Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty has appointed Rahul Chaudhary as Director of Operations, reinforcing its leadership team as the waterfront property continues to strengthen its positioning as a leading luxury urban resort in South India.

In his new role, Rahul will oversee daily hotel operations, collaborating across departments to elevate guest experiences, streamline operational efficiencies and support growth across leisure, MICE and culinary segments. His mandate includes enhancing service delivery standards while ensuring consistent performance across key business verticals.

With over 20 years of experience in premium and luxury hospitality, Rahul brings strong operational depth across both resort and city hotel environments. A Hotel Management graduate from the Asia Pacific Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, he began his hospitality journey in 2007 and has since developed expertise in food and beverage operations, large-scale events and multi-departmental leadership.

Rahul started his career with Hyatt in 2010 at Grand Hyatt Goa and went on to hold key positions at Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa and Park Hyatt Hyderabad. Across these assignments, he contributed to strengthening operational consistency, enhancing service benchmarks and managing high-profile dining and event experiences.

He has also served in senior operational roles at Conrad Pune and The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake, where he managed diverse business segments while balancing guest satisfaction, team engagement and commercial performance.

Known for his grounded and people-first leadership style, