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 Place Jaipur Malviya Nagar Appoints Sujeet Chaturvedi and Vinoth R to Leadership Team

Hyatt Place Jaipur Malviya Nagar Appoints Sujeet Chaturvedi and Vinoth R to Leadership Team

By Hariharan U

Published on July 31, 2026

Hyatt Place Jaipur Malviya Nagar has announced the appointment of Sujeet Chaturvedi as Director of Sales and Vinoth R as Chief Engineer, further strengthening its leadership team across commercial and operational functions.

In their respective roles, Sujeet will lead the hotel's sales strategy, revenue generation, business development, and market positioning initiatives, while Vinoth will oversee engineering operations, preventive maintenance, safety standards, and infrastructure management across the property.

Sujeet brings more than 13 years of hospitality experience, having worked with leading hotel brands including The Park Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Accor Hotels, Marriott Hotels, and Radisson Hotel Group. Most recently, he served as Director of Sales at Radisson Hotels, where he focused on driving revenue growth, expanding market share, and strengthening client relationships. Throughout his career, he has built expertise in strategic partnerships, sales leadership, and commercial growth across diverse hospitality markets.

Vinoth joins Hyatt Place Jaipur Malviya Nagar with a decade of experience in hotel engineering. He most recently served as Assistant Chief Engineer with Marriott International after progressing through several engineering roles, beginning his career as an HVAC Technician. His expertise includes engineering operations, preventive maintenance, energy management, safety compliance, and technical team leadership.

Commenting on the appointments, Srivatsa Allampalli, General Manager, Hyatt Place Jaipur Malviya Nagar, said that as Jaipur continues to grow as a preferred destination for both business and leisure travellers, strengthening the hotel's leadership team is essential to meeting evolving guest expectations. He added that both Sujeet and Vinoth bring valuable industry experience and a shared commitment to delivering exceptional hospitality.

Sujeet is recognised for his people-centric approach to sales leadership, relationship building, and disciplined commercial strategy, while Vinoth is known for his focus on teamwork, adoption of new technologies, engineering excellence, and maintaining high standards of guest satisfaction.

With these appointments, Hyatt Place Jaipur Malviya Nagar continues to reinforce its leadership team as it focuses on delivering seamless hospitality experiences and supporting its long-term growth in one of Rajasthan's leading business and leisure destinations.


The Singapore EDITION Appoints Mandy Goh as Executive Chef

The Singapore EDITION Appoints Mandy Goh as Executive Chef

By Hariharan U

Published on July 31, 2026

The Singapore EDITION has announced the appointment of Mandy Goh as Executive Chef, strengthening its culinary leadership with an award-winning chef who brings more than 17 years of experience across luxury hotels and Michelin-recognised restaurants in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, China, and Macau.

In her new role, Goh will oversee the hotel's entire culinary portfolio, including FYSH at EDITION, the Lobby Bar, The ROOF, Punch Room, Wonder Room, as well as banquet and catering operations. She joins the luxury lifestyle hotel with a culinary philosophy centred on Euro-Asian cuisine, combining progressive European techniques with the bold flavours and traditions of Asia.

Born and raised in Penang, Malaysia, Goh developed her passion for cooking through family traditions before beginning a professional career that has seen her work across some of Asia's most acclaimed hospitality brands. At the age of 21, she became part of the all-female Malaysian national team that won gold at the Bocuse d'Or Asia, marking the first time an all-female team secured the title. She later represented Malaysia at the Bocuse d'Or Asia between 2009 and 2011, competing in the global finals in Lyon, and was named a finalist in the S.Pellegrino Young Chef competition for Southeast Asia in 2016.

Singapore has played an important role in her professional journey. She began her career in the city as a Commis de Cuisine at the Michelin-starred Guy Savoy at Marina Bay Sands before moving to Mandarin Oriental Singapore as a Specialty Chef. Her appointment at The Singapore EDITION marks her return to Singapore in her first executive culinary leadership role in the country.

