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.


Hyatt Centric Juhu Appoints Bhaulal Salunke as Human Resources Manager

Hyatt Centric Juhu Appoints Bhaulal Salunke as Human Resources Manager

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on March 15, 2026

Hyatt Centric Juhu has announced the appointment of Bhaulal Salunke as its new Human Resources Manager. Bringing more than 12 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Salunke joins the hotel with strong expertise in people management, talent development, and HR operations within dynamic hotel environments.

In his new role, Salunke will lead the hotel’s human resources strategy, focusing on areas such as talent acquisition, employee engagement, training and development, and building a workplace culture that reflects Hyatt’s global ethos of care.

Salunke began his career in hospitality through operational roles that involved extensive interaction with teams and people management responsibilities. Over time, he moved into leadership roles where he developed strong capabilities in workforce planning, team leadership, and organisational development.

His interest in supporting people growth eventually led him to specialise in human resources, where he has gained experience across recruitment, performance management, training initiatives, and employee engagement programmes.

Salunke holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Human Resources Administration. His academic background, combined with practical industry experience, has helped him develop a strategic understanding of HR practices within the hospitality sector.

One of the notable aspects of his career has been his involvement in several hotel pre-opening projects across Maharashtra. During these assignments, he played a key role in building teams, setting up HR processes, and shaping organisational culture. His experience includes contributing to the successful pre-openings of Hyatt Place Aurangabad Airport, Enrise by Sayaji Aurangabad, The Fern Igatpuri, The Fern Panchgani, and The Fern Residency Satara.

Speaking about his appointment, Salunke said,

“Hospitality is ultimately about people. Having worked closely with operational teams for many years, I understand the passion and dedication that hospitality demands. At Hyatt Centric Juhu, my focus will be on creating a workplace where colleagues feel supported, recognised and empowered to grow, because when people feel valued, they naturally deliver exceptional guest experiences.”

With his experience in hospitality HR and a people-focused leadership approach, Salunke is expected to further strengthen the employee experience and workplace culture at Hyatt Centric Juhu.


ibis Styles Mysuru Appoints Zenith U as Operations Manager

ibis Styles Mysuru Appoints Zenith U as Operations Manager

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on March 13, 2026

ibis Styles Mysuru has announced the appointment of Zenith U as its new Operations Manager. With more than a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, he brings extensive knowledge in operations management, guest experience enhancement, and team leadership across Premium, Midscale, and Economy hotel segments.

Zenith began his hospitality career over ten years ago and has since held several key roles with leading international hotel brands. Throughout his career, he has focused on improving operational efficiency while maintaining high standards of guest service.

Before joining ibis Styles Mysuru, he served as Rooms Division Manager at Grand Mercure Bangalore. In that role, he worked closely on strengthening operational processes, supporting sustainability initiatives, ensuring health and safety compliance, and continuously improving guest satisfaction. His dedication to service excellence and leadership has earned him several recognitions, including the titles of Manager of the Year and Best Personality in the Rooms category.

Zenith holds a degree in Maritime Hospitality Studies and has also completed certifications in bartending and maritime safety, adding to his diverse professional background.

Speaking about his new role, Zenith said,

“I am truly excited to begin this new chapter at ibis Styles Mysuru. I look forward to collaborating with the team to deliver seamless operations and memorable guest experiences that reflect the brand’s vibrant spirit.”

Outside of work, Zenith enjoys travelling and exploring different cultures. A fitness enthusiast, he also values staying active and spending quality time with his family. With his experience and people-focused leadership approach, ibis Styles Mysuru aims to further strengthen its operations and enhance the overall guest experience.


JW Marriott Bengaluru Appoints Chef Shubham Dhar as Sous Chef at UNO Izakaya

JW Marriott Bengaluru Appoints Chef Shubham Dhar as Sous Chef at UNO Izakaya

By Hariharan U

Published on March 12, 2026

JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru has added a strong culinary voice to UNO Izakaya with the appointment of Chef Shubham Dhar as Sous Chef at the hotel's acclaimed Japanese Bar and Lounge.

Chef Dhar brings over seven years of fine-dining and luxury kitchen experience to the role, a career that has taken him across India, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, and through some genuinely impressive establishments along the way. His expertise sits firmly in Japanese cuisine, with particular depth in sushi, sashimi, and omakase-style cooking the kind of technical mastery that takes years to develop and is immediately felt in the quality of what lands on the plate.

His international experience is equally compelling. Most recently serving as Head Sushi Chef, Chef Dhar has been part of notable pre-opening projects including NOZOMI in Riyadh and La Mer at Sindalah Island, NEOM, Saudi Arabia two high-profile openings that demand both precision and the ability to build something from scratch. In India, his resume includes time at The Oberoi Bengaluru, ITC Gardenia, and The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, a strong set of names that reflect his standing within the industry.

Gaurav Sinha, Hotel Manager at JW Marriott Hotel Bengaluru, welcomed the appointment, "Chef Shubham Dhar brings exceptional technical skill and international experience to UNO Izakaya. His expertise will play a vital role in ensuring the restaurant continues to offer high-quality, authentic Japanese cuisine, reinforcing its reputation as one of Bengaluru's premier dining destinations."

In his new role, Chef Dhar will focus on menu execution, culinary consistency, and supporting the kitchen team in delivering the high standards UNO Izakaya is known for. For a restaurant that has built a loyal following among Bengaluru's Japanese cuisine enthusiasts, this is a well-timed and well-considered appointment

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