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.


Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida Appoints Achint Singh as Associate Director of Revenue

Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida Appoints Achint Singh as Associate Director of Revenue

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 24, 2026

Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida has announced the appointment of Achint Singh as its Associate Director of Revenue.

With more than 12 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Achint brings extensive expertise in revenue management, reservations, forecasting, distribution strategy and hotel operations. Over the years, he has built a strong professional track record with leading hospitality brands, including Marriott and The Lalit, among others.

His experience spans several key areas such as revenue management, demand forecasting, pricing strategy, OTA and channel management, reservations operations, budgeting, business planning and competitive benchmarking. He is also skilled in analysing market trends, optimising room inventory, maintaining rate parity and developing strategies that improve profitability and operational performance.

Throughout his career, Achint has led revenue and reservations teams, supported hotel pre-opening projects and managed large hotel portfolios. In his previous role, he was responsible for revenue strategy and forecasting across multiple hotels with a combined inventory of more than 750 rooms. He has also worked closely with sales, marketing, finance and front office teams to drive commercial performance.

In his new position, Achint will oversee the Revenue Management function at Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida. His responsibilities will include identifying revenue opportunities, strengthening the hotel's market position and supporting the achievement of its overall commercial goals.

Anurag Rai, General Manager at Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida said, "We are delighted to welcome Achint Singh to Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida. Achint brings with him a wealth of experience in revenue management, distribution strategy and commercial operations along with a proven track record of driving business performance across renowned hospitality brands. His strategic mindset, analytical expertise and collaborative leadership approach will play a key role in strengthening our revenue initiatives and supporting the hotel's growth objectives. We look forward to his valuable contributions as we continue to enhance our market position and deliver exceptional results."

Expressing his enthusiasm, Achint Singh said, "I am honored to join Holiday Inn New Delhi Mayur Vihar Noida and become part of a dynamic team committed to excellence and guest satisfaction. The hospitality industry continues to evolve rapidly, creating exciting opportunities to leverage data-driven strategies, innovation and market insights to optimize performance. I look forward to working closely with the hotel's leadership team to further strengthen revenue management practices, maximize commercial opportunities and contribute to the continued success and growth of the property".

Known for his analytical approach and collaborative leadership style, Achint is committed to driving business growth while fostering a culture of operational excellence, continuous learning and teamwork. His appointment further strengthens the hotel's leadership team as it continues to focus on delivering strong commercial performance and guest experiences.


Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport Appoints Girish Divekar as Director of Sales & Marketing

Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport Appoints Girish Divekar as Director of Sales & Marketing

By Hariharan U

Published on June 24, 2026

Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport has announced the appointment of Girish Divekar as Director of Sales & Marketing, marking a significant homecoming for the hospitality professional who previously held key leadership roles at the property.

Girish first joined the hotel as Associate Director of Sales in 2017 before being promoted to Director of Sales, a position he held until 2022. Having developed a deep understanding of the property's commercial landscape, market dynamics, and guest segments during his earlier tenure, he now returns to lead the hotel's sales and marketing function during an important phase of growth.

With more than 18 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Girish has built expertise across sales, revenue generation, business development, and commercial strategy. His experience spans multiple operational segments, including rooms, food and beverage, banqueting, and catering, giving him a comprehensive understanding of hotel performance and revenue optimization.

In his new role, he will focus on driving revenue growth, strengthening market share, enhancing customer engagement, and reinforcing the hotel's positioning within Mumbai's highly competitive hospitality market.

Speaking about his return, Girish said his passion for hospitality was inspired by the ability of hotels to create meaningful guest experiences and foster a sense of belonging. He described his return to Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport as a particularly meaningful milestone in his professional journey.

Prior to this appointment, Girish successfully led business development and revenue enhancement initiatives, contributing to a 30 percent increase in revenue through strategic occupancy and average daily rate (ADR) optimisation. He also played a key role in strengthening corporate business relationships and enhancing food and beverage positioning to drive new demand streams.

Looking ahead, Girish highlighted the growing opportunities within Mumbai's hospitality sector, driven by strong domestic travel demand, expanding MICE business, and evolving guest expectations. His focus will be on sustainable growth, strategic partnerships, and delivering exceptional guest experiences while building long-term value for guests, associates, and stakeholders.

With Girish Divekar returning to the leadership team, Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai International Airport aims to further strengthen its commercial performance and capitalize on the continued growth of one of India's most dynamic hospitality markets.


Alila Diwa Goa Appoints Takshila Chheda as Area Director – Digital Marketing

Alila Diwa Goa Appoints Takshila Chheda as Area Director – Digital Marketing

By Hariharan U

Published on June 24, 2026

Alila Diwa Goa has announced the appointment of Takshila Chheda as Area Director – Digital Marketing, strengthening Hyatt’s digital leadership across key markets in India.

Prior to this appointment, Takshila led digital marketing initiatives for North, East, and West India at Hyatt Hotels. In her expanded role, she will now oversee digital marketing efforts across Goa and Pune in addition to West and Central India, supporting the brand’s growth and visibility objectives across the region.

Takshila will be responsible for developing and executing digital and performance marketing strategies aimed at driving business growth, enhancing online presence, and strengthening customer engagement across Hyatt’s portfolio. Her expertise spans digital marketing, brand management, social media, public relations, and performance-driven campaigns.

Before joining Hyatt, Takshila served as Digital Marketing Strategist at the Jio World Centre under Reliance Industries, where she played a key role in the launch and digital promotion of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre. Her work focused on building visibility and audience engagement for one of India’s most significant cultural destinations.

She also held the position of Senior Manager – Digital Marketing at Tata Motors, contributing to the company’s digital communications and customer engagement initiatives across multiple campaigns and platforms.

Earlier in her career, Takshila gained extensive experience across leading communications agencies and the hospitality sector, working with a diverse portfolio of brands and developing expertise in strategic communications and digital storytelling.

Academically, she holds a Master of Science in Corporate Communications and Reputation Management from Alliance Manchester Business School in the United Kingdom, along with a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Media (Advertising) from University of Mumbai.

Her appointment reflects Hyatt’s continued investment in digital transformation and data-driven marketing as the hospitality industry increasingly focuses on personalised guest engagement and stronger online brand presence.

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