The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi has announced the elevation of Ankit Malhotra to the role of executive chef. With over 15 years of experience across some of the world’s leading luxury hospitality brands, Malhotra brings a refined culinary vision, strong commitment to excellence, and a dynamic leadership approach to his new position.

Malhotra joined The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi as executive sous chef and has played a key role in strengthening the hotel’s culinary identity. His tenure has been marked by thoughtful menu innovation, focus on quality, and an ability to build and guide high-performing kitchen teams. His elevation reflects both his individual excellence and the strong culinary direction he has helped shape for the hotel.

Malhotra began his career at The Imperial, New Delhi, and has contributed to leading hospitality brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore, Taj West End Bengaluru, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, Conrad Pune, and internationally at Radisson Blu Hotel, London Bloomsbury. His career highlights his passion for mastering diverse cuisines, enhancing technical skills, and leading kitchens with precision and integrity.

Chef Amit Dash, cluster executive chef for The Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi & The Westin Sohna Resort & Spa, said of the elevation, “Ankit’s journey with us has been exceptional. His creativity, discipline, and depth of culinary knowledge have consistently reflected the highest standards of our brand. His elevation to Executive Chef is a natural progression of his talent and leadership. His refined understanding of both global and regional flavours aligns seamlessly with our vision of delivering thoughtful, elevated, and memorable dining experiences for our guests.”

In his new role, Malhotra will oversee the strategic direction of the hotel’s award-winning dining venues, including its specialty restaurants led by expat chefs. He will also lead the banqueting operations and wellness-focused culinary programming, a key pillar of the Westin brand.

Holiday Inn Express has announced the promotion of Faisal Khan to the position of Hotel Manager at Holiday Inn Express Nashik Indira Nagar, effective August 2025. Faisal has been a dedicated part of the Holiday Inn Express family since 2018, consistently demonstrating leadership, commitment, and a strong understanding of hotel operations throughout his journey with the brand.

In his previous role as Front Office Manager at Holiday Inn Express Bengaluru Yeshwantpur, Faisal played a key role in improving guest satisfaction, strengthening team performance, and maintaining the brand’s service standards. With more than 14 years of hospitality experience, he brings deep knowledge of guest engagement, operations management, and team development. His leadership contributed to several achievements, including the TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Award (2023) and Best Department of the Year (2024).

In his new role, Faisal will lead the overall operations at Holiday Inn Express Nashik Indira Nagar, ensuring smooth guest experiences while aligning with IHG’s global commitment to quality, safety, and service excellence.

Sharing his thoughts on the promotion, Faisal Khan, Hotel Manager, Holiday Inn Express Nashik Indira Nagar said, “It has been an incredible journey with Holiday Inn Express over the past few years. The brand’s culture of growth and excellence has continually inspired me to deliver my best every day. I am grateful for this new opportunity and look forward to leading the team at Holiday Inn Express Nashik Indira Nagar to further strengthen guest satisfaction and operational excellence.”

This promotion reflects Holiday Inn Express’s commitment to recognising and nurturing talent within the organisation. It also highlights IHG’s ‘Room to Grow’ philosophy, which focuses on continuous learning, leadership development, and internal mobility. Faisal’s career journey stands as a strong example of how dedication and consistent performance are supported and rewarded with meaningful growth opportunities.

ROOH San Francisco, the well-known progressive Indian restaurant in the Bay Area, is celebrating the work of its Executive Chef, Ashish Tiwari, whose culinary leadership has played a major role in the restaurant being featured in the Michelin Guide.

Chef Ashish leads the kitchen with a strong focus on technique, regional authenticity, and fresh, creative flavour ideas. His direction has helped ROOH San Francisco maintain its spot as one of the region’s most refined and modern Indian dining spaces.

The Michelin Guide recognition reflects his strength in building flavours, curating ingredients, and presenting dishes in a contemporary, global style, while still staying true to the soul of Indian cooking. Through his approach, diners get to experience Indian cuisine in a polished and elevated manner.

"Chef Ashish currently helms ROOH San Francisco, a restaurant recognized by the Michelin Guide for its excellence," the restaurant announced. "This recognition reflects his ability to maintain world-class standards in flavor architecture, technique, ingredient curation, and guest experience. His leadership and innovations have been instrumental in positioning modern Indian cuisine among the Bay Area's most respected fine-dining offerings."

Sharing his thoughts on the achievement, Chef Ashish Tiwari said, "Being Michelin Guide–recommended is more than an award, it demonstrates that the culinary direction I provide at ROOH San Francisco meets the highest international benchmarks. Through this platform, I am actively shaping the global perception of Indian cuisine by presenting refined techniques, regional authenticity, and modern Californian ingredient integrations."

His work at ROOH focuses on balancing innovation with the emotional depth and cultural richness of Indian food. Each menu is designed to showcase India’s regional diversity in a fresh, season-driven format that fits naturally into the Californian dining landscape.

With Chef Ashish continuing to lead the kitchen, ROOH San Francisco remains committed to shaping the next chapter of contemporary Indian cuisine and maintaining its strong position in one of America’s most competitive food scenes.