The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas has announced the appointment of Vivek Pandey as its new Director of Food & Beverage. With over 15 years of experience across leading luxury hospitality brands in India, Pandey brings deep expertise in restaurant leadership, large-scale events, and guest-focused food and beverage operations.

Pandey began his hospitality journey at Hyatt Regency Kolkata, where he spent nearly a decade building a strong foundation across events and operational roles. He later expanded his culinary and service leadership experience at Park Hyatt Goa and Grand Hyatt Mumbai, before taking on larger responsibilities as Event Operations Manager at Hyatt Regency Dehradun. His career further progressed at JW Marriott Mumbai, where he served as Banquet Manager, overseeing high-profile events and complex banquet operations.

Most recently, Pandey held the position of Assistant Director of Food & Beverage at Hyatt Regency Dehradun, where he played a key role in driving culinary innovation, service excellence, and team development. His experience across both leisure and business destinations has shaped a leadership style that balances operational rigour with experiential creativity.

In his new role at The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas, Pandey will focus on elevating the resort’s Unique Dining Experiences (UDEs) through refined concepts, compelling storytelling, and thoughtfully curated guest journeys. A key priority will be strengthening the non-resident dining strategy, positioning the resort’s restaurants and bars as preferred destinations for local and regional patrons, while also fostering a workplace culture centred on associate wellbeing, engagement, and long-term growth.

Commenting on his appointment, Vivek Pandey said, “The Westin Himalayas is a truly distinctive destination that brings together wellness, nature, and elevated hospitality. I am excited to join a property that has already set strong benchmarks in experiential luxury and look forward to enhancing our culinary offerings and creating meaningful dining experiences.”

Welcoming him to the leadership team, Chinmaya Chikkamath, General Manager, The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas, said, “Food and beverage is a core pillar of the guest journey at The Westin Himalayas. Vivek’s depth of experience, creative vision, and people-focused leadership make him a valuable addition to our team. His understanding of destination dining and commitment to innovation will further strengthen our culinary offerings and elevate the overall resort experience.”

The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas has announced the appointment of Vivek Pandey as its new director of food and beverage, further strengthening the resort’s leadership team. With more than 15 years of experience in luxury hospitality, Pandey brings a strong background in restaurant management, large-scale events, and guest-centric food and beverage operations.

Pandey began his hospitality journey at Hyatt Regency Kolkata, where he spent close to a decade building his expertise across operations and events. He later expanded his experience at Park Hyatt Goa and Grand Hyatt Mumbai, gaining deeper exposure to premium dining and service standards. His career progression continued at Hyatt Regency Dehradun, where he handled larger responsibilities as event operations manager, before moving to JW Marriott Mumbai as banquet manager, overseeing high-profile events and complex banquet functions.

Most recently, Pandey served as assistant director of food and beverage at Hyatt Regency Dehradun. In this role, he was closely involved in driving culinary innovation, improving service delivery, and nurturing team development, contributing to overall operational growth.

In his new role at The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas, Pandey will focus on enhancing the resort’s Unique Dining Experiences (UDEs) through refined concepts, compelling storytelling, and carefully curated guest journeys. He will also work on building a strong non-resident dining strategy, positioning the resort’s restaurants and bars as preferred choices for local diners, while encouraging a work culture that supports associate wellbeing, engagement, and long-term growth.

Commenting on his appointment, Pandey said, “The Westin Himalayas is a truly distinctive destination, seamlessly blending wellness, nature, and elevated hospitality. I am excited to be part of a property that has already set strong benchmarks in experiential luxury. I look forward to working closely with the team to further enhance our culinary offerings, create meaningful dining experiences, and contribute to the resort’s continued evolution as a leading destination for wellbeing-driven hospitality.”

Welcoming the appointment, Chinmaya Chikkamath, general manager, The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas, said, “Food and beverage is a core pillar of the guest journey at The Westin Himalayas, and Vivek’s depth of experience, creative vision, and people-focused leadership make him a valuable addition to our leadership team. His strong understanding of destination dining, combined with his commitment to innovation and team wellbeing, will play a key role in further strengthening our culinary offerings and elevating the overall resort experience.”

Kochi Marriott Hotel has announced the appointment of Yogendra Indulkar as its new Director of Operations, reinforcing the hotel’s leadership team with seasoned operational expertise and a strong guest-centric approach.

With over 20 years of experience in hotel operations, Yogendra brings a well-rounded understanding of luxury and upper-upscale hospitality. His career spans senior leadership roles across renowned brands including Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts, and Ecotel Hotels, where he has managed large inventory hotels and complex, multi-outlet operations.

Known for delivering consistent operational and financial performance, Yogendra combines commercial acumen with a hands-on leadership style. A graduate in Hospitality Management and Catering Operations, he is recognised for his collaborative approach, strong interpersonal skills, and focus on continuous improvement across teams and processes.

Commenting on his appointment, Yogendra Indulkar said, “I am delighted to join Kochi Marriott Hotel as Director of Operations and look forward to working with the team to strengthen operational excellence and deliver consistently elevated guest experiences.”

Welcoming him to the leadership team, Sachin Malhotra, General Manager, Kochi Marriott Hotel, stated, “Yogendra’s operational depth, financial discipline, and people-focused leadership will play a key role in strengthening our performance and market position.”

In his new role, Yogendra Indulkar will lead hotel operations with a focus on efficiency, service quality, and team engagement, further reinforcing Kochi Marriott Hotel’s commitment to exceptional hospitality for both business and leisure travellers.