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.


Chef Gaurav Chauhan Joins Namak Indian Restaurant and Bar as Executive Chef

Chef Gaurav Chauhan Joins Namak Indian Restaurant and Bar as Executive Chef

By Hariharan U

Published on June 2, 2026

Namak Indian Restaurant and Bar, Dallas, Texas, has announced the appointment of Chef Gaurav Chauhan as Executive Chef, strengthening its culinary leadership team with a hospitality professional who brings more than 10 years of experience across luxury hotels and fine dining establishments in India and the United States.

Chef Chauhan joins Namak following his tenure at Sanjh Restaurant in Dallas, where he was responsible for menu innovation, kitchen operations, staff development, inventory management, food safety implementation, and cost optimization. His leadership played a key role in enhancing culinary standards and elevating guest dining experiences.

Over the course of his career, Chef Chauhan has worked with several globally recognized hospitality brands, including Hyatt Hotels Corporation, Taj Hotels, Pullman Hotels and Resorts, Novotel, and The Park Hotels. His professional journey includes culinary assignments at prominent properties such as Andaz Delhi, Taj Mahal Hotel New Delhi, Pullman New Delhi Aerocity, and The Park Kolkata.

Known for his expertise in both contemporary Western and authentic Indian cuisines, Chef Chauhan has extensive experience managing restaurant openings, banquet operations, and large-scale catering projects. He has successfully led kitchen development initiatives from concept creation and operational planning to menu engineering, equipment selection, and culinary team recruitment.

His experience spans multiple pre-opening projects across India and the United States, where he has been involved in designing kitchen workflows, implementing food safety protocols, developing signature menus, and establishing culinary standards tailored to diverse dining audiences.

In his new role at Namak Indian Restaurant and Bar, Chef Chauhan will oversee kitchen operations, menu development, banquet execution, and culinary team training. He is also expected to introduce contemporary presentations and innovative dining concepts inspired by his international culinary exposure. His expertise in seasonal menu engineering, food costing, and operational excellence is anticipated to further strengthen the restaurant's position within Dallas' competitive dining landscape.

During his tenure with The Park Hotels Kolkata, Chef Chauhan contributed significantly to menu planning, recipe standardization, and kitchen leadership. At Pullman New Delhi Aerocity and Andaz Delhi, he gained valuable experience in luxury hotel culinary operations, multicuisine dining, and team management. His culinary foundation was established at Taj Mahal Hotel New Delhi, where he developed technical expertise across multiple kitchen disciplines.

Commenting on his appointment, Chef Gaurav Chauhan expressed enthusiasm about joining the team and highlighted his vision of combining authentic Indian flavours with modern culinary techniques to create memorable guest experiences. He also emphasized his commitment to mentoring culinary professionals and contributing to the restaurant's continued growth.


Disha Gulati Promoted as Rooms Division Manager at Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield

Disha Gulati Promoted as Rooms Division Manager at Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 2, 2026

Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center has announced the promotion of Disha Gulati as Rooms Division Manager. In her new role, she will lead both the Front Office and Housekeeping departments, focusing on operational efficiency, vendor coordination, team performance, and delivering enhanced guest experiences.

With over 12 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Disha brings extensive expertise across luxury and premium hotel brands. She joined Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center in 2022 as Executive Housekeeper, where she successfully managed housekeeping operations while maintaining high standards of cleanliness, service quality, and team performance.

Her hospitality journey includes significant roles with Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, New Delhi, ITC Windsor, Bengaluru, and ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. Over the years, she has developed strong capabilities in guest relations, team leadership, budgeting, audits, stress management, pre-opening support, and overall rooms operations.

Disha holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality and Hotel Administration from IHM Jaipur, affiliated to IGNOU. She also completed the Management Trainee Program at ITC Welcomgroup Management Institute, further strengthening her operational and leadership foundation.

Her contributions to the industry have been recognised through several achievements, including the prestigious “Housekeeper of the Year” award at the Hotelier India Awards 2023. She has also completed multiple Marriott leadership programmes, including MDA in Rooms Leadership, Emerging Leaders, and Evolve.

Speaking about her promotion, Disha Gulati said, "I am truly honoured and deeply encouraged by this promotion. It is a reflection of the trust the leadership has placed in me, and that means the world. In my new role, I look forward to bringing both departments, Front Office and Housekeeping, closer together to deliver a seamless and memorable experience for every guest."

Commenting on the appointment, Elton Hurtis, General Manager, Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center, said, “Disha has consistently demonstrated strong operational understanding, people leadership, and a deep commitment to service excellence. Her experience within the hotel and her broader hospitality background make her well-suited for this role, and we are confident she will add significant value to our rooms division.”

With her operational expertise and leadership experience, Disha is expected to play a key role in driving service consistency, operational excellence, and guest satisfaction across the hotel's rooms division.


Spice Route Restaurant & Catering Elevates Leadership with Promotion of Deepak Giri Goswami to Director of Food & Beverage

Spice Route Restaurant & Catering Elevates Leadership with Promotion of Deepak Giri Goswami to Director of Food & Beverage

By Hariharan U

Published on May 31, 2026

Spice Route Restaurant & Catering, New Jersey, has announced the promotion of Deepak Giri Goswami to Director of Food & Beverage, marking a key leadership development within the organization. The promotion recognizes his consistent contributions over the past two and a half years and his extensive international experience in the hospitality industry.

Deepak has been associated with Spice Route Restaurant & Catering for approximately 2.5 years, during which he has played a pivotal role in strengthening restaurant operations, enhancing guest experiences, and supporting the company’s overall growth strategy. His elevation reflects the organization’s confidence in his leadership capabilities, operational expertise, and long-term vision.

With over 25 years of global experience across the USA, Europe, the UAE, and Asia, Deepak brings deep expertise in restaurant operations, culinary management, business development, and customer service. He is widely recognized for his proficiency in Indian and Asian cuisines and has successfully managed high-volume operations while ensuring consistent service quality and guest satisfaction.

In his new role, Deepak will be responsible for overseeing food and beverage operations, driving business development initiatives, managing operational planning, enhancing customer engagement, and supporting brand expansion across the Stroudsburg and Pocono regions.

Prior to joining Spice Route Restaurant & Catering, Deepak served as Food & Beverage Operations Director at Hotel PAG Šimuni Resort, Croatia, where he successfully launched and managed the Mali Raj International Multi Cuisine Restaurant. He also worked with the Americana Group in Dubai, gaining valuable experience in large-scale international restaurant operations and hospitality management.

Earlier in his career, Deepak held leadership roles at Tivoli Grand Resort Hotel and was part of the opening team at The Great Kebab Factory, Punjabi Bagh. These roles strengthened his expertise in menu innovation, hygiene standards, cost control, vendor management, and team development.

Throughout his career, Deepak has demonstrated strong capabilities in HACCP implementation, operational planning, staff training, and customer service excellence. Spice Route Restaurant & Catering expressed confidence that his global exposure and leadership approach will further strengthen its operational performance and support long-term business growth in the competitive regional hospitality market

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