Vaishakh Surendran Appointed General Manager at Lyfe Hotels

Lyfe Hotels Bhubaneswar Welcomes Vaishakh Surendran as General Manager

By Nishang Narayan

Published on October 13, 2024

Lyfe Hotels Bhubaneswar is excited to announce the appointment of Vaishakh Surendran as its new general manager. With over 24 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Surendran brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his new role. Known for his extensive background in hotel and resort operations, particularly in front office management, he has consistently delivered top-tier results throughout his career.

Before joining Lyfe Hotels Bhubaneswar, Surendran served as general manager at Ramada Chennai Potheri, where he played a pivotal role in the property's rebranding from SRM to Ramada. His previous experience also includes serving as general manager at Mercure Chennai Sriperumbudur. Throughout his career, he has held leadership positions with reputable organizations such as Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Radisson, Fortune Park Hotels, and Taj. Surendran began his hospitality journey with Hilton Worldwide and The Leela Palaces, Hotels, and Resorts.

On his appointment, Surendran expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “I am extremely delighted to join the team at Lyfe Hotels and Resorts, Bhubaneswar. My career has always been driven by a commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences, and I look forward to continuing this journey with the talented team at Lyfe. Together, I am confident we will elevate the guest experience and set new benchmarks for hospitality in Bhubaneswar.”

Dhiman Mazumdar, Chief Operating Officer at Lyfe Hotels and Resorts, also commented on the appointment, saying, “We are thrilled to welcome Vaishakh Surendran to the Lyfe Hotels family. His proven leadership and deep understanding of the hospitality sector will undoubtedly contribute to the continued success of our property.”

Surendran's leadership is expected to enhance the guest experience at Lyfe Hotels Bhubaneswar, positioning the property for continued growth and success in the competitive hospitality landscape.

Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall Appoints Maria Candice Rodrigues as Revenue Manager

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on July 29, 2026

Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall has appointed Maria Candice Rodrigues as its new Revenue Manager, reinforcing the hotel's commercial leadership as it continues to drive strategic growth and revenue optimisation.

In her new role, Candice will oversee the hotel's revenue management function, focusing on pricing strategies, demand forecasting, inventory optimisation, and distribution management to maximise commercial performance. She will work closely with the sales, reservations, and operations teams to identify new revenue opportunities while supporting the hotel's overall business goals.

Her responsibilities will include strengthening commercial performance through data-driven pricing strategies, improving forecasting accuracy, optimising distribution channels, and exploring revenue opportunities across different market segments. She will also work on building stronger collaboration across teams to support sustainable RevPAR growth and enhance the hotel's long-term profitability.

Before joining Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall, Candice was Assistant Manager – Revenue at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre. During her tenure, she contributed to pricing strategy, demand forecasting, inventory management, and market analysis across both room revenue and convention business. She also played an important role in implementing Opera Cloud and the IDEAS Revenue Management System, helping improve the property's revenue planning and operational efficiency.

Earlier in her career, Candice held reservations roles at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre, ibis Chennai City Centre, and Alila Diwa Goa. These positions helped her build strong expertise in hotel distribution, reservations strategy, and commercial operations before moving into revenue management.

Commenting on the appointment, Ram Shetty, General Manager, Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall, said, " We are delighted to welcome Maria to Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall. Her analytical mindset, commercial acumen and experience in revenue strategy make her a valuable addition to our team. As we continue to focus on driving profitable growth, strengthening our direct booking channels, and optimizing overall commercial performance, Candice's expertise will be instrumental in enhancing our revenue strategies and maximizing business opportunities across all segments. We are confident that her expertise will help strengthen our revenue performance and support the hotel's continued growth."

Speaking about her appointment, Candice, Revenue Manager, Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall, said, "I am thrilled to join Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall and be part of a team that is committed to excellence in hospitality. Revenue management is about understanding changing market dynamics and making informed decisions that create long-term value. What excites me most about this opportunity is the ability to combine data-driven insights with strong cross-functional collaboration to develop agile commercial strategies that deliver measurable results. With Bengaluru continuing to evolve as one of India's most dynamic hospitality markets, I look forward to identifying new opportunities, driving revenue performance and contributing to the hotel's long-term success. I am eager to work closely with the team to drive sustainable growth while continuing to deliver value for both the hotel and its guests."

