HospitalityNews Congratulates Manu Bhaker for Historic Bronze at Paris 2024 Olympics

HospitalityNews Congratulates Manu Bhaker for Historic Bronze at Paris 2024 Olympics

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 30, 2024

HospitalityNews is thrilled to congratulate Manu Bhaker on her outstanding achievement at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Manu Bhaker made history by winning the bronze medal in the women’s 10m air pistol event, becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic shooting medal.

This victory is India’s fifth Olympic medal in shooting and the first medal in any sport at Paris 2024. Manu Bhaker’s score of 221.7 in the eight-woman final secured her place on the podium. Oh Ye Jin of the Republic of Korea clinched the gold medal with a new Olympic record of 243.2, followed by her compatriot Yeji Kim, who won silver with a score of 241.3.

Manu Bhaker's performance was exceptional. She started the final strongly, scoring 50.4 in the first series and holding her position among the top competitors throughout the event. Despite a few setbacks, she demonstrated resilience and skill, ultimately securing the bronze medal.

Reflecting on her achievement, Manu Bhaker said, "I just put all my effort into staying in the moment until the last second, just not giving up and keep trying harder and harder. You have to hold yourself together, because that’s what all the hard work is for. Although the competition was neck-and-neck and I lost silver by .1, I’m still very grateful to win bronze for my country.”

In the same event at Tokyo 2020, Manu Bhaker was well on course to qualify for the final but a pistol malfunction stole her six precious minutes and she fell just two points short of making the final.

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Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won India’s first Olympic medal in shooting with a silver at Athens 2004 in the men’s double trap. Abhinav Bindra won India’s only gold medal in shooting in the men’s 10m air rifle at Beijing 2008. Gagan Narang (men’s 10m air rifle) and Vijay Kumar (men’s 25m rapid fire pistol) won silver and bronze, respectively, at the London 2012 Games.

On Saturday, Manu Bhaker stormed into the final of the women’s 10m air pistol event after finishing third in the qualifying round. She thus became the first Indian woman to make an Olympic shooting final in 20 years. Hungary’s Veronika Major, who topped the qualifying round, was the first to get eliminated in the final.

Manu Bhaker will also compete in the 10m air pistol mixed team event on Monday and the women’s 25m pistol event, scheduled to start on Friday. She is the only athlete from the 21-member Indian shooting team to participate in multiple individual events.

Earlier in the day, Ramita Jindal and Arjun Babuta qualified for the finals in the women’s 10m air rifle and the men's 10m air rifle events, respectively. The 20-year-old Ramita, who won bronze at the Asian Games last year, shot 631.5 to finish fifth in the qualifying round. The top eight shooters in the men’s and the women’s events qualified for the finals. South Korea’s Hyojin Ban topped the qualification round with the Games’ record of 634.5. Elavenial Valarivan, who finished 10th with a score of 630.7, started well but 103.8 in the sixth series saw her miss out on the qualification by a margin of 0.6 points.

In the men's 10m air rifle shooting event, Arjun Babuta scored 630.1 in the qualification series for seventh place. Sandeep Singh finished 12th with 629.3 points and missed out.

HospitalityNews is immensely proud of Manu Bhaker’s historic achievement and wishes her continued success in her future endeavors. Congratulations, Manu!


The Westin Goa Appoints Preeti Mittoo as Director of Sales and Marketing

The Westin Goa Appoints Preeti Mittoo as Director of Sales and Marketing

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on September 18, 2025

The Westin Goa has announced the appointment of Preeti Mittoo as its new director of sales and marketing. With more than 18 years of expertise across luxury, business, and lifestyle hospitality brands, Mittoo brings a strong track record of leading teams, driving growth, and creating guest-focused experiences.

She began her career with ITC Hotels and The Oberoi Group, where she developed a strong foundation in hospitality sales. Most recently, she served as general manager, sales, North India at Lemon Tree & Aurika Hotels, successfully leading sales strategies for 32 hotels and spearheading the launch of their luxury brand.

This appointment marks her first role with Marriott International. At The Westin Goa, Mittoo’s focus will be on positioning the resort as a destination of choice in Goa while building on Westin’s wellness-infused philosophy and the vibrant spirit of the region. She envisions establishing the property as the benchmark for wellness-driven luxury in India.

