Regency College Marks 31st Annual Awards with Industry Icons and Celebratory Honors

Regency College Marks 31st Annual Awards with Industry Icons and Celebratory Honors

By Nishang Narayan

Published on May 28, 2025

Regency College of Culinary Arts & Hotel Management, one of India's premier hospitality institutions, celebrated its 31st Regency Annual Awards Ceremony on 24th May 2025 at the T-Hub Auditorium with grandeur and pride. The event was a spirited blend of celebration, recognition, and inspiration from some of the most esteemed names in the industry.

Gracing the occasion as Chief Guest was the legendary Chef Manjit Singh Gill, President of the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations (IFCA). He was joined by distinguished Guests of Honor—Chef Vijaya Baskaran (General Secretary, IFCA), Mr. Eleazer Prakash (General Manager – Fairfield by Marriott), and Mr. Kumar Manish (Vice President – Royal Orchid Hotels). Together, they brought immense energy and pride to the celebration.

The event opened with a warm welcome by Ms. Uma Bala, Head of Department, followed by the felicitation of the dignitaries. Principal Mr. P. Ramesh Kumar Reddy presented the Annual Report, spotlighting the college’s ongoing innovations, academic accomplishments, and contributions to the hospitality sector.

Honoring Excellence: Regency Leadership Awards 2024–25

One of the major highlights was the Regency Leadership Awards, designed to honor individuals for their lasting impact on the hospitality industry.

Lifetime Achievement Award:
Chef Manjit Singh Gill was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his unparalleled contributions to Indian culinary arts and his efforts in shaping the future of the hospitality landscape. In his keynote address, he urged students to embrace culinary sustainability and cultural preservation while becoming responsible global professionals.

Grand Regent Award (For Hotel Managers and Area Directors):

  • Mr. Eleazer Prakash – GM, Fairfield by Marriott

  • Chef Vijaya Baskaran – General Secretary, IFCA

  • Chef Madhusudan Gupta – Treasurer, IFCA

  • Chef Sudhir Sibal – Executive Board Member, IFCA

  • Chef Nimish Bhatia – Indian Cuisine Project Lead, IFCA

  • Chef Amey Marathe – Vice President, TCA / Board of Adviser, IFCA

Elite Regent Award (For Department Heads & HR Excellence):

  • Mr. B. Hema Kumar – Head, HR, ITC Kakatiya

  • Mr. Arunit Banerjee – Head, HR, ITC Kohenur

  • Mr. Himanshu Barola – Strategic Adviser, IFCA

  • Chef Reetika Gill – Founder, Eco Green

  • Chef Sathiyaseelan – Sr. Zonal Manager, VRB Consumer Products Pvt. Ltd.

Star Regent Award (Outstanding Alumni Recognition):

  • Mr. Kumar Manish – Vice President, Royal Orchid Hotels

  • Mr. Syed Azhar Ullah – EAM, Lemon Tree Banjara Hills

  • Mr. Y. Abhilash – Director, Ancient Stone Flames

  • Mr. Ashok Manga – Executive Chef, Fairfield by Marriott

Student Achievements and Magazine Launch

Chairman Md. Fathe Khaleq commended the institution for building a rich legacy and continuing to inspire young professionals. The release of the college’s annual magazine ECHO, commemorating 31 years of excellence, was met with applause and appreciation.

Students were also awarded for excellence in various categories including merit, Industrial Exposure Training, hospitality skills, culinary arts, mixology, flower arrangement, and national-level competitions. Medals and certificates recognized their dedication and consistent performance.

In his concluding remarks, Principal Reddy emphasized the role of modern training methods and AI integration in transforming hospitality education. He proudly noted Regency’s impressive 98% placement rate and affirmed the college’s mission to stay future-ready.

“As hospitality evolves rapidly with digital and global influences, Regency remains committed to equipping students with the skills and mindset to lead and thrive in this exciting industry,” he said.


Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad Appoints Chef Jogarao Pujari as Executive Chef

Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad Appoints Chef Jogarao Pujari as Executive Chef

By Hariharan U

Published on November 14, 2026

Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad has appointed Chef Jogarao Pujari as its new Executive Chef, bringing an experienced culinary professional with over 18 years of industry experience to lead its food and beverage operations.

In his new role, Chef Jogarao will oversee culinary operations across the hotel's food and beverage outlets, with responsibilities spanning menu planning and development, new culinary concepts, food quality and presentation. He will also lead and mentor the kitchen team while focusing on operational efficiency and guest dining experiences.

