Rayan Aranha Joins Brigade Group as Vice President of Hospitality & Commercial

Rayan Aranha Joins Brigade Group as Vice President of Hospitality & Commercial

By Author

Published on September 8, 2023

Brigade Group proudly welcomes Rayan Aranha as their Vice President of Hospitality & Commercial. In this crucial role, Rayan will lead sales, marketing, and strategic planning for Brigade Group's commercial division, with a focus on driving growth, profitability, and excellence in asset management, revenues, and operations. Furthermore, he will oversee the expanding portfolio of projects and services at Brigade Hospitality, which presently includes eight hotels in partnership with Marriott, Accor, and IHG.

Rayan brings a wealth of experience and exceptional leadership to this position, thanks to his prior roles at Accor. His tenure at Accor involved overseeing hotel operations in prominent cities like Bangalore, Mumbai, Mysore, and Chennai. In his most recent role as Cluster General Manager, Rayan successfully managed a cluster of Novotel and ibis hotels in Chennai. He also held the position of Cluster General Manager for Grand Mercure Bangalore and Grand Mercure Mysore, in addition to serving as the brand head for Grand Mercure and Mercure hotels in South Asia. Rayan's rich journey in the hospitality sector includes valuable experience gained during his tenure at IHCL (Taj Hotels) at their regional office in Bangalore.

Nirupa Shankar, Joint Managing Director of Brigade Enterprises Limited, expressed her enthusiasm about this appointment, stating, “With an exceptional track record in the hospitality industry and a background in business development and operations, Rayan brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role. We are confident that under his able guidance the office business and hospitality vertical at Brigade will continue to grow and scale greater heights. We look forward to the dynamic leadership and contributions Rayan will bring to the Hospitality and Commercial verticals of our business.”

Rayan's qualifications include postgraduate degrees in management from prestigious institutions, including the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) and the SP Jain Institute of Management and Research Mumbai. His expertise and vision are set to make a significant impact on Brigade Group's endeavors in the realm of hospitality and commercial ventures.


Francesco Giovannelli Appointed Monastero Manager at Borgo Monchiero Heritage by Atmosphere

Francesco Giovannelli Appointed Monastero Manager at Borgo Monchiero Heritage by Atmosphere

By Hariharan U

Published on February 19, 2026

Atmosphere Core has appointed Francesco Giovannelli as Monastero Manager of Borgo Monchiero Heritage by Atmosphere, marking the group’s foray into the European heritage hospitality landscape. Nestled in the UNESCO-listed Langhe hills of Piedmont, the property represents the brand’s first heritage address in Italy under Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts.

With over 15 years of hospitality leadership experience across Italy, including Piedmont and Tuscany, Giovannelli brings strong operational expertise spanning revenue coordination, service delivery, and department leadership. His hands-on understanding of regional cultures and guest expectations has earned him recognition from Leading Hotels of the World for service excellence, followed by the Hospitality Award 2025.

Commenting on his appointment, Francesco Giovannelli said, “Borgo Monchiero is a special heritage experience, and I am honoured to lead this exceptional project for Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts. By working closely with teams on the ground, my priority is to translate heritage into operational excellence and results that guests can feel at every touchpoint.”

Ashwin Handa, Chief Operating Officer at Atmosphere Core, added, “Francesco’s appointment reflects our focus on appointing leaders who combine strong commercial and operational acumen with a deep respect for place and people. His experience and sensibility are ideally suited to Borgo Monchiero Heritage by Atmosphere, where history and modern hospitality come together.”

Originally built in 1773, the restored 18th-century monastery blends Romanesque architecture, sacred frescoes, and the art, culture, and cuisine of northern Italy. The three-storey hillside retreat features 19 rooms reimagined from former monastic cells, a private chapel for weddings and intimate ceremonies, a restaurant highlighting local gastronomy, an elegant lounge bar, a panoramic swimming pool, and a wellness area with sauna, infrared therapies, and a private jacuzzi set within a centuries-old water reservoir. Located in a region renowned for Barolo and Barbera wines, the property offers an immersive luxury escape rooted in history and terroir.

