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!


Crowne Plaza Greater Noida Announces Key Leadership Appointments

Crowne Plaza Greater Noida Announces Key Leadership Appointments

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 12, 2026

Crowne Plaza Greater Noida has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Yogesh Sharma as Executive Housekeeper and Shailesh Kaushik as Learning & Development Manager. The appointments reflect the hotel’s continued focus on operational excellence, guest satisfaction, and employee growth.

Yogesh Sharma joins the property with more than 17 years of experience in housekeeping and hospitality operations. He began his career as a Housekeeping Associate at The Oberoi Grand, Kolkata, and has since worked with several leading hospitality brands including Trident Bandra Kurla, Jaypee Greens Golf & Spa Resort, Marriott International, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Taj Group of Hotels.

Before joining Crowne Plaza Greater Noida, Yogesh served as Executive Housekeeper at Le Méridien Kochi, where he played a key role in improving guest satisfaction, streamlining departmental operations, and leading large housekeeping teams. He is also recognised for his expertise in pre-opening operations, having successfully established housekeeping systems and processes for multiple hotel properties.

Speaking on the appointment, Sharad K Upadhyay, General Manager, Crowne Plaza Greater Noida, said, “Yogesh's proven track record and leadership in housekeeping will be invaluable as we continue to uphold Crowne Plaza Greater Noida's high standards of guest service and operational excellence.”

The hotel has also welcomed Shailesh Kaushik as Learning & Development Manager. With over eight years of specialised experience in employee training and capability building, Shailesh brings strong expertise in organisational learning and team development.

Prior to this role, he was associated with Baskin Robbins India, where he led Learning & Development initiatives for more than 330 stores across North India. His work focused on improving employee engagement, operational efficiency, and service standards.

Shailesh has also worked with Cinepolis India Pvt. Ltd. as Regional Trainer – South India and with Cafe Coffee Day, contributing to leadership training, talent development, and process improvement initiatives. He is a graduate of the Institute of Hotel Management, Jaipur, and holds certifications in Food Safety (FOSTAC) and Soft Skills Training.

Commenting on his appointment, Sharad K Upadhyay added, “Shailesh's passion for building high-performing teams and enhancing learning culture will strengthen our organizational capabilities and further elevate the guest experience.”

With these strategic appointments, Crowne Plaza Greater Noida continues to reinforce its commitment to delivering exceptional hospitality experiences while investing in operational and people-focused growth.


Four Seasons Bali Appoints Nicolas Laufrais as Senior Director of Commercial

Four Seasons Bali Appoints Nicolas Laufrais as Senior Director of Commercial

By Hariharan U

Published on May 12, 2026

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay and Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan have announced the appointment of Nicolas Laufrais as Senior Director of Commercial, overseeing both properties under a unified strategic leadership structure.

With over 15 years of international experience across sales, marketing, and revenue management, Laufrais brings a strong combination of analytical capability and creative commercial thinking. His appointment is aimed at driving long-term, sustainable growth while strengthening the global positioning of both resorts.

Most recently, Laufrais spent two years in Bali leading the commercial positioning and launch strategy at Regent Bali Canggu, gaining deep insight into the island’s evolving luxury hospitality landscape.

Prior to that, he served as Head of Commercial at InterContinental Cascais-Estoril, where he focused on strengthening luxury partnerships and lifestyle positioning in a competitive European market. Earlier in his career, he held the role of Director of Sales and Marketing at Conrad Bora Bora Nui, further building his expertise in ultra-luxury resort operations and global luxury demand generation.

In his new role, Laufrais will oversee commercial strategy across both Bali properties, integrating sales, marketing, and revenue management functions while ensuring each resort retains its distinct identity and sense of place.

Speaking about his appointment, he said, “Luxury travel today is about emotional resonance. These resorts offer distinctive experiences in two remarkable settings. My focus is to strengthen global positioning while ensuring each initiative reflects the authenticity, heritage, and sense of connection that define them.”

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, set along the Ayung River, is known for its serene jungle landscape and spiritual design influences, while Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay offers a beachfront experience rooted in Balinese coastal culture and relaxed living.

Laufrais will be responsible for aligning commercial planning across both resorts, ensuring a cohesive strategy that respects their individual character while leveraging their shared brand strength in the global luxury market.


voco Goa Arpora Appoints Vivek Sharma as Food & Beverage Manager

voco Goa Arpora Appoints Vivek Sharma as Food & Beverage Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on May 12, 2026

voco Goa Arpora has announced the appointment of Vivek Sharma as its new Food & Beverage Manager, further strengthening its leadership team within the F&B division.

With over 11 years of experience in food and beverage operations, Vivek Sharma brings a strong background in hospitality excellence, having worked with leading global and luxury hotel brands including Taj Hotels, The Oberoi Group, Five Palm Jumeirah, The Postcard Hotel, Marriott International, and IHG Hotels & Resorts.

Throughout his career, Vivek has been recognised for his strong operational expertise, guest-centric approach, and ability to build and lead high-performing teams. He has consistently focused on enhancing guest experiences while driving operational efficiency and service excellence across diverse hospitality environments.

Known for his people-first leadership style, Vivek believes in empowering teams through coaching, mentoring, and continuous development. His approach fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation, enabling teams to consistently exceed guest expectations in dynamic service environments.

Beyond his professional commitments, Vivek enjoys travelling and playing chess, reflecting his strategic thinking and balanced personality.

At voco Goa Arpora, his appointment is expected to further elevate the hotel’s food and beverage offerings and enhance overall guest satisfaction through refined service standards and innovative dining experiences.

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