Hyderabad-based travel and tourism professional Mohan N.S.N. (NSN Mohan) has been elected World President of SKÅL International for 2027, becoming the first Indian and the first Asian to lead the global tourism organisation in its 93-year history.

He was elected at the 85th SKÅL International World Congress 2026, held in Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa. A member of SKÅL International Hyderabad 606, Mohan's election marks a significant milestone for Hyderabad, Telangana and the Indian tourism industry.

Founded in 1932 and formally established as an international association in 1934, SKÅL International is one of the world's largest and oldest professional organisations bringing together the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. Headquartered in Torremolinos, Málaga, Spain, it has an estimated 13,000 members across 295 clubs in 78 countries. India has 22 clubs spread across 19 cities.

The organisation is an Affiliate Member of UN Tourism and maintains associations with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and other international tourism bodies. Its philosophy, "Doing Business Among Friends," focuses on building professional relationships through friendship, trust and international cooperation.

SKÅL brings together professionals from across the tourism ecosystem, including hotels, airlines, travel agencies, tour operators, tourism boards, cruise companies and hospitality businesses. It also promotes responsible and sustainable tourism, environmental awareness, cultural understanding and international friendship.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of SKÅL International Hyderabad's 40th anniversary celebrations, Mohan outlined his priorities for the 2027 presidency. His plans include expanding the organisation's global presence, attracting new members and improving member retention.

"We aim to expand SKÅL's presence from the current 78 countries to 100 countries and increase the number of cities in which we operate from 295 to 350. We also plan to grow our global membership from approximately 13,000 to 15,000. Equally important is retaining our existing members and strengthening the organisation at every level," he said.

Mohan also highlighted the importance of stronger engagement with governments to support tourism development.

"One of my key priorities is to make the Union Government and various State Governments understand the importance of SKÅL and the role it can play in tourism development and promotion. SKÅL brings together experienced tourism professionals from across the world. Their knowledge, networks and industry experience can contribute meaningfully to the growth of tourism," he said.

His election also brings attention to Hyderabad's four-decade association with the organisation. SKÅL International Hyderabad 606 celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2026. With a member of the local chapter taking on the global leadership role, the city has an opportunity to strengthen its connections with international tourism professionals, tour operators and hospitality businesses.

The development could also create opportunities for Telangana's tourism sector. SKÅL's international network can help promote the state's heritage sites, temples, lakes, forests, wildlife destinations, rural tourism experiences, resorts and weekend getaways. It could also support international visitor outreach, tourism familiarisation visits, business partnerships and investment opportunities.

Hyderabad, with its international connectivity and hospitality infrastructure, can further strengthen its position as a gateway to Telangana. The city also has an opportunity to build its profile as a destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE).

D. Ramchandram, Co-Chairman of the Tourism Committee at the Federation of Telangana Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FTCCI), said the election was a matter of pride for Hyderabad and India, while highlighting the opportunities it could bring to the state.

"Having an Indian global President from SKÅL International Hyderabad is a matter of immense pride for our city and country. But beyond the recognition, this is a tremendous opportunity for Hyderabad and Telangana.

"SKÅL's strength lies in its extensive international network of tourism professionals and the relationships it has built over more than nine decades. We should make effective use of this network to promote Telangana's tourism destinations, connect our hotels, resorts and tour operators with international counterparts, encourage tourism investments and attract visitors from across the world.

"Telangana has immense untapped potential in heritage tourism, nature tourism, spiritual tourism, rural tourism and weekend getaways. Hyderabad, with its international connectivity and hospitality infrastructure, can serve as the gateway.

"My larger thought is that Hyderabad should use its new international tourism leadership position to become a stronger gateway for Telangana tourism to the world. We should translate this historic achievement into meaningful partnerships, increased international visibility and tangible economic benefits for the state."

Dr. Valmiki Harikishan, President of SKÅL International Hyderabad, also described Mohan's election as a proud moment for the chapter and the Indian tourism fraternity. He highlighted the importance of using this recognition to build international tourism partnerships and promote Telangana as a global destination.

Mohan's election marks more than an individual achievement. It gives Hyderabad and India an opportunity to strengthen their presence in the international tourism community and build new connections across the global travel and hospitality industry.

