Exclusive: Alisha Chitalwala on Crafting Luxury & Inclusivity in Hospitality Design

Exclusive: Alisha Chitalwala on Crafting Luxury & Inclusivity in Hospitality Design

By Nishang Narayan

Published on March 8, 2025

Great hospitality design goes beyond aesthetics—it creates experiences that stay with guests long after they’ve left. For Alisha Chitalwala, Associate Designer at Designers Group, the focus is on crafting spaces that seamlessly blend comfort, functionality, and brand identity.

“My role revolves around ensuring each project exudes a distinct character, setting the property apart with its unique charm,” she shares. From conceptualization to execution, every detail is carefully curated to enhance the guest experience, making hospitality spaces more than just places to stay—they become destinations in themselves.

A Commitment to Sustainable Luxury

Sustainability is no longer an option; it’s a necessity. Designers Group has been at the forefront of integrating eco-conscious practices into hospitality design without compromising on luxury. “We believe in delivering luxury through a thoughtful, sustainable approach,” Alisha explains. “By prioritizing environmentally conscious practices, we contribute meaningfully to the evolution of the design industry.”

With travelers increasingly valuing responsible tourism, hotels and resorts are now looking at design as a way to minimize their environmental footprint while maintaining high-end appeal. This shift is shaping the next generation of hospitality spaces—ones that are both indulgent and environmentally responsible.

Innovation & The Role of AI in Hospitality Design

Technology is revolutionizing the way designers conceptualize and execute spaces, and AI is leading the charge. “The future of design is being reshaped by AI-driven solutions, offering boundless opportunities to push creative boundaries,” Alisha shares.

From AI-assisted space planning to immersive 3D visualizations, technology is making it easier to create more precise, functional, and engaging hospitality interiors. This not only enhances efficiency but also allows for greater customization, ensuring every space meets the evolving expectations of modern travelers.

Fostering Inclusivity & Women in Design

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The design industry has long been a space where creativity thrives, and at Designers Group, gender is never a barrier to success. “Creativity knows no gender,” Alisha states. “We champion equal opportunities and take immense pride in having a significant number of female professionals who bring innovation, passion, and excellence to every project.”

As more women step into leadership roles, the industry is witnessing a positive shift towards inclusivity and representation. By fostering talent without bias, hospitality design continues to evolve as a field where fresh perspectives and diverse voices shape the future.

A Vision for the Future

The hospitality industry is embracing change, with sustainability, adaptive reuse, and immersive experiences leading the way. Looking ahead, Alisha envisions smart, responsive spaces that elevate guest interactions while prioritizing eco-conscious luxury. “Opportunities lie in redefining hospitality through a forward-thinking approach,” she says.

As hospitality design continues to evolve, one thing remains clear: innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity will be at the heart of the industry’s transformation.

A Message for Women’s Day

On International Women’s Day, Alisha shares an empowering message:
“We are empowered women shaping the world, and our strength multiplies when we uplift and support one another. Together, we create, inspire, and lead with unwavering confidence.”

A fitting reminder that when women support each other, the industry—and the world—flourishes.


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

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

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


Hyatt Regency Dehradun Resort And Spa Appoints Vineet Waldia as Area Director of Digital Marketing

Hyatt Regency Dehradun Resort And Spa Appoints Vineet Waldia as Area Director of Digital Marketing

By Hariharan U

Published on August 21, 2026

Hyatt Regency Dehradun Resort And Spa has appointed Vineet Waldia as Area Director of Digital Marketing, bringing more than 16 years of marketing experience across hospitality, technology, healthcare, e-commerce, and SaaS.

In his new role, Waldia will lead digital marketing efforts across Hyatt's North India cluster portfolio. His responsibilities will cover rooms, MICE and events, food and beverage, spa, and other revenue-generating channels. A key focus will be on growing direct bookings through Hyatt.com, improving digital channel performance, and supporting business growth across customer touchpoints.

Waldia joins Hyatt after serving as General Manager – Marketing at Acefone Software Pvt. Ltd., where he handled marketing and demand generation across domestic and international markets. Before this, he worked as Associate Director – Marketing at Knowlarity Communications, a Gupshup company, where he helped shape the company's marketing function and led go-to-market plans across Africa, APAC, LATAM, and AUKUS markets.

His career also includes leadership roles at Agilus Diagnostics, Headhonchos, and IDS Logic. He has also worked with Hyatt Hotels Corporation earlier in his career as Manager – Digital Marketing & E-commerce. During that stint, he supported room revenue growth across ten hotels through digital marketing campaigns and also worked on the digital planning and launch of new hotels and restaurants.

Waldia's experience covers performance marketing, SEO and SEM, customer acquisition, MarTech, CRM, AI-enabled marketing, and multi-channel campaigns. His work has focused on using technology, data, and customer insights to improve audience engagement and business performance.

His work in digital commerce was also recognised when he was named among the Top 50 Most Influential E-commerce Professionals of India by CMOAsia.org in 2016 and 2017.

Speaking on his appointment, Vineet Waldia, remarked, "Returning to Hyatt is both professionally meaningful and personally rewarding. The hospitality industry is evolving rapidly, creating new opportunities to combine technology, data, and creativity to deliver more impactful guest experiences. I look forward to working closely with teams across North India to advance Hyatt's digital growth journey."

With Waldia taking on the new role, Hyatt Regency Dehradun Resort And Spa aims to strengthen its digital marketing focus while combining technology and customer-focused strategies to support Hyatt's continued growth across North India

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