His career includes associations with several hospitality brands, including Four Points by Sheraton Visakhapatnam, Radisson Blu Plaza Hyderabad, Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre and HICC, The Raintree Hotels Chennai, and Hotel Marine Plaza Mumbai.

He also brings international experience from a four-year association with Costa Cruise Lines, Italy, where he gained exposure to cruise culinary operations. In the corporate food service segment, he has worked with Sodexo India Services, most recently serving as Executive Chef for its Deloitte account in Hyderabad.

A specialist in banquet operations and large-scale catering, Chef Jogarao has managed events serving up to 100,000 guests, including major corporate engagements and prestigious occasions. His experience across diverse cuisines and high-volume food service environments adds to his operational and culinary expertise.

Beyond professional kitchens, Chef Jogarao is also familiar to Telugu-speaking audiences through his television appearances. He has hosted more than 600 live cooking shows on ETV Abhiruchi, sharing his culinary knowledge and passion for non-vegetarian cuisine with viewers across the Telugu-speaking states.

His appointment brings together experience in hotel kitchens, cruise operations, corporate catering and television, as he takes charge of the culinary function at Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad.

About Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad

Fairfield by Marriott Hyderabad offers contemporary accommodation and hospitality services for business travellers, with a focus on comfortable stays, thoughtful amenities and convenient dining options. The property follows the Fairfield brand's approach to simplicity, comfort and welcoming service.


Pramod Kumar Joins Anya Hotel as Housekeeping Manager

Pramod Kumar Joins Anya Hotel as Housekeeping Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on November 13, 2026

Anya Hotel has appointed Pramod Kumar as its new Housekeeping Manager, strengthening the hotel's housekeeping leadership with an experienced hospitality professional. Kumar joined the property on November 11, 2026, bringing 19 years of experience in housekeeping operations across reputed hotel brands.

His professional experience includes associations with Radisson, Marriott, Hilton, ITC Hotels, The Park Hotels and Westin. Most recently, he was associated with Radisson Individuals in Gopalpur, Odisha.

Over the course of his career, Kumar has developed expertise in housekeeping operations management, budgeting, cost control, quality assurance, guest satisfaction, team leadership and departmental coordination. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing housekeeping operations and maintaining the hotel's standards of cleanliness, service quality and guest comfort.

Kumar also brings strong communication, problem-solving, teamwork and time-management skills to the position. His approach combines operational efficiency with a focus on maintaining quality and working collaboratively with colleagues across departments.

Outside work, he enjoys listening to music, practising yoga and swimming. His personal philosophy is summed up in a simple belief: “Work is worship.”

With his experience across multiple hospitality brands and a background in managing housekeeping functions, Kumar's appointment adds to Anya Hotel's focus on operational consistency and guest satisfaction.


Priyanka Gandhi Appointed Director of Guest Experiences at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar

Priyanka Gandhi Appointed Director of Guest Experiences at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on November 13, 2026

JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar has appointed Priyanka Gandhi as Director of Guest Experiences, strengthening its focus on personalised service, guest satisfaction, and associate development.

With over two decades of experience across hospitality, aviation, food service, and education, Priyanka brings a strong understanding of customer experience, service culture, and people development. Throughout her career, she has focused on improving service standards and helping teams create meaningful interactions with guests.

In her new role, Priyanka will oversee key areas such as personalisation, service excellence, service recovery, relationship building, and associate development. She will also lead learning and performance initiatives to maintain consistency across the guest journey while supporting the hotel's wider business objectives.

Before joining JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, Priyanka held leadership positions across customer experience, learning, quality, and training at several organisations, including Foodlink F&B Holdings, Artium Academy, Air India, Go First, The St. Regis Mumbai, Jet Airways, and Kingfisher Airlines.

She is also a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, with expertise in instructional design, quality assurance, service audits, and process improvement. Her experience across different service sectors adds to her understanding of guest expectations and team performance.

Commenting on her appointment, Priyanka Gandhi said, "Every guest interaction is an opportunity to create a connection that goes beyond the service itself. I believe exceptional experiences begin with empowered people who have the right skills, mindset, and confidence to make a difference. I look forward to working with the team at JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar to build on its strong culture of service and create experiences that guests remember long after their stay."

Priyanka's appointment further strengthens JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar's commitment to delivering thoughtful, personalised, and consistent guest experiences.

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