SAMHI has announced the appointment of Priyanka Ahluwalia as Cluster General Manager for its Holiday Inn Express portfolio, effective January 2026. In her new role, she will be responsible for overseeing the operations of all 12 Holiday Inn Express (HIEX) hotels across India owned by SAMHI.

A seasoned hospitality professional, Priyanka brings over 25 years of experience across hotels, tourism boards, and golf resorts. Her career spans leadership roles covering sales, marketing, operations, and revenue strategy, with responsibilities across India, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. She is widely recognised for managing large, multi-location portfolios and driving performance through structured processes and people-led leadership.

Before joining SAMHI, Priyanka spent 12 years with The LaLiT Suri Hospitality Group. Most recently, she served as General Manager – Sales & Operations, where she handled a diverse portfolio of hotels in India and the UK. During this period, she carried revenue responsibility for more than 2,200 keys and worked closely with individual hotel leadership teams to strengthen operations and elevate service standards.

Commenting on the appointment, Ashish Jakhanwala, Chairman, Managing Director and CEO of SAMHI Hotels, said, "Priyanka’s appointment comes at a defining moment as we continue to scale our Holiday Inn Express portfolio and sharpen our operational edge. We are confident that her leadership will strengthen our portfolio and help us deliver the right guest experience.”

Known for her strategic clarity and collaborative working style, Priyanka has consistently focused on building strong teams and effective systems. Her experience in setting up standard operating procedures and managing owner relationships is expected to play a key role in supporting the continued growth and consistency of the Holiday Inn Express portfolio.

Sharing her thoughts on the new role, Priyanka Ahluwalia said, "I am delighted to join the team and lead the Holiday Inn Express portfolio. My focus has always been on driving operational excellence through a people-first approach. I look forward to collaborating with the teams across these 12 Holiday Inn Express hotels to refine our service delivery and ensure we continue to provide smart, efficient hospitality that resonates emotionally with our guests.”

Priyanka holds an Executive MBA from Venkateshwara Open University and has been recognised throughout her career for exceeding business targets and delivering growth across varied international markets.

With this appointment, Holiday Inn Express continues to reinforce its commitment to inclusive and people-focused leadership, aligned with IHG’s “Room to Belong” ethos. The philosophy centres on creating an environment where professionals feel valued, supported, and empowered to contribute authentically, fostering a culture of collaboration and shared success across the organisation.

Novotel Jodhpur has announced the promotion of Surendra Shekhawat to the newly created role of Associate Director of Finance, marking a key step in strengthening Accor’s regional finance leadership in Rajasthan. Previously serving as Finance Manager, Shekhawat’s elevation reflects his consistent performance, strategic insight, and growing leadership responsibilities within the organisation.

With over 15 years of experience in hospitality finance, Shekhawat brings a strong track record across reputed hotel brands including Radisson Hotel Kandla, Novotel Ahmedabad, and Novotel Jodhpur. Since January 2024, he has been leading the finance function at Novotel Jodhpur, contributing to improved financial discipline, compliance, and operational efficiency.

In his new role, Shekhawat will oversee financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and analysis across key Accor properties in Rajasthan. His responsibilities will also include driving initiatives to enhance profitability, supporting operational effectiveness, and mentoring finance leaders across the region as part of Accor’s broader leadership framework.

Commenting on the promotion, Ritesh Mudgal, General Manager, Novotel Jodhpur, said, “Surendra has distinguished himself as a strategic finance leader. His expertise in compliance and operations has played an important role in strengthening our financial performance. This promotion recognises his leadership, collaborative approach, and commitment to Accor’s vision.”

Going forward, Shekhawat will work closely with divisional and corporate finance teams to support long-term growth and resilience across Accor’s portfolio in Rajasthan and neighbouring markets. His appointment underlines Accor’s focus on building strong regional leadership to support sustainable expansion

JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar has announced the appointment of Chef Faheem Qureshi as MasterChef at its Indian specialty restaurant, BarQat. With this move, the hotel continues to strengthen BarQat’s position as a dining destination rooted in craft, intention, and regional Indian flavours.

In his new role, Chef Faheem will oversee kitchen operations, menu development, culinary execution, and team management at BarQat. His focus will be on building strong kitchen systems that ensure consistency, quality, and strict adherence to the restaurant’s regional Indian culinary philosophy. The role also places emphasis on disciplined execution, along with maintaining high standards of safety and hygiene across the kitchen.

Chef Faheem brings over 10 years of experience across luxury hotels and specialty restaurants. His background includes extensive work in Indian cuisine, banquet operations, and team leadership. Over the years, he has held key culinary roles at JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu, Courtyard by Marriott Mumbai, and Aditya Birla New Age Hospitality.

Trained under Chef Mukhtar Qureshi and Chef Javed Qureshi, Chef Faheem is known for his structured approach to kitchen management. His expertise spans quality control, SOP implementation, staff training, and pre-opening kitchen operations, all of which align closely with BarQat’s culinary direction.

Commenting on the appointment, Prakash Chettiyar, Director of Culinary, said, “Chef Faheem brings a strong sense of discipline, clarity and purpose to the kitchen-qualities that align seamlessly with BarQat's straight-line culinary philosophy. His deep understanding of regional Indian cuisine, combined with his structured approach to kitchen operations and team development, will further strengthen BarQat's culinary identity and ensure consistent, high-quality execution.”

With Chef Faheem Qureshi taking charge, BarQat at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar continues to refine its culinary programme, sharpening its focus on regional Indian flavours, operational consistency, and a polished specialty dining experience.