Mittoo believes that true success goes beyond filling rooms, it lies in curating soulful, memorable moments that inspire guest loyalty. A strong advocate of teamwork and guest-centric hospitality, her leadership mantra is: “Inspire, empower and stay customer-obsessed, because both teams and guests thrive when genuine care is at the core.”

Welcoming her to the team, Harish Gopalakrishnan, general manager, The Westin Goa, said: “We are delighted to welcome Preeti Mittoo to The Westin Goa family! With her talent and experience, we are confident that together we will curate trend-setting, soulful experiences that position the resort as the benchmark for wellness travel in India.”

Through her new role, Preeti Mittoo aims to blend strategy with empathy, ensuring The Westin Goa remains a leader in Goa’s luxury and wellness hospitality landscape.


Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai Appoints Henna Punjabi as Director of Public Relations and Communications

Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai Appoints Henna Punjabi as Director of Public Relations and Communications

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on September 18, 2025

Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai has announced the appointment of Henna Punjabi as its new Director of Public Relations and Communications.

Henna brings a wealth of experience in marketing and communications, with a proven track record in building impactful brand narratives and executing campaigns that resonate with both guests and media. She has been recognised with the Marketing Team of the Year award at the Marriott International APEC Elite Awards 2024 and was named Runner-Up for Marketing & PR Person of the Year at the Hotelier India Awards, reflecting her excellence in the field.

In her new role, Henna will lead the hotel’s communications and brand positioning strategy, including media relations, integrated marketing, and high-impact campaigns. Her expertise in combining creativity with strategic insight will help amplify Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai’s visibility as a leader in luxury hospitality.

Commenting on the appointment, Nitesh Gandhi, General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, said: “Henna brings with her not just experience, but a true passion for building connections through storytelling. We are delighted to welcome her to Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai and look forward to the energy, creativity, and fresh perspective she will bring to our communications journey.”

With Henna Punjabi on board, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai continues to reinforce its commitment to excellence, where service, storytelling, and brand presence reflect the timeless elegance of the Four Seasons brand.


Treat Hotels & Resorts Strengthens Leadership With Two Key Appointments in Nashik & Sambhajinagar

Treat Hotels & Resorts Strengthens Leadership With Two Key Appointments in Nashik & Sambhajinagar

By Hariharan U

Published on September 17, 2025

Treat Hotels & Resorts has announced two significant leadership appointments, further strengthening its team as the brand continues to grow its presence in Nashik and Sambhajinagar.

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Mr. Rahuul Jaggiasi has been named Cluster General Manager – Nashik & Sambhajinagar. With over 20 years of experience, he is recognised for his expertise in brand building, pre-openings, operations, and luxury guest experiences. An alumnus of IHM-Aurangabad, affiliated with Huddersfield University, UK, Rahuul began his career with the Taj Group of Hotels. Over the years, he has held leadership roles with Lemon Tree Hotels, Pride Group of Hotels, Marriott International, Concept Hospitality, ITC Hotels’ Mementos Ekaaya Udaipur, and Ananta Spa & Resort Jaipur. Most recently, he was associated with Foodlink F&B Holdings, where he focused on expanding luxury catering and experiential dining in South India. In his new role, he will focus on strengthening operations, driving strategic growth, and enhancing guest experiences across the Nashik and Sambhajinagar properties.

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Alongside this, Mr. Parikshit Shouche has been appointed as General ManagerSales, Nashik Region. With 21 years of experience in hospitality sales, Parikshit has developed strong expertise in revenue generation and market expansion. An alumnus of MGV’s College of Hotel Management & Technologies, Nashik, he also holds a B.A. in History. He began his career with Taj Residency and went on to work with Ginger Hotels and Express Inn. At Ibis Nashik, he served for more than a decade in multiple roles, eventually becoming Director of Sales. Most recently, he was associated with Courtyard by Marriott as Director of Sales & Marketing. In his new position, he will lead sales strategies, strengthen market presence, and drive business growth for Treat Hotels & Resorts.

These appointments mark a strategic step for Treat Hotels & Resorts as it builds a robust leadership team to deliver exceptional hospitality and further its vision for growth in key markets.

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