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.


JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Appoints Utami Indah Dewi as Director of Spa & Recreation

JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Appoints Utami Indah Dewi as Director of Spa & Recreation

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on January 31, 2026

JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort & Spa has announced the appointment of Utami Indah Dewi as Director of Spa & Recreation. In her new role, Dewi will lead the vision, strategy, and daily operations of the resort’s spa, wellness, fitness, and recreational offerings, further strengthening its position as a destination for holistic luxury and well-being.

Dewi will be responsible for enhancing guest engagement, driving financial performance, nurturing high-performing teams, and continuously evolving the resort’s wellness ecosystem in line with global luxury and wellness trends.

With over a decade of international experience in luxury hospitality, Dewi brings a global perspective shaped by her work across the Maldives, the Middle East, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Her professional journey from spa therapist to senior leadership roles reflects a strong hands-on understanding of spa operations, combined with commercial insight and people leadership.

She has previously held leadership positions with several globally respected hospitality brands, including One&Only The Palm, Dubai; Hilton; Waldorf Astoria; Fairmont; and Sun Siyam Resorts. Her expertise includes managing large multi-treatment-room spas, curating and launching innovative wellness menus, leading diverse therapist and front-office teams, and maintaining high standards of health, safety, and hygiene.

Trained in Ayurveda, Dewi also holds a diploma in spa therapy along with multiple leadership and wellness certifications, further strengthening her holistic approach to wellness management.

Commenting on the appointment, Ronan Fearon, General Manager, JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort & Spa, said, “Wellness is one of the key pillars of the property’s philosophy, and Utami’s extensive global exposure, combined with her deep understanding of holistic spa and recreation operations, makes her an invaluable addition to our leadership team. We are confident that under her guidance, our wellness offerings will continue to evolve delivering thoughtful, immersive experiences that resonate with today’s discerning luxury traveller and reinforce our commitment to mindful living.”


Somrup Chanda Appointed General Manager at Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata

Somrup Chanda Appointed General Manager at Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on January 29, 2026

Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata has announced the appointment of Somrup Chanda as its General Manager, effective 09 January 2026. The appointment marks a significant step as the property looks to strengthen its leadership and operational excellence.

Somrup Chanda brings with him over two decades of rich and diverse experience in the hospitality industry, having worked with leading hotel brands across India and the Middle East. His professional expertise spans hotel operations, revenue maximization, marketing, customer experience, and pre-opening projects.

He began his hospitality journey with Hyatt in Food and Beverage and steadily progressed through renowned brands such as Grand Hyatt, Park Hyatt, and Hyatt Regency. His career with Marriott International includes playing a key role in launching India’s first Sheraton Grand. He also contributed significantly to the pre-opening and rebranding of Indore Marriott Hotel, where several award-winning concepts were introduced to the market.

Somrup’s professional journey further includes leadership roles with Accor in Kolkata and IHG in Abu Dhabi, adding global exposure to his profile before his return to India.

In 2023, he took on the role of Director of Operations at Bangalore Marriott Hotel Whitefield. During his tenure, he successfully stabilized operations, improved guest satisfaction levels, enhanced revenue performance, and positioned the hotel as Karnataka’s largest single-branded property.

With his extensive experience and people-focused leadership style, Somrup Chanda is expected to drive operational efficiency and guest-centric growth at Fairfield by Marriott Kolkata.


Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel Elevates RaviTeja Yenumula to Director of Sales and Marketing

Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel Elevates RaviTeja Yenumula to Director of Sales and Marketing

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on January 29, 2026

Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel has announced the promotion of RaviTeja Yenumula to Director of Sales and Marketing. In his expanded role, he will lead the hotel’s comprehensive commercial strategy, with a strong focus on driving revenue growth through integrated sales, marketing, and customer success initiatives.

With over 11 years of experience in the hospitality industry, RaviTeja brings deep expertise in commercial strategy and MICE operations. His career spans managing MICE-focused, corporate, and airport hotels, supported by a consistent record of delivering strong commercial performance.

RaviTeja joined Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel in June 2024 as Director of Sales. During this period, he played a key role in improving the hotel’s top-line performance through proactive sales strategies, reservation optimisation, and detailed market analysis.

Prior to joining Sheraton Hyderabad Hotel and Marriott International, RaviTeja served as Director of Sales at Accor from January 2023 to June 2024, where he also completed the Global Leadership Programme, Professional Leaders category. His professional journey also includes significant roles with The Oberoi Group and various leadership positions within Accor.

Speaking on his elevation, RaviTeja Yenumula said,

“I am thrilled to take on this role at Sheraton Hyderabad, where I can harness my passion for technology and customer success to enhance our commercial excellence. My goal is to empower our team through effective decision-making and by adopting cutting-edge tools provided by Marriott International.”

RaviTeja holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering and began his professional career as a software developer before transitioning into the hospitality industry. Outside of work, he enjoys travelling and exploring new technology.

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