With this appointment, Atmosphere Core strengthens its expansion strategy across Europe, reinforcing its vision of delivering culturally immersive, experience-led hospitality in distinctive heritage settings.


Hyatt Centric MG Road Bangalore Appoints Rahul Sharma as F&B Manager

Hyatt Centric MG Road Bangalore Appoints Rahul Sharma as F&B Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on February 19, 2026

Hyatt Centric MG Road Bangalore has announced the appointment of Rahul Sharma as Food & Beverage Manager. Bringing over 16 years of experience in luxury hospitality, Rahul offers strong expertise in multi-outlet management, revenue optimization, cost control, and service excellence.

Throughout his career, Rahul has led complex restaurant and banquet operations, mentored high-performance teams, and consistently delivered elevated guest satisfaction scores. He has managed high-volume dining environments, executed large-scale events, and implemented structured service rituals aimed at improving operational efficiency while reinforcing brand positioning.

In his new role, Rahul will oversee the strategic and operational leadership of the hotel’s F&B division. His responsibilities will include driving financial performance, enhancing guest experiences, developing talent, and curating innovative programming across the hotel’s outlets.

Speaking on his appointment, Rahul Sharma said, “Hyatt Centric MG Road Bangalore represents an exciting intersection of business, travel, and the city’s evolving dining culture. I look forward to collaborating with the team to drive operational excellence, build strong customer loyalty, and create distinctive food and beverage offerings aligned with the brand’s dynamic ethos.”

With this appointment, the hotel continues to strengthen its leadership framework and sharpen its focus on delivering consistent, high-quality dining and beverage experiences. Rahul’s ability to balance fiscal discipline with guest-centric innovation is expected to further enhance service benchmarks and reinforce the hotel’s competitive positioning within Bengaluru’s hospitality landscape.


Novotel Imagicaa Khopoli Appoints Hemant Chowdhary as Director of Sales & Marketing

Novotel Imagicaa Khopoli Appoints Hemant Chowdhary as Director of Sales & Marketing

By Hariharan U

Published on February 18, 2026

Novotel Imagicaa Khopoli has announced the appointment of Hemant Chowdhary as Director of Sales & Marketing, strengthening the hotel’s commercial leadership as it grows as a premier leisure destination in Maharashtra.

With over two decades of experience across global hotel brands including Hyatt, IHG, Wyndham, and Starwood, Hemant brings deep expertise in driving revenue growth, enhancing brand positioning, and building high-impact commercial strategies across competitive hospitality markets.

In his new role, he will lead the hotel’s sales and marketing initiatives, focusing on revenue performance, strategic partnerships, and optimising the business mix to strengthen leisure demand. Hemant will also align commercial efforts with the property’s long-term growth objectives.

Hemant’s background spans leisure hospitality, pre-opening strategies, and hotel positioning, having successfully boosted brand visibility and commercial performance across multiple assignments. He holds an MBA from Welingkar Institute of Management, Mumbai, and is a graduate of IHM Ahmedabad, combining strong academic credentials with hands-on industry experience.

Anil Chavan, General Manager of Novotel Imagicaa Khopoli, said, “We are delighted to welcome Hemant to Novotel Imagicaa Khopoli. His strong commercial acumen, deep understanding of leisure-driven hospitality, and proven ability to build strategic partnerships make him a valuable addition to our leadership team. As we continue to strengthen our positioning as one of the region's preferred getaway destinations, we are confident that his expertise will play a key role in driving sustained growth and enhancing our market presence.”

With this appointment, Novotel Imagicaa Khopoli aims to further enhance its commercial roadmap, reinforcing its reputation as a preferred destination for leisure travellers, corporate guests, and experiential stays.

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