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 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

JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar has announced the appointment of Dr. Nisarga V M as its new Spa Manager, reinforcing its focus on delivering elevated wellness experiences through Spa by JW. Known as the "Gateway to Mumbai," the hotel offers bespoke therapies and immersive wellness journeys centred around the brand's four signature pillars—Calm, Nourish, Balance and Renew.

In her new role, Dr. Nisarga will oversee the day-to-day operations of Spa by JW, including wellness programming, spa operations, guest experience, and team development. She will also lead efforts to further enhance the hotel's personalised wellness offerings, ensuring every guest experience reflects the brand's core philosophy of holistic well-being.

Dr. Nisarga brings more than five years of experience in luxury spa and wellness operations across leading hospitality brands, including IHCL (Taj Hotels). During her career, she has held key leadership roles at Taj Alibag Resort & Spa, Taj Theog Resort & Spa, Taj Devi Ratn, Jaipur, where she was part of the pre-opening team, and Golden Palms Resort & Spa, Bengaluru. Across these assignments, she has driven operational excellence, curated wellness programmes, built high-performing teams, and consistently delivered exceptional guest experiences.

Speaking on her appointment, Dr. Nisarga V M, Spa Manager, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, said, "I am delighted to join JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar and be a part of a brand that places genuine emphasis on holistic well-being. Wellness has become an integral part of the luxury hospitality experience and I look forward to collaborating with the team to further elevate the Spa by JW experience with wellness programmes and experiences that resonate with the evolving needs of today's guests."