Holiday Inn Cochin Appoints Nikhil Ayyappan as Director of Sales & Marketing

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on July 28, 2026

Holiday Inn Cochin has announced the appointment of Nikhil Ayyappan as its Director of Sales & Marketing, effective July 1, 2026.

Nikhil joins the hotel with more than 14 years of experience in sales, marketing and business development across leading hospitality brands. A graduate of the University of Mumbai, he began his professional journey with Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. before moving into the hospitality sector.

Over the years, he has held key roles with renowned brands including The Leela Palaces & Resorts, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts, The Raviz Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and most recently IHCL SeleQtions – Tirupati.

In his new role, Nikhil will lead the hotel's sales and marketing operations, with a focus on driving revenue growth, strengthening brand visibility, expanding business opportunities and increasing market share across key segments.

Welcoming him to the team, the management of Holiday Inn Cochin said:

"We are delighted to welcome Nikhil Ayyappan to Holiday Inn Cochin. His wealth of industry experience, customer-centric approach, and proven leadership in driving commercial success will further strengthen our market position. We are confident that his expertise will contribute significantly to the hotel's continued growth and success."

Sharing his thoughts on the appointment, Nikhil Ayyappan said:

"I am excited to join the talented team at Holiday Inn Cochin. I look forward to building on the hotel's strong reputation, fostering meaningful partnerships, and delivering innovative sales and marketing strategies that create value for our guests, clients, and stakeholders."

Outside of work, Nikhil enjoys motorcycle touring and exploring new destinations on his bike. With this appointment, Holiday Inn Cochin continues to strengthen its leadership team as it focuses on enhancing guest experiences and driving long-term commercial growth.

Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Appoints Shailender Kumar Yadav as Food & Beverage Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on July 28, 2026

Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center has appointed Shailender Kumar Yadav as its new Food & Beverage Manager, strengthening the hotel's leadership team as it continues to enhance its dining and events portfolio.

In his new role, Shailender will oversee the hotel's food and beverage operations across its restaurants, bars, banqueting facilities, and the 65,000 sq. ft. convention centre. He will also be responsible for driving the overall food and beverage strategy while managing an extensive portfolio comprising eight outlets, convention and banquet operations, and leading a team of 153 associates and 15 managers.

With over 13 years of experience across luxury hospitality brands in India, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom, Shailender brings expertise in multi-outlet dining, large-scale banquets, restaurant concept development, revenue optimisation, and guest experience.

Prior to joining Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield, he served as Assistant Food & Beverage Manager at The St. Regis Mumbai, where he managed specialty restaurants, all-day dining, in-room dining, meeting spaces, and more than 50,000 sq. ft. of banquet facilities. His career also includes leadership roles at The Westin Gurgaon, Boisdale of Canary Wharf in London, The St. Regis Doha, InterContinental Doha, W Goa, The Oberoi New Delhi, and Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah.

A graduate of the Institute of Hotel Management, Gwalior, Shailender holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality and Hotel Administration. He has also received Marriott International's Train the Trainer certification and was recognised as Best Pre-Opening Executive at W Goa.

Commenting on his appointment, Shailender Kumar Yadav, Food & Beverage Manager, Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center, said, "Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield has a unique food and beverage ecosystem, with strong standalone dining venues as well as one of the city's most significant convention and banqueting portfolios. My focus will be on bringing sharper operational consistency, stronger restaurant programming and more guest-led dining experiences across the hotel. I look forward to working closely with the team to build on the hotel's existing strengths and create experiences that are commercially strong, service-focused and memorable for our guests."

Welcoming him to the team, Elton Hurtis, General Manager, Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Center, said, "Food and beverage is central to the hotel's positioning, from our restaurants and bars to large-format weddings, social celebrations, corporate events and conventions. Shailender's experience across luxury hotels, international markets and high-volume operations makes him well suited to lead this vertical. His understanding of revenue, service culture and team development will be valuable as we continue to strengthen our dining and events proposition in Bengaluru."

The appointment reflects Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield's continued focus on strengthening its leadership team while enhancing dining experiences, operational excellence, and guest service across its food and beverage division

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Lyfe Hotels Bhubaneswar Welcomes Vaishakh Surendran as General Manager

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Grand Mercure Bengaluru Gopalan Mall Appoints Maria Candice Rodrigues as Revenue Manager

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Holiday Inn Cochin Appoints Nikhil Ayyappan as Director of Sales & Marketing

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Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Appoints Shailender Kumar Yadav as Food & Beverage Manager

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