Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach has announced four strategic leadership appointments across its commercial, operational, and guest experience functions, reinforcing its commitment to operational excellence, business growth, and elevated guest experiences.

The appointments include the promotion of Amartya Chakraborty as Director of Operations, along with the induction of Abhijit Masurkar as Director of Sales & Marketing, Chander Joshi as Assistant Director of Revenue Management, and Harshwardhan Dhavale as Food & Beverage Manager. Collectively, the leadership team brings more than five decades of hospitality experience across leading hotel brands.

Having served as Director of Sales & Marketing at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach since 2022, Amartya Chakraborty has been elevated to Director of Operations. With nearly two decades of hospitality experience and over ten years with Accor, he has also completed the Accor Leadership Master Program and undertaken a strategic task force assignment at Mercure Kathmandu. In his new role, he will oversee hotel operations, focusing on service excellence, operational efficiency, employee engagement, and guest experiences across accommodation, food and beverage, weddings, banquets, and events.

Joining as Director of Sales & Marketing, Abhijit Masurkar brings more than 20 years of experience in hospitality sales and business development. Having previously held leadership positions with IHCL (Taj & Vivanta), The Leela Palace, and Hilton, he will be responsible for strengthening the hotel's market positioning, driving commercial performance, and expanding business across corporate, leisure, weddings, and MICE segments.

Further strengthening the commercial team, Chander Joshi has been appointed Assistant Director of Revenue Management. With over 14 years of experience across brands including Holiday Inn (IHG), DoubleTree by Hilton, Le Méridien, The Lalit, and The Leela, he brings expertise in revenue optimisation, pricing strategy, demand forecasting, and distribution management to support the hotel's revenue growth.

Harshwardhan Dhavale joins as Food & Beverage Manager with 16 years of experience in luxury and upscale hospitality. His career includes roles with Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Mumbai, DoubleTree by Hilton, ibis, Grand Mercure Bengaluru, Della Adventure, and Taj Residency. He will lead the hotel's restaurants, banqueting operations, and destination dining experiences with a focus on operational excellence and guest satisfaction.

Commenting on the appointments, Kunal Shanker, General Manager, Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, said, "The hospitality industry is evolving rapidly, with guest expectations extending far beyond traditional hotel stays. Success today depends on creating seamless experiences across accommodation, dining, celebrations, events, and every guest touchpoint. These leadership appointments reflect our commitment to building a future-ready team that combines commercial expertise, operational excellence, and a guest-first mindset. Amartya's elevation, alongside the addition of Abhijit, Chander, and Harshwardhan, brings diverse strengths that will further enhance our business performance, service standards, and innovation. Together, they will play a pivotal role in shaping the next phase of growth for Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach while delivering exceptional value to our guests, partners, and associates."

The appointments reflect Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach's continued investment in leadership development as it strengthens its focus on commercial growth, operational excellence, and experience-led hospitality.

Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall has appointed Maria Candice Rodrigues as its new Revenue Manager, reinforcing the hotel's commercial leadership as it continues to drive strategic growth and revenue optimisation.

In her new role, Candice will oversee the hotel's revenue management function, focusing on pricing strategies, demand forecasting, inventory optimisation, and distribution management to maximise commercial performance. She will work closely with the sales, reservations, and operations teams to identify new revenue opportunities while supporting the hotel's overall business goals.

Her responsibilities will include strengthening commercial performance through data-driven pricing strategies, improving forecasting accuracy, optimising distribution channels, and exploring revenue opportunities across different market segments. She will also work on building stronger collaboration across teams to support sustainable RevPAR growth and enhance the hotel's long-term profitability.

Before joining Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall, Candice was Assistant Manager – Revenue at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre. During her tenure, she contributed to pricing strategy, demand forecasting, inventory management, and market analysis across both room revenue and convention business. She also played an important role in implementing Opera Cloud and the IDEAS Revenue Management System, helping improve the property's revenue planning and operational efficiency.

Earlier in her career, Candice held reservations roles at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre, ibis Chennai City Centre, and Alila Diwa Goa. These positions helped her build strong expertise in hotel distribution, reservations strategy, and commercial operations before moving into revenue management.

Commenting on the appointment, Ram Shetty, General Manager, Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall, said, " We are delighted to welcome Maria to Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall. Her analytical mindset, commercial acumen and experience in revenue strategy make her a valuable addition to our team. As we continue to focus on driving profitable growth, strengthening our direct booking channels, and optimizing overall commercial performance, Candice's expertise will be instrumental in enhancing our revenue strategies and maximizing business opportunities across all segments. We are confident that her expertise will help strengthen our revenue performance and support the hotel's continued growth."

Speaking about her appointment, Candice, Revenue Manager, Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall, said, "I am thrilled to join Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall and be part of a team that is committed to excellence in hospitality. Revenue management is about understanding changing market dynamics and making informed decisions that create long-term value. What excites me most about this opportunity is the ability to combine data-driven insights with strong cross-functional collaboration to develop agile commercial strategies that deliver measurable results. With Bengaluru continuing to evolve as one of India's most dynamic hospitality markets, I look forward to identifying new opportunities, driving revenue performance and contributing to the hotel's long-term success. I am eager to work closely with the team to drive sustainable growth while continuing to deliver value for both the hotel and its guests."

Holiday Inn Cochin has announced the appointment of Nikhil Ayyappan as its Director of Sales & Marketing, effective July 1, 2026.

Nikhil joins the hotel with more than 14 years of experience in sales, marketing and business development across leading hospitality brands. A graduate of the University of Mumbai, he began his professional journey with Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. before moving into the hospitality sector.

Over the years, he has held key roles with renowned brands including The Leela Palaces & Resorts, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts, The Raviz Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and most recently IHCL SeleQtions – Tirupati.

In his new role, Nikhil will lead the hotel's sales and marketing operations, with a focus on driving revenue growth, strengthening brand visibility, expanding business opportunities and increasing market share across key segments.

Welcoming him to the team, the management of Holiday Inn Cochin said:

"We are delighted to welcome Nikhil Ayyappan to Holiday Inn Cochin. His wealth of industry experience, customer-centric approach, and proven leadership in driving commercial success will further strengthen our market position. We are confident that his expertise will contribute significantly to the hotel's continued growth and success."

Sharing his thoughts on the appointment, Nikhil Ayyappan said:

"I am excited to join the talented team at Holiday Inn Cochin. I look forward to building on the hotel's strong reputation, fostering meaningful partnerships, and delivering innovative sales and marketing strategies that create value for our guests, clients, and stakeholders."

Outside of work, Nikhil enjoys motorcycle touring and exploring new destinations on his bike. With this appointment, Holiday Inn Cochin continues to strengthen its leadership team as it focuses on enhancing guest experiences and driving long-term commercial growth.