Fairmont Udaipur Palace has announced the appointment of Siddhartha Mehendale as Director of Finance. Set against the Aravalli Hills, the palace strengthens its leadership team with a seasoned finance professional bringing over 25 years of experience across luxury hospitality and international markets.

In his new role, Mehendale will oversee financial planning, budgeting and forecasting, procurement, compliance and strategic resource optimisation. His mandate includes ensuring robust financial stewardship that supports the palace’s vision of timeless luxury, exceptional guest experiences and long-term value creation.

A seasoned finance business partner, Mehendale has built a distinguished career across India, the Middle East and island destinations, driving profitability, strengthening governance frameworks and enabling sustainable growth. Most recently, he served as Director of Finance at Novotel Kolkata Hotel & Residences, where he led long-term financial strategy, revenue optimisation, cost-efficiency initiatives and compliance excellence while mentoring a large finance team.

His professional journey includes senior leadership roles with Accor Group across multiple properties, including multi-property Director of Finance for Novotel and ibis Bengaluru, as well as assignments at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre, ibis Pune and international postings in Qatar, Maldives and Bahrain. His expertise spans pre-opening operations, CAPEX planning, audit excellence, contract renegotiations and implementation of global internal control systems.

Recognised for balancing fiscal discipline with business enablement, Mehendale has been honoured with the Accor Finance Person of the Year awards in 2014 and 2024.

Commenting on his appointment, Mehendale said he looks forward to building strong financial foundations that enable innovation, excellence and sustainable growth at Fairmont Udaipur Palace.