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.


Fairfield by Marriott Mumbai Andheri West Appoints Chef Sohail Karimi as Executive Chef

Fairfield by Marriott Mumbai Andheri West Appoints Chef Sohail Karimi as Executive Chef

By Hariharan U

Published on September 2, 2026

Fairfield by Marriott Mumbai Andheri West has announced the appointment of Chef Sohail Karimi as Executive Chef, strengthening its culinary leadership with a hospitality professional who brings more than 21 years of experience across leading hotel groups.

Chef Sohail's career spans renowned hospitality organisations including IHCL, Marriott International, IHG, and Radisson, where he has developed extensive expertise across culinary operations and guest-focused dining. His experience includes fine dining, banquet operations, menu development, and culinary concept creation, with a focus on combining consistency, creativity and quality.

In his new role, Chef Sohail will oversee the culinary operations at Fairfield by Marriott Mumbai Andheri West, including menu development, kitchen operations and culinary innovation. He will also work closely with the hotel's culinary team to introduce new concepts and create engaging dining experiences for guests.

Speaking about his appointment, Chef Sohail Karimi, Executive Chef, Fairfield by Marriott Mumbai Andheri West, said, "Food has always been a powerful way to bring people together and create lasting memories. I am excited to be part of Fairfield by Marriott Mumbai Andheri West and look forward to creating distinctive culinary experiences that celebrate great flavours, creativity, and quality. I am also eager to work closely with the team to introduce new ideas and experiences that delight our guests."

Chef Sohail's appointment comes as Fairfield by Marriott Mumbai Andheri West continues to focus on strengthening its culinary offering and creating contemporary dining experiences for both leisure and business travellers.

With his extensive industry experience and focus on culinary creativity, Chef Sohail is expected to bring fresh perspectives to the property's food and beverage operations while supporting the hotel's commitment to warm and consistent hospitality


Mohamed Mansour Appointed General Manager of OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi and OBLU SELECT Lobigili

Mohamed Mansour Appointed General Manager of OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi and OBLU SELECT Lobigili

By Hariharan U

Published on September 2, 2026

Atmosphere Core has announced the appointment of Mohamed Mansour as General Manager of OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi and OBLU SELECT Lobigili, strengthening the leadership of the two resorts within its COLOURS OF OBLU portfolio in the Maldives.

With more than 21 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Mansour brings extensive operational expertise and a strong focus on guest experience and team leadership to his new role.

Mansour began his career in Front Office before progressing through the Room Division, building experience across hotel operations, service delivery, guest relations and team management. Over the course of his career, he has held leadership positions with international hospitality groups and gained experience across diverse properties, markets and operational environments.

Known for his hands-on leadership style and people-focused approach, Mansour combines operational discipline with an emphasis on developing teams and creating memorable guest experiences.

In his new position, he will oversee the day-to-day operations of OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi and OBLU SELECT Lobigili, while supporting the continued growth and distinct positioning of both island resorts.

Commenting on his appointment, Mohamed Mansour, General Manager, OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi & OBLU SELECT Lobigili, said, “We put people at the heart of everything we do. True leadership transforms challenges into opportunities and teams into families, all while delivering extraordinary guest experiences.”

Ashwin Handa, Chief Operating Officer, Atmosphere Core, said that Mansour's appointment comes at an important stage for both resorts, which have established distinct identities and dynamic operations.

He added that Mansour's experience in leading resort operations, together with his focus on people and service, would be an asset to both teams.

The appointment adds to Atmosphere Core's leadership strength as the hospitality group continues to expand its portfolio across South Asia and international markets.

Atmosphere Core currently operates nine resorts in the Maldives and one heritage hotel in India, while its development pipeline includes hotels and resorts across several destinations in India, along with projects in Italy, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

About Atmosphere Core:

Atmosphere Core is a hospitality group with a portfolio spanning THE OZEN COLLECTION, COLOURS OF OBLU, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts, and ONE Atmosphere. The group focuses on destination-led hospitality, sustainable stays and guest experiences built around its founding ethos of Joy of Giving


Chef Mohamed Galhoum to Lead Culinary Repositioning of Colony Clubhouse & Grill

Chef Mohamed Galhoum to Lead Culinary Repositioning of Colony Clubhouse & Grill

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 29, 2026

Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty is preparing a new chapter for Colony Clubhouse & Grill with the appointment of Chef Mohamed Galhoum, who will lead the culinary repositioning of the hotel's celebrated dining destination.

Chef Mohamed brings 9 years and 8 months of experience across luxury hospitality kitchens in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. His career includes roles at leading properties such as Andaz The Palm, The Meydan Hotel, Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort and Sheraton Jeddah, where he gained experience across restaurants, banquets and à la carte operations.

Currently serving as Sous Chef at Andaz The Palm in Dubai, Chef Mohamed has worked across Arabic, Mediterranean and international cuisine. His experience also covers menu planning, recipe development, food cost management, quality assurance and kitchen team leadership.

He has also been involved in pre-opening restaurant operations, production planning and recipe standardisation, giving him experience across both the creative and operational sides of running a culinary destination.

With his appointment, Colony Clubhouse & Grill is set to introduce a refreshed culinary identity while holding on to its warm and relaxed character. The new direction will focus on a more considered menu, combining strong culinary foundations with contemporary interpretations and quality ingredients.

The repositioning will also look beyond the menu to the overall dining experience. The restaurant aims to create a setting that works equally well for relaxed get-togethers, leisurely meals and memorable evenings by the waterfront.

The move is part of Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty's ongoing efforts to develop its culinary offerings and create distinctive experiences for both local diners and hotel guests.

As Chef Mohamed and his team begin shaping the restaurant's next phase, Colony Clubhouse & Grill is expected to bring together its familiar hospitality with a fresh culinary perspective, with the new experience set to unfold in the coming months.

Chef Mohamed Galhoum is a culinary professional with 9 years and 8 months of experience across luxury hotel kitchens in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. His expertise includes Arabic, Mediterranean and international cuisine, along with kitchen operations, menu development, team leadership, food cost management, quality assurance and pre-opening restaurant operations.

He has held culinary positions at Andaz The Palm, The Meydan Hotel, Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort, Sheraton Jeddah and other hospitality establishments across the region.

Stay up-to-date with the latest Hospitality news and trends in the Hospitality industry!

Subscribe to Hospitality news e-magazine for free and never miss an issue.

By clicking subscribe for free you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.

Advertise With Us

We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc.