Hyatt Regency Chandigarh Appoints Takshila Chheda & Rafi Ansari to Key Leadership Roles

Hyatt Regency Chandigarh Appoints Takshila Chheda & Rafi Ansari to Key Leadership Roles

By Nishang Narayan

Published on April 4, 2025

Hyatt Regency Chandigarh is pleased to announce two significant additions to its leadership team—Takshila Chheda as Area Director – Digital Marketing, North Region and Rafi Ansari as Director of Food & Beverage. These appointments reflect the hotel’s ongoing commitment to innovation, guest engagement, and culinary excellence.

Takshila Chheda: Driving Digital Innovation

As the newly appointed Area Director – Digital Marketing for Hyatt Hotels in the North Region, Takshila Chheda will lead strategic digital initiatives across multiple properties, aligning them with Hyatt’s broader business goals.

With over a decade of experience, Ms. Chheda has crafted impactful marketing campaigns across industries. Previously, she spearheaded Hyatt’s digital strategy for the East and West regions from Grand Hyatt Mumbai. Her career highlights include:

  • Reliance Industries: Led digital strategy for Jio World Centre, including the launch of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre.
  • Tata Motors: Developed high-profile campaigns for IPL, Geneva Motor Show, and Auto Expo.
  • Taj Lands’ End, MSL, Edelman, and Perfect Relations: Honed expertise in public relations and corporate communications.

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Ms. Chheda holds an MSc in Corporate Communications and Reputation Management from Manchester Business School, UK, and has also contributed to academia as a Visiting Faculty at KJ Somaiya Institute of Management.

Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new cuisines, working out, traveling, and reading fiction.

“We are delighted to welcome Takshila Chheda to the Hyatt family in the North region. Her expertise and innovative approach will be invaluable as we enhance our digital presence and guest engagement.”
— Ashwini Kumar, General Manager, Hyatt Regency Chandigarh

Rafi Ansari: Elevating Culinary Experiences

Bringing over 18 years of hospitality experience, Rafi Ansari joins as the Director of Food & Beverage, aiming to elevate Hyatt Regency Chandigarh’s dining experiences and service standards.

Mr. Ansari began his career as a Food & Beverage Associate at JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu and has since held leadership roles across prestigious hotels, including:

  • Sofitel Mumbai BKC, Marriott Kochi, Fairfield by Marriott Lucknow, and The Westin Goa
  • Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal – Led F&B operations, enhanced brand visibility, and drove revenue growth.

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A go-getter and creative leader, Mr. Ansari thrives on crafting unique dining experiences. Outside of work, he enjoys road trips, cooking at home, and spending time with his daughter. His bucket list includes traveling to Switzerland with his family.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rafi Ansari to the Hyatt Regency Chandigarh family. His expertise, creativity, and passion for exceptional dining experiences will undoubtedly elevate our F&B offerings.”
— Ashwini Kumar, General Manager, Hyatt Regency Chandigarh

Hyatt Regency Chandigarh: A Commitment to Excellence

Hyatt Regency Chandigarh, part of the global Hyatt Regency brand, embodies open-hearted hospitality and vibrant community experiences. Nestled in the dynamic city of Chandigarh, the hotel offers a seamless blend of local culture and contemporary luxury, making it a preferred destination for both business and leisure travelers.

With thoughtfully designed spaces, exceptional culinary offerings, and versatile event venues, Hyatt Regency Chandigarh continues to set new benchmarks in guest experiences and hospitality innovation.

For more information, visit hyattregencychandigarh.com.

Phone: +91 172 440 1234
Email: info@hyattregencychandigarh.com
Website: www.hyatt.com


Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad Appoints Chef Jogarao Pujari as Executive Chef

Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad Appoints Chef Jogarao Pujari as Executive Chef

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.

About 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.


Pramod Kumar Joins Anya Hotel as Housekeeping Manager

Pramod Kumar Joins Anya Hotel as Housekeeping Manager

By Hariharan U

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.


Priyanka Gandhi Appointed Director of Guest Experiences at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar

Priyanka Gandhi Appointed Director of Guest Experiences at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on November 13, 2026

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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