The Westin Chennai Velachery has appointed Avanthika Ramamurthy as Marketing Communications Manager, strengthening its marketing and communications leadership as the hotel continues to build its brand presence in Chennai.

In her new role, Ramamurthy will lead the hotel's marketing communications strategy, overseeing brand positioning, media engagement, digital communications and integrated campaigns. Her responsibilities will include strengthening the hotel's visibility and communicating its guest experiences across relevant platforms.

Ramamurthy brings more than 10 years of experience across marketing, public relations, advertising, digital media and creative communications. Her professional background spans the hospitality, food and beverage, and retail sectors, with experience working in India and Australia.

During her career, she has worked with Accor and held other marketing and communications leadership positions. Her experience includes strategic planning, brand development, creative storytelling and integrated marketing initiatives, giving her exposure to varied communication environments and consumer-facing industries.

Commenting on the appointment, Deepraj Mukherjee, General Manager, The Westin Chennai Velachery, said, "We are delighted to welcome Avanthika to our leadership team. Her extensive experience in marketing communications, coupled with her creative vision and strategic approach, will be instrumental in strengthening our brand presence and deepening our engagement with guests and the wider community. We look forward to her contributions as we continue to create meaningful and memorable experiences for our guests."

In her new position, Ramamurthy will focus on enhancing the hotel's brand visibility, building audience engagement and communicating its distinctive guest experiences. Her appointment adds to the hotel's leadership team as it continues to engage with guests, media and the wider Chennai market.

Infinity Experiences has announced two key leadership appointments, naming Prashanth Kumar as Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Apoorav Pawar as Head of Brand, Portfolio & Growth.

The appointments bring together experience across hospitality operations, loyalty and membership programmes, premium financial products, portfolio strategy and brand development as the company works to expand its curated collection and membership proposition for discerning travellers.

Prashanth Kumar Appointed Co-Founder and COO

With more than 25 years of global hospitality experience, Prashanth Kumar joins Infinity Experiences with a background spanning hotel operations, brand development and loyalty programmes.

He began his career at The Brown Palace in Denver before taking up leadership roles at Novotel Hyderabad, Hyderabad International Convention Centre, Courtyard by Marriott Ahmedabad and ibis Gurgaon. During his time with ibis Gurgaon, he contributed to developing the brand standard for India.

Kumar subsequently built Sobha's hospitality vertical in Dubai and spent approximately 11 years in senior leadership roles at Accor Plus. Most recently, he served as Chief Operating Officer at TLC DigiTech Pvt Ltd, overseeing an operation of around 750 employees across India, Kenya and Sri Lanka.

His professional experience spans several international markets, including India, the United States, New Zealand, Switzerland and Dubai. He has also undertaken hospitality management and leadership programmes at the Glion Institute of Higher Education and Cornell University.

At Infinity Experiences, Kumar will lead operations, with responsibilities covering expansion into new geographies and categories, international partnerships and delivery of the company's Infinity Membership Promise. His experience in hospitality operations and membership programmes is expected to support the company's efforts to maintain consistent standards across its certified experiences.

Apoorav Pawar to Lead Brand, Portfolio & Growth

Apoorav Pawar joins Infinity Experiences from American Express India, where he worked across premium credit card products and lending. During his tenure, he led the Platinum Reserve and Platinum Travel products, along with EMI and other card offerings, gaining experience in product strategy, portfolio development and customer engagement.

Before American Express, Pawar held positions at RBL Bank, Indus Towers Limited and DishTV, building experience across portfolio management, business strategy and new product development.

He holds an MBA from IIM Indore and a bachelor's degree in Economics from Shri Ram College of Commerce.

In his new role, Pawar will lead the company's brand, portfolio and growth strategy, focusing on the selection, positioning and presentation of its curated collection. His responsibilities will also include membership growth and strategies to attract, engage, activate and retain members and partners.

His background in premium product development and portfolio management is expected to contribute to the development of Infinity Experiences' proposition for a global audience.

Building a Curated Membership Proposition

The two appointments bring together complementary capabilities as Infinity Experiences develops its collection of certified hotels and experiences. While Kumar will focus on operational delivery, expansion and partnerships, Pawar will lead the brand and portfolio strategy alongside membership growth.

The leadership additions mark a step in the company's efforts to build its international presence and establish a distinctive proposition for travellers seeking curated hospitality experiences