Kempinski Hotels Welcomes Barbara Muckermann as New CEO

Kempinski Hotels Welcomes Barbara Muckermann as New CEO

By Nithyakala Neelakandan

Published on May 25, 2024

Kempinski Hotels, Europe's oldest luxury hotel group, is excited to announce the appointment of Barbara Muckermann as their new Chief Executive Officer. With an impressive background in the luxury travel industry, Muckermann brings over 25 years of experience to this prestigious role. She previously led Silversea Cruises, part of Royal Caribbean Group, which is renowned as the world's largest ultra-luxury and expedition cruise line.

Muckermann joins Kempinski at a pivotal time. The iconic hospitality brand, with its 127-year tradition of excellence, is preparing for significant global expansion. Currently operating 82 hotels in 36 countries, Kempinski aims to add 34 more properties to its portfolio in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa over the next few years. This strategic growth is intended to further cement Kempinski's reputation for providing unparalleled luxury and exceptional service.

René Nijhof, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Kempinski Hotels S.A., expressed his confidence in Muckermann's leadership. "Barbara has always been at the forefront of luxury. Her proven ability to elevate the guest experience while maximizing profitability for leading travel brands made her the ideal choice to lead Kempinski Hotels. Her dynamic, forward-thinking approach will be vital as we continue to usher in a new era of luxury for our brand."

Muckermann is the first woman to lead Kempinski Hotels in its 127-year history. She expressed her excitement about joining the company, stating, "I could not be more thrilled to be joining Kempinski Hotels as CEO during such a pivotal time for the brand. I am delighted to play an integral role in this incredibly iconic brand’s next chapter while honoring its rich history. I look forward to working with amazing colleagues globally to continue to make the Kempinski name synonymous with individual luxury."

Throughout her career, Muckermann has significantly enhanced sales and profitability while upgrading customer experiences for global luxury brands such as Loro Piana, MSC Cruises, and NCL. Her extensive international experience, having lived in Italy, France, and the USA, and her proficiency in five languages, underscore her global perspective and capability. Additionally, she holds a Doctorate in Political Sciences and Economics and an MBA from both Columbia and London Business School.

Kempinski Hotels is known for its unique and legendary properties, each reflecting the cultural traditions of their locations while maintaining the high standards expected of the brand. As the company looks forward to expanding its presence, Muckermann's leadership is expected to guide Kempinski through this exciting phase, reinforcing its position as a leader in luxury hospitality.

With this new appointment, Kempinski Hotels continues to build on its rich heritage, combining tradition with innovation to offer the finest experiences in the world of luxury hospitality.


Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences Promotes Gaurav Bisht as Assistant Director of Food & Beverage

Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences Promotes Gaurav Bisht as Assistant Director of Food & Beverage

By Hariharan U

Published on June 4, 2026

Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences has announced the promotion of Gaurav Bisht as Assistant Director of Food & Beverage, recognizing his contributions to the property’s dining operations and guest experience initiatives over the years.

In his new role, Gaurav will oversee food and beverage operations across the hotel, including guest experience programmes, revenue generation strategies, dining outlet performance, event services, and team development initiatives.

With more than a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, Gaurav has built a strong track record in operational leadership, customer engagement, and strategic planning. His promotion reflects the hotel’s confidence in his ability to drive operational excellence while enhancing the overall dining experience for guests.

Prior to his elevation, Gaurav served as Food & Beverage Manager at Hyatt Regency Pune, where he played an instrumental role in improving guest satisfaction, introducing innovative dining concepts, and supporting revenue growth through successful promotional campaigns and events.

His journey with the property has included several key leadership positions, including Assistant Food & Beverage Manager and Restaurant & Bar Manager. Throughout these roles, he led numerous initiatives focused on staff development, sales strategy implementation, operational efficiency, cost optimisation, and service excellence.

Known for his hands-on leadership approach, Gaurav has consistently balanced operational performance with a strong focus on guest-centric hospitality. His efforts have contributed significantly to the continued growth and reputation of Hyatt Regency Pune’s food and beverage division.

Before joining Hyatt Regency Pune, Gaurav gained valuable industry experience with leading hospitality brands, including Marriott International’s The Westin Gurgaon and The Grand, New Delhi. These assignments provided him with exposure to luxury hospitality operations, large-scale event management, and premium guest service standards.

Over the course of his career, Gaurav has received multiple “Best Employee” recognitions and has successfully managed large-scale hospitality events serving more than 500 guests during peak meal periods. His achievements highlight his expertise in operational planning, team leadership, and guest engagement.

