Leadership Change at WTTCII: Deep Kalra Takes the Helm for 2024-2025 Term

Leadership Change at WTTCII: Deep Kalra Takes the Helm for 2024-2025 Term

By Author

Published on December 14, 2023

In a significant announcement, the World Travel and Tourism Council, India Initiative (WTTCII), has appointed Deep Kalra, Founder & Chairman of MakeMyTrip India Pvt. Ltd, as Chairperson and Dr. Jyotsna Suri, Chairperson & Managing Director of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, as Vice Chairperson for the upcoming term from 2024 to 2025.

Deep Kalra expressed his respect for WTTCII's distinguished heritage and visionary initiatives, emphasizing the organization's commendable 23-year legacy. Kalra highlighted the importance of collaborating with states, citing their active engagement with the Goa Tourism Board and a recently formalized strategic MoU with the Government of West Bengal to craft a comprehensive marketing and PR roadmap. He stressed the need for impactful partnerships with states and active collaboration to contribute insights to the central government's priorities, aligning with Prime Minister Modi and the Ministry of Tourism initiatives.

Dr. Jyotsna Suri reflected on the evolution of India's tourism landscape since the inception of WTTCII in 2000. She commended the substantial progress made under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of Tourism, emphasizing the organization's commitment to contributing to the ongoing tourism revolution. Dr. Suri highlighted the recent whitepaper, 'Policy Reforms for Indian Hotel and Hospitality Sector,' calling upon states to streamline business environments, foster increased investments, employment, and local livelihood opportunities.

The leadership change sees Deep Kalra taking over from Dinesh Khanna, Executive Director of Eastern International Hotels Ltd, who served as Chairman of WTTCII for the 2022-2023 term. The appointments aim to leverage the collective expertise within the membership base to elevate tourism initiatives, especially at the state level. WTTCII's emphasis on advancing tourism initiatives within states aligns with their goal of stimulating local tourism economies.

In related developments, former Union Secretary of Tourism and Secretary General of WTTCII, Sujit Banerjee, has joined the Advisory Board of the GSTC India Working Group. Banerjee expressed enthusiasm for advancing India's tourism sustainability agenda, aiming to position the country as a global focal point for sustainability initiatives through collaborative efforts.

As Deep Kalra assumes the role of Chairperson and Dr. Jyotsna Suri takes on the responsibilities of Vice Chairperson, WTTCII looks forward to continued contributions to India's tourism growth and sustainability. The organization remains committed to fostering partnerships, streamlining policies, and supporting initiatives that enhance the overall tourism landscape in India.


voco Amritsar by IHG Appoints Manish Kumar Yadav as General Manager

voco Amritsar by IHG Appoints Manish Kumar Yadav as General Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on November 29, 2025

voco Amritsar by IHG has announced the appointment of Mr. Manish Kumar Yadav as its General Manager, Yadav brings over 17 years of hospitality leadership across luxury, upscale, and mid-scale hotel brands. In his new role, he will lead the hotel’s pre-opening efforts, along with overseeing operations, commercial strategy, guest experience, and service excellence.

Before joining voco Amritsar by IHG, he served as Multi-Property General Manager for DoubleTree by Hilton and Wyndham Chandigarh, where he played a key role in elevating operational performance and strengthening brand delivery. He is also a two-time National Best General Manager Award winner, recognised by BW Hotelier and HVS.

Known for building strong operational frameworks, enhancing guest experience systems, and developing high-performance teams, Yadav brings a blend of strategic insight and hands-on leadership. His financial expertise and deep pre-opening experience position him to establish voco Amritsar by IHG as a standout premium hotel in the region.


Grand Hyatt Mumbai Elevates Anirban Sarkar to Food and Beverage Manager

Grand Hyatt Mumbai Elevates Anirban Sarkar to Food and Beverage Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on November 28, 2025

Grand Hyatt Mumbai has announced the promotion of Anirban Sarkar as its new food and beverage manager, recognising his contribution to the hotel’s food & beverage operations since he joined in August 2024.

Sarkar has built a strong reputation at the hotel through his focus on precision, teamwork, and consistent service delivery. Over the past year, he has helped strengthen the food & beverage department by improving operational efficiency, enhancing overall experience standards, and motivating teams to perform at their best.

With his new responsibility, Sarkar will now shape the hotel’s food & beverage strategy. His role will span restaurants, bars, banqueting operations, guest experience programs, and learning and development for colleagues. A key part of his focus will be elevating presentation standards, tightening quality control processes, and introducing fresh dining ideas that match the hotel’s vision and growing guest expectations.

He will continue working closely with both the culinary and operations teams to keep concept, execution, and service in sync, ensuring that every interaction reflects the hotel’s commitment to excellence.

Sharing his gratitude for the trust placed in him, Sarkar thanked the executive committee, general manager Robert Dallimore, and the entire food & beverage team for their constant support. Reflecting on his journey, he said, “I am honoured to step into this role at Grand Hyatt Mumbai, a property that continues to set new benchmarks in innovation and guest experience. What inspires me deeply is our collective commitment to crafting thoughtful, memorable and future-forward dining journeys for our guests. This environment empowers leaders like me to challenge conventions, elevate standards and create experiences that truly resonate. I am excited to contribute to our shared vision of shaping Grand Hyatt as the destination for exceptional hospitality in India.”


Rahul Chaudhary Takes Over as Director of F&B at The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake & Lakeside Chalet

Rahul Chaudhary Takes Over as Director of F&B at The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake & Lakeside Chalet

By Hariharan U

Published on November 28, 2025

The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake and Lakeside Chalet, Marriott Executive Apartments, have appointed Rahul Chaudhary as the new director of food & beverage, bringing in more than 17 years of experience from the hospitality industry.

Known for his balanced mix of creativity and structure, Chaudhary has built a career around strong operations, people-first leadership, and memorable guest experiences. He moves into this role after serving as the director of food & beverage at Conrad Pune, where he made a significant impact through his thoughtful approach to management and service delivery.

At his new posting, Chaudhary will head the food & beverage operations across both properties. His responsibilities include shaping fresh dining concepts, supervising multiple outlets, strengthening day-to-day performance, and guiding his team to consistently elevate the overall guest experience.

His leadership mantra, Empower the Team, Elevate the Experience, aligns naturally with the brand’s service philosophy. Sharing his approach, he says, "Consistency builds trust, and I believe in the power of People, Product, and Process to create a culture of excellence."

Chaudhary is also known for nurturing talent and building high-performing teams. His ability to encourage collaboration and maintain a positive work environment has been a constant throughout his journey across notable properties such as Conrad Pune, Park Hyatt Hyderabad, and Grand Hyatt Goa.

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