Hyatt Regency Chennai Appoints Kanjana Nikesri as Chef De Cuisine

Hyatt Regency Chennai Appoints Kanjana Nikesri as Chef De Cuisine

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on August 1, 2024

Hyatt Regency Chennai has officially appointed Ms. Kanjana Nikesri as the new Asian Chef De Cuisine for Stix, the hotel’s renowned Asian restaurant. Ms. Nikesri brings a robust background in culinary arts, honed through years of experience at prestigious hotels and restaurants around the world.

Ms. Nikesri’s culinary journey began with a Western-Thai Culinary Course at Dusit Thani College, complementing her academic foundation, which includes a bachelor’s degree in Geography from Ramkhamhaeng University. Over the years, she has held key positions, notably serving as the Asian Chef De Cuisine at Sahara Star Hotel in Mumbai. There, she excelled in creating innovative menus, controlling food costs, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality dishes across a variety of Asian cuisines, including Chinese, Thai, Malaysian, Indonesian, Korean, and Japanese.

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Before her tenure at Sahara Star, Ms. Nikesri worked with several esteemed establishments, such as Ariyasub Co. Ltd and The Chedi Muscat Hotel in Oman, where she focused on menu development, cost management, and team training. Her career also includes significant roles at Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea, OZO Samui, Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche Hotel, and JW Marriott Hotel Dubai. Her professional journey began at Sofitel Dubai Jumeirah Beach.

Ms. Nikesri has also pursued further professional development, completing specialized training such as the Essential Train the Trainer program at Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea and Essential Food Safety Training from the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority. Her diverse skill set includes the intricate art of vegetable and fruit carving and mastery over a wide range of Asian culinary techniques.

In her new role at Stix, Ms. Nikesri will oversee all aspects of Asian culinary operations. She will focus on developing and implementing innovative menus, maintaining high culinary standards, and ensuring exceptional dining experiences for guests.


Sheraton Hyderabad Promotes RaviTeja Yenumula as Director of Sales and Marketing

Sheraton Hyderabad Promotes RaviTeja Yenumula as Director of Sales and Marketing

By Hariharan U

Published on February 9, 2026

Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel has announced the promotion of RaviTeja Yenumula to Director of Sales and Marketing, strengthening its commercial leadership as the hotel sharpens its growth strategy.

In his expanded role, Yenumula will oversee the hotel’s end-to-end commercial operations, focusing on driving revenue through innovative sales and marketing initiatives, strategic partnerships, and customer success programs.

With over 11 years of experience in the hospitality sector, Yenumula brings strong expertise across MICE, corporate, and airport hotel segments. He joined Sheraton Hyderabad in June 2024 as Director of Sales, where he played a key role in improving top-line performance through proactive sales initiatives, reservation optimisation, and data-led market analysis.

Prior to joining Marriott International, Yenumula served as Director of Sales at Accor between January 2023 and June 2024, during which he also completed Accor’s Global Leadership Programme in the Professional Leaders category. His career journey includes earlier stints with The Oberoi Group and multiple leadership roles within Accor, giving him a well-rounded perspective across premium hospitality brands.

Commenting on his promotion, Yenumula said, “I am excited to step into this role at Sheraton Hyderabad. I look forward to leveraging technology, customer insights and Marriott International’s advanced tools to strengthen commercial excellence and support informed decision-making across teams.”

Yenumula holds a bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering and began his professional journey as a software developer before transitioning into hospitality, a background that continues to shape his analytical and technology-driven approach to commercial leadership.


Toscano Restaurant Appoints Chef Dinesh Parshad Bhatt as Cluster Chef

Toscano Restaurant Appoints Chef Dinesh Parshad Bhatt as Cluster Chef

By Hariharan U

Published on February 6, 2026

Toscano Restaurant has announced the appointment of Chef Dinesh Parshad Bhatt as its Cluster Chef, a move aimed at strengthening culinary leadership, consistency, and innovation across its restaurant portfolio.

 Chef Bhatt brings with him an extensive career spanning luxury hotels, fine-dining restaurants, and high-volume culinary operations in both India and international markets. Prior to joining Toscano, he served as Chef de Cuisine at Elements by Rosetta in Varca, Goa, and as Head Chef at Patang Re-Evolve Restaurant in Ahmedabad, where he led contemporary concepts and premium dining operations. His international exposure includes roles at Black Spoon Restaurant in Riyadh and multiple TDIC properties in Abu Dhabi, including Caramel Restaurant and Lounge, BOA Steakhouse, and Fanr at Saadiyat Island. His culinary expertise spans Modern Indian cuisine, Indian curries and tandoor, Italian fine dining, molecular gastronomy, American cuisine, tapas concepts, banquets, formal sit-down dinners, outdoor catering, and multi-ethnic buffets, reflecting a balance of tradition and modern global techniques.

In his role as Cluster Chef, Chef Bhatt will oversee pre-opening operations, kitchen setup and maintenance coordination, central kitchen production, supplier management, menu engineering with detailed food costing, staff training, audit compliance, and strict adherence to hygiene and food safety standards.

 Speaking on his appointment, Chef Dinesh Parshad Bhatt said, "I am honoured to join Toscano Restaurant as Cluster Chef. Toscano has built a strong reputation for quality and consistency, and I look forward to working closely with the team to create innovative menus, strengthen operational systems, and deliver memorable dining experiences that exceed guest expectations while maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and culinary excellence." With this appointment, Toscano Restaurant continues to reinforce its commitment to culinary innovation, operational discipline, and delivering world-class dining experiences across its locations.


Novotel Goa Candolim and Novotel Goa Resort & Spa Appoint Amit Sangwan as Cluster General Manager

Novotel Goa Candolim and Novotel Goa Resort & Spa Appoint Amit Sangwan as Cluster General Manager

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on February 6, 2026

Novotel has announced the appointment of Mr. Amit Sangwan as the Cluster General Manager of Novotel Goa Candolim and Novotel Goa Resort & Spa. In this role, he will oversee the overall leadership and performance of both properties, further strengthening their presence in one of India’s most popular leisure destinations.

A seasoned hospitality professional with over two decades of experience, Amit brings strong expertise in operational excellence, guest experience enhancement, and people-focused leadership. His career spans luxury, upper-upscale, and business hotel segments, where he has led large teams and managed complex operations across multiple brands.

Prior to this appointment, Amit served as General Manager at Novotel Ahmedabad since May 2023. During his tenure, he successfully drove strong commercial results, improved operational efficiencies, and maintained consistently high levels of guest satisfaction, contributing to the hotel’s overall growth and performance.

Amit is widely recognised within the industry for his leadership and achievements. His accolades include being named among the Top 5 General Managers of Business Hotels at the Hospitality Horizon Awards 2024, Gujarat’s Best General Manager by the CMO Asia Awards, and Most Admired GM of the Year at the International Hospitality & Travel Awards. Over the years, he has also led pre-opening projects, destination-led resorts, and diverse food and beverage portfolios.

In his new position, Amit will be responsible for shaping the strategic direction of both Novotel Goa properties. His focus will be on enhancing brand positioning, elevating guest experiences, and driving sustainable growth across leisure, MICE, and food and beverage segments.

Commenting on his appointment, Amit said, “I am delighted to take on this new role at Novotel Goa Candolim and Novotel Goa Resort & Spa. Goa is a vibrant leisure destination, and I look forward to collaborating with the teams to build on the hotels’ strong foundations, deliver memorable guest experiences, and achieve long-term success through innovation, collaboration, and service excellence.”

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