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.


Crowne Plaza Kochi Appoints Mittu V Alex as Front Office Manager

Crowne Plaza Kochi Appoints Mittu V Alex as Front Office Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on January 2, 2026

Crowne Plaza Kochi has appointed Mittu V Alex as its new front office manager, reinforcing the hotel’s focus on delivering exceptional guest experiences. In his role, Alex will oversee all front office operations, ensuring smooth service while maintaining the hotel’s high hospitality standards.

Alex brings extensive experience in hospitality, having previously worked at Hilton Trivandrum and gained exposure with respected international brands including IHG Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Raintree Hotel, and Radisson Hotels. This diverse background has equipped him with strong expertise in operational efficiency, service excellence, and guest engagement.

Recognised for his customer-centric approach, Alex believes the front office is the heart of the guest journey, shaping first impressions and creating lasting memories.

Dinesh Rai, General Manager of Crowne Plaza Kochi, commented, “We are pleased to welcome Mittu Alex to our family. His extensive experience with leading hospitality brands and guest-focused approach make him a valuable addition. We are confident his leadership will further enhance our guest experience and strengthen our Guest Love scores.”

Alex joins at a time when the hotel continues to achieve high guest satisfaction, reflecting its commitment to personalised service and meaningful connections.


ibis and ibis Styles India Appoint Arish Mehta as Portfolio Director of Revenue Management

ibis and ibis Styles India Appoint Arish Mehta as Portfolio Director of Revenue Management

By Author

Published on December 29, 2025

ibis and ibis Styles hotels in India have announced the appointment of Arish Mehta as Portfolio Director of Revenue Management, effective December 2025. Based in New Delhi, Arish will lead the revenue management strategy across the ibis and ibis Styles portfolio in India, with a mandate to drive sustainable growth, enhance commercial performance, and strengthen collaboration across sales, operations, and digital teams.

Arish brings over 13 years of extensive experience with Accor, during which he has played a key role in shaping revenue and commercial strategies across rooms, food and beverage, and MICE segments. In his most recent role as Director of Revenue Management at a flagship Accor hotel in Mumbai, he oversaw the total revenue strategy for a 268-room property with four F&B outlets and large banquet facilities. Under his leadership, the hotel achieved a 29 percent year-on-year growth in room revenue, along with notable improvements in occupancy, average daily rate, and market share in a highly competitive premium segment.

Previously, as Cluster Revenue Manager, Arish managed revenue strategies for a portfolio of ibis hotels across major Indian cities. In this role, he consistently improved hotel performance and market rankings through disciplined pricing strategies, robust demand analysis, and effective inventory management. He also played an active role in mentoring junior revenue managers and contributing to Accor’s internal talent development initiatives.

Commenting on the appointment, Animesh Kumar, Commercial Head – ibis and ibis Styles India, said that as the ibis and ibis Styles network continues to expand across the country, strong portfolio-level revenue leadership is essential. He added that Arish’s deep understanding of the brands and markets, combined with his analytical strength and collaborative approach, makes him a valuable addition to the leadership team.

In his new role, Arish will focus on unlocking synergies across the ibis and ibis Styles brands, strengthening total revenue performance, and implementing a consistent, data-led revenue management approach across all markets.

Sharing his thoughts, Arish Mehta said he is excited to take on the portfolio role and contribute to the continued growth of ibis and ibis Styles in India. He noted that sustainable revenue performance comes from aligning data, systems, and people with a clear commercial vision, and he looks forward to building long-term impact across the portfolio in an evolving hospitality landscape.

With this appointment, ibis and ibis Styles India reaffirm their commitment to robust commercial leadership and long-term value creation across their growing hotel portfolio.


MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts Strengthens Sales Leadership with Three Key Appointments

MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts Strengthens Sales Leadership with Three Key Appointments

By Author

Published on December 29, 2025

MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts has announced a significant strengthening of its sales leadership with the appointment of three seasoned hospitality professionals as Deputy General Managers – Sales & Marketing. These strategic appointments underline the brand’s continued focus on market expansion, revenue growth, and relationship-driven leadership across key regions in India.

Akhil Tanwar joins as Deputy General Manager – Sales & Marketing at the MAYFAIR Regional Office North, Delhi. With over 22 years of extensive experience in the hospitality industry, Mr. Tanwar brings deep expertise in sales strategy, corporate partnerships, and destination-led business development. His career spans leading hospitality brands including Clarion, InterContinental Hotels Group, Jaypee Hotels, Radisson Hotel Group, IHCL (Taj Hotels), and most recently Novotel Jaipur Convention Centre and Jaipur Exhibition & Convention Centre, where he served as Associate Director of Sales.

Ashwani Kumar, also appointed as Deputy General Manager – Sales & Marketing at the MAYFAIR Regional Office North, Delhi, brings 17 years of diverse experience across hospitality, events, and integrated sales platforms. He began his career with The Oberoi, New Delhi in Food & Beverage Events and has since worked with Weddingz.in, Ramada by Wyndham Neemrana, and The Lalit Group of Hotels, Delhi, where he last held the position of Associate Head of Sales.

Madhuri Nilesh Dixit takes on the role of Deputy General Manager – Sales & Marketing for the MAYFAIR West Region, based in Mumbai. With over 16 years of rich hospitality experience, Ms. Dixit is known for her strong capabilities in sales strategy, business development, and brand positioning. Her professional journey includes leadership roles at JW Marriott Goa, Hilton Shillim Estate Retreat & Spa, Lonavala, and Fairmont Jaipur. She is widely recognized for her strategic acumen and relationship-focused leadership style that enhances brand visibility across key markets.

Together, these appointments mark an important milestone in MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts’ commitment to building a future-ready sales organization. The leadership team is expected to play a pivotal role in driving sustained growth, deeper market penetration, and long-term partnerships for the brand.

MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts warmly welcomes Akhil Tanwar, Ashwani Kumar, and Madhuri Nilesh Dixit and looks forward to their contributions in advancing the group’s growth and success.

Stay up-to-date with the latest Hospitality news and trends in the Hospitality industry!

Subscribe to Hospitality news e-magazine for free and never miss an issue.

By clicking subscribe for free you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.

Advertise With Us

We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc.