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By Nithyakala Neelakandan
Published on April 25, 2024
Hotelivate’s 19th Hotel Investment Conference South Asia (HICSA) recently concluded, marking a significant event for the hospitality industry. Among the highlights was the prestigious MakeMyTrip General Manager of the Year Awards, recognizing exceptional leadership and excellence. Held from April 2nd to 4th, 2024, HICSA brought together industry leaders, including Sébastian Bazin, Mark S. Hoplamazian, and Federico J. González.
This year, George Bennet Kuruvilla of The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore, emerged as the recipient of the General Manager of the Year Award in the Luxury category. Kuruvilla's leadership and dedication have played a pivotal role in solidifying The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore’s position as a sought-after luxury destination known for its impeccable service and immersive experiences.
The MakeMyTrip General Manager of the Year Awards not only acknowledge outstanding talent but also drive the industry forward by inspiring excellence. This recognition serves as a testament to the remarkable contributions of individuals like Kuruvilla, shaping the future of the Indian hospitality landscape.
The conference also honored industry veterans, with Kapil Bhatia receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for his remarkable career journey. With over 725 attendees, HICSA 2024 exceeded expectations, signaling a promising recovery for the industry and highlighting the resilience of hospitality professionals.
As the curtains closed on HICSA 2024, the engaging ‘Hot Seat Debate’ moderated by Manav Thadani brought insightful discussions to the forefront, marking the end of an inspiring and successful event.
About The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore
The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore is a luxury hotel located in the heart of Bangalore. The hotel features 277 rooms and suites, as well as seven award-winning restaurants and bars. The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore is the perfect place to relax and indulge in luxury. Visit our website at ritzcarlton.com/Bangalore.In addition, connect with us on @ritzcarltonbangalore on Facebook and @ritzcarlton.bangalore on Instagram.
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By Hariharan U
Published on November 14, 2026
Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad has appointed Chef Jogarao Pujari as its new Executive Chef, bringing an experienced culinary professional with over 18 years of industry experience to lead its food and beverage operations.
In his new role, Chef Jogarao will oversee culinary operations across the hotel's food and beverage outlets, with responsibilities spanning menu planning and development, new culinary concepts, food quality and presentation. He will also lead and mentor the kitchen team while focusing on operational efficiency and guest dining experiences.
His career includes associations with several hospitality brands, including Four Points by Sheraton Visakhapatnam, Radisson Blu Plaza Hyderabad, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre and HICC, The Raintree Hotels Chennai, and Hotel Marine Plaza Mumbai.
He also brings international experience from a four-year association with Costa Cruise Lines, Italy, where he gained exposure to cruise culinary operations. In the corporate food service segment, he has worked with Sodexo India Services, most recently serving as Executive Chef for its Deloitte account in Hyderabad.
A specialist in banquet operations and large-scale catering, Chef Jogarao has managed events serving up to 100,000 guests, including major corporate engagements and prestigious occasions. His experience across diverse cuisines and high-volume food service environments adds to his operational and culinary expertise.
Beyond professional kitchens, Chef Jogarao is also familiar to Telugu-speaking audiences through his television appearances. He has hosted more than 600 live cooking shows on ETV Abhiruchi, sharing his culinary knowledge and passion for non-vegetarian cuisine with viewers across the Telugu-speaking states.
His appointment brings together experience in hotel kitchens, cruise operations, corporate catering and television, as he takes charge of the culinary function at Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad.
Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad offers contemporary accommodation and hospitality services for business travellers, with a focus on comfortable stays, thoughtful amenities and convenient dining options. The property follows the Fairfield brand's approach to simplicity, comfort and welcoming service.
Published on November 13, 2026
Anya Hotel has appointed Pramod Kumar as its new Housekeeping Manager, strengthening the hotel's housekeeping leadership with an experienced hospitality professional. Kumar joined the property on November 11, 2026, bringing 19 years of experience in housekeeping operations across reputed hotel brands.
His professional experience includes associations with Radisson, Marriott, Hilton, ITC Hotels, The Park Hotels and Westin. Most recently, he was associated with Radisson Individuals in Gopalpur, Odisha.
Over the course of his career, Kumar has developed expertise in housekeeping operations management, budgeting, cost control, quality assurance, guest satisfaction, team leadership and departmental coordination. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing housekeeping operations and maintaining the hotel's standards of cleanliness, service quality and guest comfort.
Kumar also brings strong communication, problem-solving, teamwork and time-management skills to the position. His approach combines operational efficiency with a focus on maintaining quality and working collaboratively with colleagues across departments.
Outside work, he enjoys listening to music, practising yoga and swimming. His personal philosophy is summed up in a simple belief: “Work is worship.”
With his experience across multiple hospitality brands and a background in managing housekeeping functions, Kumar's appointment adds to Anya Hotel's focus on operational consistency and guest satisfaction.
By Manu Vardhan Kannan
JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar has appointed Priyanka Gandhi as Director of Guest Experiences, strengthening its focus on personalised service, guest satisfaction, and associate development.
With over two decades of experience across hospitality, aviation, food service, and education, Priyanka brings a strong understanding of customer experience, service culture, and people development. Throughout her career, she has focused on improving service standards and helping teams create meaningful interactions with guests.
In her new role, Priyanka will oversee key areas such as personalisation, service excellence, service recovery, relationship building, and associate development. She will also lead learning and performance initiatives to maintain consistency across the guest journey while supporting the hotel's wider business objectives.
Before joining JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, Priyanka held leadership positions across customer experience, learning, quality, and training at several organisations, including Foodlink F&B Holdings, Artium Academy, Air India, Go First, The St. Regis Mumbai, Jet Airways, and Kingfisher Airlines.
She is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, with expertise in instructional design, quality assurance, service audits, and process improvement. Her experience across different service sectors adds to her understanding of guest expectations and team performance.
Commenting on her appointment, Priyanka Gandhi said, "Every guest interaction is an opportunity to create a connection that goes beyond the service itself. I believe exceptional experiences begin with empowered people who have the right skills, mindset, and confidence to make a difference. I look forward to working with the team at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar to build on its strong culture of service and create experiences that guests remember long after their stay."
Priyanka's appointment further strengthens JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar's commitment to delivering thoughtful, personalised, and consistent guest experiences.
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