Gaurav holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality and Hotel Administration from the Delhi Institute of Hotel Management. In his new role, he aims to further strengthen the hotel’s food and beverage offerings while continuing to cultivate a culture of service excellence, innovation, and guest satisfaction.

The promotion reinforces Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences’ commitment to nurturing internal talent and empowering hospitality professionals to take on leadership roles within the organisation


Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse Promotes Ganesha B as Director of Human Resources

Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse Promotes Ganesha B as Director of Human Resources

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 4, 2026

Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, has announced the promotion of Ganesha B as Director of Human Resources. The appointment highlights the hotel’s commitment to developing talent from within and fostering long-term career growth opportunities for its team members.

Having built his career steadily within the property, Ganesha’s promotion reflects his valuable contributions towards creating a people-focused workplace culture centred on employee engagement, inclusion, and professional development.

Prior to this role, Ganesha served as Human Resources Manager at the hotel, where he played a key role in leading employee engagement programmes, supporting team member wellbeing initiatives, and promoting an inclusive work environment. His expertise in statutory compliance and human resource operations has also seen him contribute to HR initiatives across other IHG hotels in the region.

Commenting on the promotion, Shiv Bose, General Manager, Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse, said, “Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse is focused on creating a culture where individuals are encouraged to learn and grow. Ganesha’s elevation reinforces this commitment that dedication and perseverance is valued. We look forward to seeing him grow with IHG and achieve the yardstick of success.”

Sharing his thoughts on the new role, Ganesha B, Director of Human Resources, Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse, said, “I am excited to take on this new role and continue my professional journey with Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work alongside incredible teams, and I look forward to further fostering an inclusive, supportive, and motivating environment where individuals can grow and succeed together.”

With this promotion, Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse continues to strengthen its focus on recognising internal talent and building a workplace culture where employees are encouraged to develop their skills, take on leadership responsibilities, and grow within the organisation.


The Access Group Appoints Saurabh Gupta as Head of Customer Success for APAC

The Access Group Appoints Saurabh Gupta as Head of Customer Success for APAC

By Hariharan U

Published on June 3, 2026

The Access Group has announced the appointment of Saurabh Gupta as Head of Customer Success, APAC, marking a strategic move to strengthen its customer experience and post-sales leadership across the Asia-Pacific region. Based in Mumbai, he joined the company in May 2026 and will oversee end-to-end customer success operations for its expanding hospitality technology portfolio.

In his new role, Gupta will lead key functions including Professional Services, Onboarding, Support, and Customer Success across APAC, ensuring alignment between regional execution and the company’s global customer success strategy. His mandate focuses on helping hospitality businesses derive maximum value from The Access Group’s technology ecosystem while enabling scalable growth across markets.

Saurabh Gupta brings over 20 years of global experience in customer success and post-sales leadership. Prior to joining The Access Group, he served at BrowserStack, where he led global Customer Success, Support, Renewals, and Channel Programs across the US, Europe, and APAC. His work there focused on improving customer experience through data-driven engagement models and operational efficiency for enterprise and SMB customers.

Before BrowserStack, he spent several years at Salesforce, where he played a key role in building and scaling the India Customer Success organisation across multiple customer segments, including SMB, mid-market, and enterprise. His contributions included strengthening retention strategies and establishing scalable post-sales frameworks for the region.

Commenting on the appointment, Louise Daley, Head of Hospitality APAC at The Access Group, said Gupta’s leadership reflects the company’s commitment to customer success as a core growth driver. She highlighted his belief in customer success as a strategic engine rather than a support function, aligning with the company’s long-term vision in the region.

Saurabh Gupta, speaking on his new role, said he is excited to join The Access Group at a pivotal stage of its APAC expansion. He emphasized his focus on building proactive, knowledgeable, and customer-centric teams that not only resolve issues but actively support business growth and long-term success.

The appointment comes as hospitality businesses across India and Asia-Pacific increasingly adopt cloud-based and AI-powered solutions. The Access Group, through its hospitality platform STAAH and AI-powered Access Evo ecosystem, supports more than 30,000 properties across 90 countries, offering tools spanning channel management, booking engines, revenue management, and reputation management.

The company’s focus on strengthening customer success capabilities reflects its broader commitment to ensuring that clients receive not only advanced technology solutions but also the expertise and partnership required to drive measurable business outcomes.

About The Access Group:
The Access Group is a UK-headquartered business management software provider serving over 160,000 small and mid-sized organisations across Europe, the USA, and APAC. With more than 9,700 employees, the company delivers cloud and AI-powered solutions designed to improve productivity, streamline operations, and enhance customer experience across industries.

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