Fortune Hotels Welcomes Samarth Agarwal as Head of Development

Fortune Hotels Welcomes Samarth Agarwal as Head of Development

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on July 4, 2024

Fortune Hotels, part of ITC’s hotel group, has announced the appointment of Samarth Agarwal as the new Head of Development. With more than 20 years of experience in hospitality business development, investments, and consulting, Agarwal is set to lead Fortune Hotels through its next growth phase.

Agarwal's career includes roles in equity research focused on the gaming and lodging industry in the USA. He later moved into hotel and real estate consulting at Cushman & Wakefield, where he provided strategic advice to top hotel companies, owners, and developers. He then joined InterGlobe Hotels, a joint venture between Accor Hotels and InterGlobe Enterprises, working on hotel investments. Most recently, he led the Asset Light growth strategy for Lemon Tree Hotels across India, successfully executing over 50 contracts in three years.

As the new Head of Development at Fortune Park Hotels Limited, Agarwal will focus on expanding the network of Fortune-branded hotels across India. Based in Gurgaon, he will manage strategic growth initiatives, form key partnerships, and oversee new developments.

Fortune Hotels believes that Agarwal’s extensive industry experience and visionary leadership will be crucial for the brand’s expansion and success in the competitive hospitality market.

Samarth Agarwal has a diverse background in the hospitality industry. Starting with equity research in the USA, he specialized in the gaming and lodging sectors. He then transitioned to Cushman & Wakefield, providing strategic consulting for leading hotel brands. His move to InterGlobe Hotels involved hotel investments, where he honed his skills in the buy-side of hotel investment deals. At Lemon Tree Hotels, Agarwal led the Asset Light strategy, focusing on management contracts that significantly boosted the company’s growth.

In his new role at Fortune Hotels, Agarwal is expected to leverage his extensive experience to drive the brand’s development efforts. His strategic approach and ability to form effective partnerships are anticipated to play a key role in the brand’s growth.

Fortune Park Hotels Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of ITC Ltd, is a leading chain of business and leisure hotels in India. With 66 signed alliances and over 5,000 rooms across 56 cities, Fortune Hotels aims to provide contemporary accommodation for business and leisure travelers, emphasizing personalized service and great value.

The chain operates under various sub-brands like Fortune Select, Fortune Park, Fortune Inn, and Fortune Resort. Each brand is tailored to meet different guest requirements, ensuring a memorable stay.

Under Agarwal’s leadership, Fortune Hotels plans to expand its footprint across India, enhancing its presence in both established and emerging markets. The focus will be on strategic growth initiatives, fostering partnerships, and developing new properties that align with the brand’s philosophy of offering excellent service and value.

Fortune Hotels is confident that with Agarwal at the helm, the brand will continue to grow and succeed in the competitive hospitality sector. His appointment is seen as a pivotal step towards achieving Fortune Hotels’ long-term goals.

For more information about Fortune Hotels, visit itchotels.com/fortunehotels.


Hyatt Regency Dehradun Appoints Malabika Das as Director of Celebrations

Hyatt Regency Dehradun Appoints Malabika Das as Director of Celebrations

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 8, 2025

Hyatt Regency Dehradun Resort & Spa has announced the appointment of Malabika Das as its new Director of Celebrations. Known for her empathetic and detail-oriented approach to wedding planning, Das brings over 12 years of experience in organising bespoke events across high-end resorts and multicultural settings.

In her new role, Das aims to elevate the resort’s reputation as a top-tier destination for luxury weddings in North India. “Weddings are the most personal form of celebration, a reflection of love, culture, and togetherness. At Hyatt Regency Dehradun, we don’t just plan weddings; we craft experiences that stay etched in the hearts of our guests forever. It is my honour to lead this journey of love, luxury, and legacy in the lap of the Himalayas,” she shared.

The resort plans to continue offering curated signature experiences that seamlessly blend Uttarakhand’s natural beauty with refined hospitality. With stunning backdrops and thoughtful service, Hyatt Regency Dehradun strives to create stress-free, elegant wedding celebrations for every guest.

Das is also focused on positioning the property as “The Wedding Jewel of the North,” a venue that fuses authenticity, opulence, and the serene charm of the Himalayan foothills.


Sivaprasad Parimi Joins Novotel Guwahati as Assistant Revenue Manager

Sivaprasad Parimi Joins Novotel Guwahati as Assistant Revenue Manager

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 6, 2025

Novotel Guwahati GS Road has welcomed Sivaprasad Parimi as its new assistant revenue manager. With more than eight years of experience in revenue management and reservations, Parimi brings a strong strategic focus and a proven ability in pricing, market analysis, and boosting revenue performance.

Before joining the Guwahati team, Parimi served as the reservations manager at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre & Hyderabad International Convention Centre. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in improving retail bookings, optimizing segment strategies, and expanding the property's revenue share.

Parimi’s journey with Accor began in 2017 and has seen him contribute across multiple brands and locations in both India and the GCC region. His success has been driven by collaborative leadership, strong analytical capabilities, and data-driven decision-making. He is also a certified professional in revenue management and pricing from Accor Academy, Jordan.

Manmeet Singh, general manager of Novotel Guwahati GS Road, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “We are thrilled to have Siva on board. His deep understanding of revenue strategy and Accor systems will be instrumental in accelerating our growth. With his experience and forward-thinking approach, I am confident Siva will add tremendous value to our commercial success.”


The Den Bengaluru Welcomes Roberta Figueiredo as Director of Human Resources

The Den Bengaluru Welcomes Roberta Figueiredo as Director of Human Resources

By Hariharan U

Published on August 6, 2025

The Den Bengaluru has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Roberta Figueiredo as the new Director of Human Resources. With nearly two decades of experience in building people-first organisations across the hospitality and real estate sectors, Roberta brings a sharp mix of strategic thinking and people-focused leadership to the role.

She has previously worked with top brands including Marriott, Hilton, Atmosphere Maldives, Conrad Bengaluru, and V&RO Hospitality. Most recently, she served as Country Leader, People & Culture at ARATT Developers & Ayatana Hospitalities, where she led performance-driven HR initiatives aligned with business growth.

At The Den, Roberta will focus on boosting HR capabilities, building strong talent pipelines, and creating a culture of learning, engagement, and inclusion. Her aim? To craft a workplace that feels just as dynamic and future-forward as the hotel itself.

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"I'm delighted to be appointed at The Den Bengaluru, a hotel that harmoniously combines millennial luxury and fearless innovation", said Roberta. "I’m excited to tap into the hotel’s strong people platform and lead initiatives that empower, engage, and elevate talent".

Welcoming her to the leadership team, Vinesh Gupta, General Manager, The Den Bengaluru, said, “We’re thrilled to have Roberta on board. Her deep experience and passion for creating people-first cultures will be instrumental in shaping our HR strategies and building a motivated, future-ready team”.

With this appointment, The Den continues its focus on nurturing leadership that balances innovation with empathy, ensuring its people remain at the heart of everything they do.

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