Hilton Elevates Luxury Experience in Asia Pacific with New Leadership

Hilton Elevates Luxury Experience in Asia Pacific with New Leadership

By Author

Published on January 31, 2024

In a move to strengthen its foothold in luxury hospitality across Asia Pacific, global hospitality leader Hilton has welcomed Candice D’Cruz as Vice President of Luxury Brands for the region. Based in Singapore, Candice will lead Hilton’s esteemed luxury brands, including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts, and Conrad Hotels & Resorts.

With a rich background in the industry, Candice brings over two decades of experience to her role. Formerly the Vice President of Luxury Brand Management and Marketing for Europe, Middle East, and Africa at Marriott International, she has been recognized as a leader in her field, receiving accolades such as being named number one in "The Power of 25" by Hotelier Middle East in 2019.

In her new role, Candice aims to shape distinctive brand identities and curate localized guest experiences, emphasizing the pivotal role they play in ensuring the enduring success of Hilton’s luxury brands in the region. Her strategic guidance is expected to contribute significantly to Hilton’s commitment to delivering exceptional luxury experiences.

“I am delighted to embark on this journey with Hilton based out of the vibrant city of Singapore. My passion lies in shaping distinctive brand identities alongside curated and localized guest experiences, recognizing their pivotal role in ensuring our brands’ enduring success throughout the region,” said Candice D’Cruz. 

Candice, of Indian origin, currently resides in Singapore with her husband and two children. She is passionate about championing the development of female leaders and cultivating young talent, and she looks forward to empowering her teams to unlock their full potential in this new role.

Hilton’s commitment to luxury hospitality in Asia Pacific is further emphasized by Candice’s appointment, and her extensive experience is expected to play a key role in the brand’s growth and development in the region.


Somrup Chanda Appointed General Manager at Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata

Somrup Chanda Appointed General Manager at Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on January 29, 2026

Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata has announced the appointment of Somrup Chanda as its General Manager, effective 09 January 2026. The appointment marks a significant step as the property looks to strengthen its leadership and operational excellence.

Somrup Chanda brings with him over two decades of rich and diverse experience in the hospitality industry, having worked with leading hotel brands across India and the Middle East. His professional expertise spans hotel operations, revenue maximization, marketing, customer experience, and pre-opening projects.

He began his hospitality journey with Hyatt in Food and Beverage and steadily progressed through renowned brands such as Grand Hyatt, Park Hyatt, and Hyatt Regency. His career with Marriott International includes playing a key role in launching India’s first Sheraton Grand. He also contributed significantly to the pre-opening and rebranding of Indore Marriott Hotel, where several award-winning concepts were introduced to the market.

Somrup’s professional journey further includes leadership roles with Accor in Kolkata and IHG in Abu Dhabi, adding global exposure to his profile before his return to India.

In 2023, he took on the role of Director of Operations at Bangalore Marriott Hotel Whitefield. During his tenure, he successfully stabilized operations, improved guest satisfaction levels, enhanced revenue performance, and positioned the hotel as Karnataka’s largest single-branded property.

With his extensive experience and people-focused leadership style, Somrup Chanda is expected to drive operational efficiency and guest-centric growth at Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata.


Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel Elevates RaviTeja Yenumula to Director of Sales and Marketing

Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel Elevates RaviTeja Yenumula to Director of Sales and Marketing

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on January 29, 2026

Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel has announced the promotion of RaviTeja Yenumula to Director of Sales and Marketing. In his expanded role, he will lead the hotel’s comprehensive commercial strategy, with a strong focus on driving revenue growth through integrated sales, marketing, and customer success initiatives.

With over 11 years of experience in the hospitality industry, RaviTeja brings deep expertise in commercial strategy and MICE operations. His career spans managing MICE-focused, corporate, and airport hotels, supported by a consistent record of delivering strong commercial performance.

RaviTeja joined Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel in June 2024 as Director of Sales. During this period, he played a key role in improving the hotel’s top-line performance through proactive sales strategies, reservation optimisation, and detailed market analysis.

Prior to joining Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel and Marriott International, RaviTeja served as Director of Sales at Accor from January 2023 to June 2024, where he also completed the Global Leadership Programme, Professional Leaders category. His professional journey also includes significant roles with The Oberoi Group and various leadership positions within Accor.

Speaking on his elevation, RaviTeja Yenumula said,

“I am thrilled to take on this role at Sheraton Hyderabad, where I can harness my passion for technology and customer success to enhance our commercial excellence. My goal is to empower our team through effective decision-making and by adopting cutting-edge tools provided by Marriott International.”

RaviTeja holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering and began his professional career as a software developer before transitioning into the hospitality industry. Outside of work, he enjoys travelling and exploring new technology.


Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida Appoints Dharmendra Mishra as Director of Sales

Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida Appoints Dharmendra Mishra as Director of Sales

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on January 29, 2026

Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida has announced the appointment of Dharmendra Mishra as its new Director of Sales. With over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry, Dharmendra brings extensive expertise across sales leadership, MICE and convention sales, catering revenue management, and event operations.

Over the course of his career, Dharmendra has been associated with several renowned hotel brands including IHG, Hyatt, Hilton, Pride Plaza, and Park Plaza. In his previous roles, he has consistently driven strong revenue performance, operational excellence, and high levels of guest satisfaction. His professional journey has also been recognised through multiple prestigious awards and internal leadership accolades.

In his new role at Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida, Dharmendra will be responsible for leading the hotel’s sales strategy, strengthening market positioning, driving revenue growth, and managing key account relationships. He will work closely with cross-functional teams to enhance overall business performance and elevate the guest experience.

Sharing his views on the appointment, N. Vinaayak, Director of Sales & Marketing, said,

“We are excited to welcome Dharmendra to our team. His deep industry knowledge, strong commercial acumen, and proven track record in driving sales performance make him a valuable addition to our organization. We are confident that his strategic vision and collaborative approach will play a key role in strengthening our market position and delivering exceptional results.”

Expressing his enthusiasm, Dharmendra Mishra said,

“I am delighted to join Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida and I look forward to working with the talented team here to build strong partnerships, explore new market opportunities, and contribute to the continued success and growth of the hotel.”

Outside of his professional commitments, Dharmendra enjoys cooking and follows cricket closely.

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