Throughout her career, Goh has held senior positions across the region, including Chef de Cuisine at the Michelin-starred Fifty 8° Grill Restaurant in Shanghai, Executive Chef at The St. Regis Langkawi, Executive Chef at The RuMa Hotel and Residences in Kuala Lumpur, and leadership roles at Conrad Koh Samui and Alila Seminyak in Bali.

During her tenure at The St. Regis Langkawi, she became the property's first female Executive Chef and led its signature restaurant, Kayuputi, to recognition among Marriott Bonvoy's Top 52 Restaurants and Bars across Asia-Pacific. At The RuMa Hotel, she guided ATAS restaurant onto Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Discovery list in 2023.

Goh has received several industry accolades, including Executive Chef of the Year 2023–2024 at the HAPA Awards Malaysia and recognition in Prestige Malaysia's 40 Under 40 list. She has also appeared in the fifth season of the Martell Chef on Chef series.

At The Singapore EDITION, she will focus on creating ingredient-led menus inspired by seasonality, sustainability, and responsible sourcing while showcasing stories rooted in regional produce and culinary craftsmanship. Her approach combines refined European techniques with authentic Asian flavours, delivering contemporary dining experiences across the hotel's diverse food and beverage venues


Hyatt Centric Sector 17 Chandigarh Announces Key Leadership Promotions and Appointments

Hyatt Centric Sector 17 Chandigarh Announces Key Leadership Promotions and Appointments

By Hariharan U

Published on July 31, 2026

Hyatt Centric Sector 17 Chandigarh has announced a series of key leadership promotions and new appointments across multiple departments, reinforcing the hotel's commitment to talent development, operational excellence, and guest-centric hospitality.

The leadership changes include the promotion of Dipak Jhunjhunwala as Director – Food & Beverage, Manpreet Kaur as Assistant Director – Human Resources, Tushar Agarwal as Director of Finance, Surya Dev as Front Office Manager, and Akshay Vithoba Damaji as Cluster Revenue Manager for Hyatt Centric Sector 17 Chandigarh and Hyatt Centric Soalteemode Kathmandu. The hotel has also welcomed Honey Singla as Chief Engineer and Pritam Raj as Housekeeping Manager.

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In his new role, Dipak Jhunjhunwala will continue to oversee the hotel's food and beverage operations, leading culinary strategy, restaurant performance, guest engagement, and team development across its dining venues.

Manpreet Kaur will focus on strengthening colleague engagement, talent development, organisational culture, and human resources operations, while Tushar Agarwal will lead the hotel's finance function, overseeing budgeting, forecasting, compliance, financial reporting, and business support.

Surya Dev has been elevated to Front Office Manager, where he will oversee guest arrivals, departures, and overall front office operations, while Akshay Vithoba Damaji assumes an expanded responsibility for revenue management across Hyatt Centric Sector 17 Chandigarh and Hyatt Centric Soalteemode Kathmandu, driving commercial strategy and revenue optimisation.

Joining the leadership team, Honey Singla brings over 13 years of engineering experience across hospitality and building management systems. Having previously worked with Honeywell Automation Systems, ITC Hotels, The Oberoi Group, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Accor, he will oversee engineering operations, preventive maintenance, sustainability initiatives, safety, and energy management at the hotel.

Pritam Raj joins as Housekeeping Manager with more than eight years of hospitality experience across The Oberoi Group, Taj Hotels, Radisson Hotels, and Hyatt. He will lead housekeeping operations with a focus on room readiness, hygiene standards, operational efficiency, team performance, and guest comfort.

Commenting on the appointments, Ajit Singh Gandhi, General Manager, Hyatt Centric Sector 17 Chandigarh, said the promotions and new appointments reflect the strength of the hotel's talent and its commitment to building a leadership team that combines operational expertise with a strong focus on guest experiences. He added that each leader brings valuable capabilities across food and beverage, rooms, engineering, finance, revenue management, and people operations, supporting the hotel's continued growth.

With these leadership changes, Hyatt Centric Sector 17 Chandigarh continues to strengthen its management team as it enhances operational performance, service excellence, and contemporary hospitality experiences in the heart of Chandigarh

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