Novotel Pune Appoints Anant Leekha as General Manager

Novotel Pune Appoints Anant Leekha as General Manager

By Nishang Narayan

Published on August 9, 2024

Novotel Pune has appointed Anant Leekha as the new General Manager. Leekha, who brings over 20 years of industry experience, will oversee the overall operations and management of Novotel Pune Nagar Road, focusing on enhancing guest engagement and profitability while further establishing the hotel's reputation.

Anant Leekha's appointment marks his return to Pune, where he first served as General Manager in 2016. His extensive experience in sales and operations, combined with his natural ability to motivate and develop dynamic teams, will contribute significantly to the hotel’s growth and success. Leekha is dedicated to delivering the Heartist experience to guests and team members alike.

Prior to his new role at Novotel Pune, Leekha had a distinguished 16-year tenure with Accor, during which he gained deep insights into the company's goals, service standards, and brand identity. Most recently, he served as Cluster General Manager for ibis Mumbai Vikhroli, ibis Navi Mumbai, and ibis Thane, overseeing a total of 631 rooms and achieving consistent excellence in performance metrics.

image

Leekha holds a bachelor's degree in Hotel Management and Catering Technology. In his new role, he will lead initiatives to drive business growth and enhance guest experiences through strategic and technological advancements.

About Novotel Hotels, Suites & Resorts:

Novotel Hotels, Suites & Resorts offers destination hotels designed to be comforting and energizing places where guests can 'press pause' and savor the moments that truly matter. With over 530 locations in more than 60 countries, Novotel provides a wide array of services for business and leisure guests, including spacious, modular rooms with natural and intuitive design; 24/7 catering with nutritious options; dedicated meeting spaces; attentive and proactive staff; family zones for younger guests; multi-purpose lobbies; and accessible fitness centers.

Novotel is part of Accor, a leading global hospitality group with more than 5,200 properties and 10,000 food and beverage venues across 110 countries.

For more information, visit: Accor Hotels


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.

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.