Lalan Kumar Ascends to Associate Head of Sales at Orchid Hotel Pune

Lalan Kumar Ascends to Associate Head of Sales at Orchid Hotel Pune

By Author

Published on February 15, 2024

Orchid Hotel Pune has announced the promotion of Lalan Kumar to the position of Associate Head of Sales, marking a significant step in his already distinguished career in the hospitality industry. Kumar's journey is a testament to his relentless pursuit of sales excellence, characterized by consistently exceeding targets, establishing robust client relationships, and expanding into new markets.

Kumar's professional story began at the luxury heritage hotel, Fort JadhavGADH, where his commitment and performance saw him rise to become the head of sales by April 2015. His journey took a pivotal turn when he joined Orchid Hotel Pune in August 2021, where his impact was immediate and profound. Within a span of just over a year, Kumar's exceptional dedication and results led to his promotion in April 2023.

Kumar's career is adorned with numerous accolades that highlight his dedication to sales excellence. Among these are multiple Highest Seller awards and the prestigious title of Consistent Outstanding Performance Employee of the Year for four consecutive years from 2012 to 2015. His recent accolade, the POWER PAY Performance of the Year 2022-23 at Orchid, underscores his continuous contribution to the hotel's success.

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Beyond his professional success, Kumar is deeply committed to the values and ethics that embody the essence of Orchid Hotel. His dedication to environment-sensitive practices and ensuring unparalleled guest experiences align perfectly with the brand's ethos, a synergy that played a crucial role in his decision to join Orchid Hotel in 2021.

In his new role, Kumar is poised to drive the hotel's sales strategy to new heights. "Leading a dynamic team, forging strong partnerships with clients, and implementing innovative approaches to boost revenue are aspects that excite me the most," Kumar stated. His eagerness to contribute to the hotel's growth in the competitive hospitality market reflects his anticipation and readiness for the challenges ahead.

Kumar's promotion is not just a personal milestone but also a testament to Orchid Hotel Pune's commitment to recognizing and nurturing talent within its ranks. As he takes on his new role, Kumar's vision and strategies are expected to propel the hotel towards greater heights of success and innovation in the hospitality industry.


Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad Appoints Chef Jogarao Pujari as Executive Chef

Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad Appoints Chef Jogarao Pujari as Executive Chef

By Hariharan U

Published on November 14, 2026

Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad has appointed Chef Jogarao Pujari as its new Executive Chef, bringing an experienced culinary professional with over 18 years of industry experience to lead its food and beverage operations.

In his new role, Chef Jogarao will oversee culinary operations across the hotel's food and beverage outlets, with responsibilities spanning menu planning and development, new culinary concepts, food quality and presentation. He will also lead and mentor the kitchen team while focusing on operational efficiency and guest dining experiences.

His career includes associations with several hospitality brands, including Four Points by Sheraton Visakhapatnam, Radisson Blu Plaza Hyderabad, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre and HICC, The Raintree Hotels Chennai, and Hotel Marine Plaza Mumbai.

He also brings international experience from a four-year association with Costa Cruise Lines, Italy, where he gained exposure to cruise culinary operations. In the corporate food service segment, he has worked with Sodexo India Services, most recently serving as Executive Chef for its Deloitte account in Hyderabad.

A specialist in banquet operations and large-scale catering, Chef Jogarao has managed events serving up to 100,000 guests, including major corporate engagements and prestigious occasions. His experience across diverse cuisines and high-volume food service environments adds to his operational and culinary expertise.

Beyond professional kitchens, Chef Jogarao is also familiar to Telugu-speaking audiences through his television appearances. He has hosted more than 600 live cooking shows on ETV Abhiruchi, sharing his culinary knowledge and passion for non-vegetarian cuisine with viewers across the Telugu-speaking states.

His appointment brings together experience in hotel kitchens, cruise operations, corporate catering and television, as he takes charge of the culinary function at Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad.

About Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad

Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad offers contemporary accommodation and hospitality services for business travellers, with a focus on comfortable stays, thoughtful amenities and convenient dining options. The property follows the Fairfield brand's approach to simplicity, comfort and welcoming service.


Pramod Kumar Joins Anya Hotel as Housekeeping Manager

Pramod Kumar Joins Anya Hotel as Housekeeping Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on November 13, 2026

Anya Hotel has appointed Pramod Kumar as its new Housekeeping Manager, strengthening the hotel's housekeeping leadership with an experienced hospitality professional. Kumar joined the property on November 11, 2026, bringing 19 years of experience in housekeeping operations across reputed hotel brands.

His professional experience includes associations with Radisson, Marriott, Hilton, ITC Hotels, The Park Hotels and Westin. Most recently, he was associated with Radisson Individuals in Gopalpur, Odisha.

Over the course of his career, Kumar has developed expertise in housekeeping operations management, budgeting, cost control, quality assurance, guest satisfaction, team leadership and departmental coordination. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing housekeeping operations and maintaining the hotel's standards of cleanliness, service quality and guest comfort.

Kumar also brings strong communication, problem-solving, teamwork and time-management skills to the position. His approach combines operational efficiency with a focus on maintaining quality and working collaboratively with colleagues across departments.

Outside work, he enjoys listening to music, practising yoga and swimming. His personal philosophy is summed up in a simple belief: “Work is worship.”

With his experience across multiple hospitality brands and a background in managing housekeeping functions, Kumar's appointment adds to Anya Hotel's focus on operational consistency and guest satisfaction.


Priyanka Gandhi Appointed Director of Guest Experiences at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar

Priyanka Gandhi Appointed Director of Guest Experiences at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on November 13, 2026

JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar has appointed Priyanka Gandhi as Director of Guest Experiences, strengthening its focus on personalised service, guest satisfaction, and associate development.

With over two decades of experience across hospitality, aviation, food service, and education, Priyanka brings a strong understanding of customer experience, service culture, and people development. Throughout her career, she has focused on improving service standards and helping teams create meaningful interactions with guests.

In her new role, Priyanka will oversee key areas such as personalisation, service excellence, service recovery, relationship building, and associate development. She will also lead learning and performance initiatives to maintain consistency across the guest journey while supporting the hotel's wider business objectives.

Before joining JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, Priyanka held leadership positions across customer experience, learning, quality, and training at several organisations, including Foodlink F&B Holdings, Artium Academy, Air India, Go First, The St. Regis Mumbai, Jet Airways, and Kingfisher Airlines.

She is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, with expertise in instructional design, quality assurance, service audits, and process improvement. Her experience across different service sectors adds to her understanding of guest expectations and team performance.

Commenting on her appointment, Priyanka Gandhi said, "Every guest interaction is an opportunity to create a connection that goes beyond the service itself. I believe exceptional experiences begin with empowered people who have the right skills, mindset, and confidence to make a difference. I look forward to working with the team at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar to build on its strong culture of service and create experiences that guests remember long after their stay."

Priyanka's appointment further strengthens JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar's commitment to delivering thoughtful, personalised, and consistent guest experiences.

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