Grand Hyatt Mumbai has announced the promotion of Anirban Sarkar as its new food and beverage manager, recognising his contribution to the hotel’s food & beverage operations since he joined in August 2024.

Sarkar has built a strong reputation at the hotel through his focus on precision, teamwork, and consistent service delivery. Over the past year, he has helped strengthen the food & beverage department by improving operational efficiency, enhancing overall experience standards, and motivating teams to perform at their best.

With his new responsibility, Sarkar will now shape the hotel’s food & beverage strategy. His role will span restaurants, bars, banqueting operations, guest experience programs, and learning and development for colleagues. A key part of his focus will be elevating presentation standards, tightening quality control processes, and introducing fresh dining ideas that match the hotel’s vision and growing guest expectations.

He will continue working closely with both the culinary and operations teams to keep concept, execution, and service in sync, ensuring that every interaction reflects the hotel’s commitment to excellence.

Sharing his gratitude for the trust placed in him, Sarkar thanked the executive committee, general manager Robert Dallimore, and the entire food & beverage team for their constant support. Reflecting on his journey, he said, “I am honoured to step into this role at Grand Hyatt Mumbai, a property that continues to set new benchmarks in innovation and guest experience. What inspires me deeply is our collective commitment to crafting thoughtful, memorable and future-forward dining journeys for our guests. This environment empowers leaders like me to challenge conventions, elevate standards and create experiences that truly resonate. I am excited to contribute to our shared vision of shaping Grand Hyatt as the destination for exceptional hospitality in India.”

The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake and Lakeside Chalet, Marriott Executive Apartments, have appointed Rahul Chaudhary as the new director of food & beverage, bringing in more than 17 years of experience from the hospitality industry.

Known for his balanced mix of creativity and structure, Chaudhary has built a career around strong operations, people-first leadership, and memorable guest experiences. He moves into this role after serving as the director of food & beverage at Conrad Pune, where he made a significant impact through his thoughtful approach to management and service delivery.

At his new posting, Chaudhary will head the food & beverage operations across both properties. His responsibilities include shaping fresh dining concepts, supervising multiple outlets, strengthening day-to-day performance, and guiding his team to consistently elevate the overall guest experience.

His leadership mantra, Empower the Team, Elevate the Experience, aligns naturally with the brand’s service philosophy. Sharing his approach, he says, "Consistency builds trust, and I believe in the power of People, Product, and Process to create a culture of excellence."

Chaudhary is also known for nurturing talent and building high-performing teams. His ability to encourage collaboration and maintain a positive work environment has been a constant throughout his journey across notable properties such as Conrad Pune, Park Hyatt Hyderabad, and Grand Hyatt Goa.

The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi has announced the elevation of Ankit Malhotra to the role of executive chef. With over 15 years of experience across some of the world’s leading luxury hospitality brands, Malhotra brings a refined culinary vision, strong commitment to excellence, and a dynamic leadership approach to his new position.

Malhotra joined The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi as executive sous chef and has played a key role in strengthening the hotel’s culinary identity. His tenure has been marked by thoughtful menu innovation, focus on quality, and an ability to build and guide high-performing kitchen teams. His elevation reflects both his individual excellence and the strong culinary direction he has helped shape for the hotel.

Malhotra began his career at The Imperial, New Delhi, and has contributed to leading hospitality brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore, Taj West End Bengaluru, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, Conrad Pune, and internationally at Radisson Blu Hotel, London Bloomsbury. His career highlights his passion for mastering diverse cuisines, enhancing technical skills, and leading kitchens with precision and integrity.

Chef Amit Dash, cluster executive chef for The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi & The Westin Sohna Resort & Spa, said of the elevation, “Ankit’s journey with us has been exceptional. His creativity, discipline, and depth of culinary knowledge have consistently reflected the highest standards of our brand. His elevation to Executive Chef is a natural progression of his talent and leadership. His refined understanding of both global and regional flavours aligns seamlessly with our vision of delivering thoughtful, elevated, and memorable dining experiences for our guests.”

In his new role, Malhotra will oversee the strategic direction of the hotel’s award-winning dining venues, including its specialty restaurants led by expat chefs. He will also lead the banqueting operations and wellness-focused culinary programming, a key pillar of the Westin brand.