pushkara Resort & Spa while strengthening relationships with corporate, MICE, wedding and travel partners. It is an exciting opportunity to be part of a company that is expanding with a clear long-term vision."

Black Rock Hotels & Resorts has been steadily growing its hospitality footprint across Rajasthan, with a portfolio that includes destination resorts, luxury leisure hotels and wildlife hospitality.

Abhay's appointment comes as the company continues to invest in its commercial capabilities and build its presence across key leisure markets in the state.

Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall has elevated Sagnik Chattopadhyay as its Front Office Manager, recognising his consistent contribution to guest satisfaction, operational excellence and team leadership.

Sagnik has steadily progressed through key operational roles at the hotel, reflecting the property's focus on developing internal talent and creating future hospitality leaders. In his new role, he will oversee the Front Office operations and focus on delivering smooth and memorable guest experiences.

His responsibilities will include managing room inventory, guest engagement, loyalty recognition, service excellence initiatives and team development. He will also work closely with cross-functional teams to improve operational efficiency and support the hotel's business objectives. Sagnik brings close to a decade’s experience in hospitality, having worked with leading hotel brands including Grand Mercure, Novotel and the Taj Group. He joined Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall as Duty Manager in 2023 and later progressed to Assistant Front Office Manager before taking up his new role as Front Office Manager.

During his time with the hotel, Sagnik has contributed to improving guest satisfaction, strengthening loyalty programmes, mentoring high-performing teams and ensuring compliance with Accor brand standards.

Commenting on the promotion, Ram Shetty, General Manager, Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall said, "We are delighted to announce Sagnik's elevation as Front Office Manager. Over the years, he has consistently demonstrated strong operational expertise, a guest-first mindset and the ability to inspire and develop high-performing teams. We are confident that he will continue to strengthen our service standards and contribute to delivering exceptional guest experiences."

Speaking about his promotion, Sagnik Chattopadhyay, Front Office Manager, Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall said, "I am honoured to take on the role of Front Office Manager at Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall. Having grown within the organisation over the past few years, this promotion is both rewarding and motivating. What I value most about this opportunity is the chance to work alongside an exceptional team to continuously enhance the guest experience while driving operational excellence. I look forward to building on the strong foundation we have created and contributing to the hotel's continued success."

Sagnik's elevation highlights Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall's continued focus on recognising talent from within and building strong operational teams. His experience and familiarity with the hotel are expected to support the property as it continues to focus on service excellence and guest experience.