Mainak Ray Joins JW Marriott Kolkata as Director of Sales & Marketing

Mainak Ray Joins JW Marriott Kolkata as Director of Sales & Marketing

By Nishang Narayan

Published on March 28, 2025

JW Marriott Kolkata is delighted to announce the appointment of Mainak Ray as the Director of Sales & Marketing. With over a decade of experience in luxury hospitality sales, Mainak brings a strong strategic vision and a proven track record in revenue growth, brand positioning, and guest engagement.

A Dynamic Leader with Global Experience

A University of Calcutta alumnus, Mainak pursued a Master’s in International Management from the University of Sussex, UK. He started his career with Lebara Mobile UK before transitioning into hospitality, taking on key sales and marketing roles at Hyatt, Accor, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, and Marriott International. His expertise spans multiple cities and market segments, making him well-equipped to lead JW Marriott Kolkata’s growth strategy.

Key Responsibilities & Vision

In his new role, Mainak will oversee the hotel’s sales, marketing, and revenue operations, with a focus on:

  • Strategic growth & brand positioning
  • Optimizing room and event revenue
  • Curating unique F&B initiatives
  • Enhancing guest engagement & market presence

Expressing his excitement about joining JW Marriott Kolkata, Mainak Ray shared:
"I am deeply honored to be part of JW Marriott Kolkata, a hotel that exemplifies luxury, innovation, and guest-centricity. I look forward to working with the exceptional team here to drive growth and craft unforgettable experiences for our guests."

Sunil Kumar, General Manager of JW Marriott Kolkata, added:
"We are delighted to welcome Mainak Ray to the JW Marriott Kolkata family. His expertise, strategic acumen, and leadership will be invaluable in propelling the hotel’s growth and reinforcing its position as a leader in luxury hospitality."

JW Marriott Kolkata – A Luxury Icon in the City of Joy

Recognized as Kolkata’s #1 hotel on TripAdvisor, JW Marriott Kolkata seamlessly blends elegance, world-class service, and exceptional dining. Home to 2:Fifty9, one of India’s Top 100 Bars, the hotel is a sought-after destination for luxury experiences, weddings, and corporate events.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Mainak Ray is passionate about travel, global cuisines, and soccer. His leadership is set to further strengthen JW Marriott Kolkata’s legacy of excellence in luxury hospitality.


IHCL Appoints Aejaz Shaikh as Hotel Manager for Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage

IHCL Appoints Aejaz Shaikh as Hotel Manager for Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage

By Hariharan U

Published on May 20, 2026

Indian Hotels Company Limited has announced the appointment of hospitality professional Aejaz Shaikh as Hotel Manager of Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage.

With over 20 years of experience in luxury hospitality, Shaikh brings strong expertise in hotel operations, commercial strategy, and brand development. His career has been marked by consistent business performance, market share growth, and enhanced guest experience delivery across competitive hospitality environments.

Prior to this appointment, he served as Director of Sales & Marketing for both Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon and Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage, where he led integrated commercial strategies spanning rooms, food and beverage, events, and ancillary revenue streams.

During his tenure, the properties witnessed strong growth across key segments including MICE, weddings, and leisure travel, alongside improved brand visibility in both domestic and international markets.

An alumnus of the University of Madras and the University of Mumbai, Shaikh holds multiple qualifications in business management, marketing, and hospitality.

Commenting on the appointment, Vivek Batra said that Shaikh’s strong commercial acumen and deep understanding of the Goa market make him well suited to lead the property, adding that his leadership is expected to further strengthen positioning and guest experience excellence.

The appointment reinforces IHCL’s continued focus on strengthening leadership across its luxury portfolio in Goa, a key market in India’s premium hospitality landscape.


Taj North Goa Appoints Reekshit Siddhanta as Deputy General Manager

Taj North Goa Appoints Reekshit Siddhanta as Deputy General Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on May 20, 2026

Indian Hotels Company Limited has announced the appointment of hospitality veteran Reekshit Siddhanta as Deputy General Manager for two of its flagship North Goa properties - Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa and Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa.

With over 24 years of experience in luxury hospitality, Siddhanta brings extensive expertise across operations, guest experience management, and leadership roles in some of India’s and the UAE’s most recognised luxury hotels.

His journey with the Taj brand began in 2002 as a Management Trainee in Housekeeping, after which he held several key positions across the group. His career highlights include leadership roles such as Executive Housekeeper at Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace, participation in the pre-opening team of Taj Falaknuma Palace, and senior Rooms Division leadership roles including Director of Rooms at Fairmont Jaipur, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Goa, and Taj Dubai.

Prior to his current appointment, he served as Hotel Manager at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Goa, further strengthening his operational leadership experience within the region.

Commenting on his new role, Siddhanta said that contributing to the legacy of Goa’s iconic heritage resorts is a “dream come true,” adding that his vision is to elevate the hospitality experience through world-class service rooted in the essence of “Tajness.”

Cluster General Manager for North Goa, Javed Deshmukh, noted that Siddhanta’s operational expertise and passion for service excellence will further strengthen the leadership team and enhance guest experiences across the properties.

The leadership appointment reinforces the long-standing legacy of Taj’s North Goa resorts, which continue to be among India’s most iconic luxury hospitality destinations, known for their immersive experiences, heritage charm, and personalised service.


Holiday Inn Gurugram Sector 90 Promotes Bharrat Bhutani to Associate Director of Revenue

Holiday Inn Gurugram Sector 90 Promotes Bharrat Bhutani to Associate Director of Revenue

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 20, 2026

Holiday Inn Gurugram Sector 90 has announced the promotion of Bharrat Bhutani to the position of Associate Director of Revenue, strengthening its commercial leadership team.

In his new role, Bharrat will be responsible for shaping the hotel’s overall revenue strategy, including pricing, forecasting, distribution, and market positioning. He will also oversee performance across rooms, food and beverage, and events, while focusing on improving direct bookings and aligning commercial efforts with IHG Hotels & Resorts standards.

Bharrat brings over ten years of experience in hospitality revenue management and commercial operations. Before this promotion, he served as Revenue Manager at the same property, where he contributed significantly to improving average daily rate (ADR), refining pricing strategies, and consistently achieving revenue targets.

His earlier experience includes working with well-known hospitality brands such as Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport, Radisson Hotel Group, Holiday Inn Kolkata Airport, and Radisson Blu Udaipur Palace Resort & Spa. His expertise covers revenue optimisation, forecasting, budgeting, distribution management, and market analysis, along with cross-functional commercial planning.

Academically, Bharrat holds a Post-Graduation Program in Revenue Management from Vedatya Institute and a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management from Amity School of Hospitality. He is also certified by IHG Hotels & Resorts in Revenue Management Essential and Advanced courses.

Outside his professional responsibilities, Bharrat enjoys listening to music and exploring different cuisines during his free time.

Commenting on the promotion, Rishabh Jain, General Manager of Holiday Inn Gurugram Sector 90, said,

“Bharrat has consistently demonstrated strong commercial acumen, strategic thinking and leadership capabilities. His contribution towards driving revenue performance and strengthening the hotel's market positioning has been commendable and we are delighted to see him step into this expanded leadership role.”

Speaking on his new role, Bharrat Bhutani said, “I am honoured to take on this new role at Holiday Inn Gurugram Sector 90. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the team to drive sustainable revenue growth, enhance guest value and contribute to the hotel's ongoing success.”

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