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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on October 26, 2026
InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort has announced three key leadership appointments across its finance, front office and housekeeping departments. Sarath Kumar D joins the leadership team as Finance & Business Support Manager, Avik Roy Chowdhury takes on the role of Front Office Manager, and Debaraj Rout has been appointed Housekeeping Manager. Together, they bring extensive experience in hotel operations, financial management, guest services and team leadership.
Sarath Kumar D – Finance & Business Support Manager
Sarath Kumar D brings over a decade of experience in financial management, business planning and strategic operations across hospitality brands including IHG, Marriott and Accor. In his role as Finance & Business Support Manager, he oversees the resort's finance function, including budgeting, forecasting, compliance and financial strategy. He also works closely with senior leadership to support profitability and operational efficiency.
Throughout his career, Sarath has held progressive finance leadership positions at InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort, Aloft Bengaluru Outer Ring Road, Fairfield by Marriott Chennai, Mercure Chennai and Club Mahindra Holidays & Resorts. His professional achievements include leading the financial management of a ₹25 crore property renovation, implementing PeopleSoft ERP to strengthen financial reporting and maintaining strong audit compliance. He has also consistently delivered financial planning aligned with business objectives.
Sarath holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Anna University. His expertise covers financial controls, statutory compliance, cost optimisation and process improvement, supported by an analytical approach and collaborative leadership style.
Avik Roy Chowdhury – Front Office Manager
Avik Roy Chowdhury brings over a decade of experience in front office operations, guest services and hotel leadership across IHG and Accor properties. As Front Office Manager, he leads the resort's front office team, focusing on guest satisfaction, service quality, operational efficiency and brand standards.
His career includes progressive leadership roles at Crowne Plaza Bengaluru Electronic City, Holiday Inn Chennai OMR, Holiday Inn Agra, Holiday Inn Goa Candolim, Novotel Kochi Infopark and voco Jim Corbett. Avik has received several professional recognitions, including the Star of the Year, Highest Upseller Award and Manager of the Quarter awards. As an IHG Certified Trainer and Brand Audit Champion, he has led quality audits, loyalty programmes, operational training and guest experience initiatives, contributing to hotel performance and brand compliance.
A graduate in Hotel Management from NSHM, Durgapur, Avik is known for his guest-first approach, collaborative leadership and focus on team development. His expertise in front office operations and quality assurance supports consistent service delivery and memorable guest experiences.
Debaraj Rout – Housekeeping Manager
Debaraj Rout brings over 13 years of experience in housekeeping operations, team leadership and hotel pre-openings across leading hospitality brands, including IHG and Marriott International. At InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort, he leads the housekeeping department, focusing on cleanliness, service standards, operational efficiency and guest satisfaction.
His previous leadership roles include positions at Four Points by Sheraton Nashik, Aloft Bengaluru Whitefield, Holiday Inn Express & Suites Bengaluru OMR, Holiday Inn Express Bengaluru Yeshwanthpur and Holiday Inn & Suites Bengaluru. Debaraj has extensive experience in hotel pre-opening projects, establishing housekeeping operations, developing standard operating procedures, staff training, inventory management and quality assurance. His contributions have earned him several performance recognitions, including Best Manager and Best Department honours. He is also an IHG Departmental Trainer.
A diploma holder in Hotel Management, Debaraj is recognised for his disciplined management approach and commitment to continuous improvement. He emphasises attention to detail, effective people management and consistent service standards in maintaining a high-quality guest experience.
With these appointments across finance, front office and housekeeping, InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort brings together professionals with experience in financial planning, guest services and operational management. Their expertise will support the resort's focus on service quality, operational performance and guest satisfaction.
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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.
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.
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.
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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