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By Nithyakala Neelakandan
Published on May 18, 2024
Minor Hotels has appointed Puneet Dhawan as the new Head of Asia, effective from July 2024. Dhawan, who brings over 30 years of extensive experience in the hospitality industry, will oversee the performance of all Minor Hotels properties across Asia. He will work closely with the senior leadership team and report directly to Minor Hotels CEO Dillip Rajakarier.
Dhawan’s career spans across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. He joins Minor Hotels from Accor, where he most recently held the position of Senior Vice President of Operations for India & South Asia. During his tenure at Accor, Dhawan played a significant role in driving the company’s growth, including the successful opening of the first Raffles hotel in India. His responsibilities included business development, owner management, hotel operations, and leading commercial teams.
Before his time at Accor, Dhawan began his hospitality career with the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, holding key positions at properties in the Philippines and Hong Kong. He has also served as Accor's Vice President of Operations for the Middle East and held several General Manager roles. Dhawan holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and will be based at Minor Hotels' corporate office in Bangkok.
Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotels, expressed enthusiasm for Dhawan’s appointment, stating, “We are excited to welcome Puneet to the Minor Hotels family. His operational experience and empowering leadership will be invaluable as we work to achieve our growth ambitions in Asia and India in the coming years.”
Minor Hotels has ambitious plans to expand its portfolio, aiming to add over 200 new properties globally by the end of 2026, with about half of these new openings in Asia. The company also recently announced its intent to open 50 new properties in India within the next decade, including the debut of its luxury Anantara brand in Jaipur later this year.
Dhawan’s extensive background and leadership in the hospitality industry are expected to play a crucial role in supporting Minor Hotels' strategic growth plans in the region. His appointment underscores the company’s commitment to enhancing its presence and operational excellence in the rapidly expanding Asian market.
Minor Hotels looks forward to leveraging Dhawan's expertise to drive its growth and success in Asia and India. Join us in welcoming Puneet Dhawan as he embarks on this exciting journey with Minor Hotels.
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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.
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.
By Manu Vardhan Kannan
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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