Zaya Indian & Persian Kitchen has introduced a new dinner menu that brings together bold Indian flavours and Persian-inspired culinary traditions, curated under the leadership of Executive Chef Mahesh Dhami.

The refreshed menu reflects the restaurant’s focus on modern fusion dining, combining regional Indian tastes with Middle Eastern influences and a global presentation style. Known for its contemporary approach in McAllen’s dining scene, Zaya continues to position itself as a destination for creative and experience-led cuisine.

The new offerings feature a wide mix of dishes across categories, including street-food inspired starters, charcoal-grilled specials, Persian mezze, handcrafted breads, and innovative fusion handhelds designed to enhance the overall dining experience.

Highlights from the grill section include Chipotle Chicken Tikka, Burrah Lamb Chops, Tandoori Octopus, and Kesari Paneer Tikka. The street-style selection brings a modern twist to familiar flavours with dishes such as Delhi-style Paani Puri, Tuna Passionfruit Paani Puri, Samosa Chaat, and Beetroot Chaat.

The menu also introduces creative fusion handhelds like Chapli Kebab Smash Burger, Roganjosh Birria Tacos, and Persian-inspired shawarma wraps, offering a cross-cultural dining experience.

Main course dishes include a mix of traditional Indian recipes and modern plating styles, featuring Ruby Chicken, Chicken Chettinad, Goat Korma, Moilee Salmon, Palak Saag Paneer, and Pistachio Malai Kofta. Classic biryanis such as Hyderabadi Goat Dum Biryani and Kolkata Vegetable Biryani further highlight India’s regional diversity.

Speaking about the launch, Executive Chef Mahesh Dhami shared that the menu is designed as a storytelling experience through food, combining authentic flavours with modern culinary techniques to create a memorable dining journey for guests.

With this launch, Zaya Indian & Persian Kitchen strengthens its position as one of McAllen’s most innovative dining destinations, offering a menu rooted in tradition while embracing contemporary creativity.

United Hospitality Management India has announced the appointment of Ricardo Leal as Vice President Operations – India & Southeast Asia, further strengthening its leadership structure across key growth markets in the region.

Based in India, Ricardo will oversee operational performance across all company-managed properties in India and Southeast Asia. He will report to Deepika Arora while also taking responsibility for Southeast Asia operations under the leadership of Klaus Assmann.

The appointment comes as UHM India continues to expand its footprint across high-growth hospitality markets. The company is focusing on strengthening operational performance, improving guest experiences, and building long-term value for stakeholders as India remains a major focus market for the group.

Ricardo Leal brings more than 20 years of international hospitality leadership experience across luxury and ultra-luxury segments. Over the course of his career, he has worked across multiple global markets with expertise spanning hotel feasibility studies, design planning, pre-opening strategies, repositioning projects, and large-scale operational management.

In his new role, Ricardo will focus on driving operational consistency, improving property performance, and aligning hotel operations with the company’s long-term growth strategy across India and Southeast Asia.

Speaking about the appointment, Deepika Arora described Ricardo’s addition as an important step in the company’s next phase of expansion, highlighting his combination of global experience and operational leadership.

Commenting on his new role, Ricardo Leal shared that he is excited to join UHM during a key growth phase and looks forward to working closely with teams across the region to strengthen operational standards and guest satisfaction.

With this leadership appointment, United Hospitality Management India continues to reinforce its focus on strategic growth, operational excellence, and delivering strong hospitality experiences across its expanding regional portfolio.

Kochi Marriott Hotel has announced the appointment of Sri Ram Kumar V as its new Director of Engineering.

With more than 14 years of experience in hospitality engineering operations, Sri Ram Kumar brings expertise in hotel pre-openings, project management, preventive maintenance, energy conservation, and technical operations across luxury hospitality brands in India and the Middle East.

In his new position, he will lead all engineering and maintenance functions at Kochi Marriott Hotel. His responsibilities will include overseeing preventive maintenance systems, supporting sustainability initiatives, ensuring engineering compliance, and maintaining smooth operational support to strengthen guest experience and hotel efficiency.

He will also collaborate closely with the hotel’s Loss Prevention team on safety protocols and emergency preparedness measures.

Recognised for his technical knowledge and practical leadership approach, Sri Ram Kumar has consistently focused on improving engineering standards, enhancing energy efficiency, and ensuring reliable operational performance throughout his career.

Speaking about his appointment, Sri Ram Kumar shared that he is honoured to join Kochi Marriott Hotel and looks forward to building efficient and sustainable engineering operations while working closely with teams across departments.

With this appointment, Kochi Marriott Hotel continues to strengthen its operational leadership while focusing on reliability, sustainability, and guest-centric service standards.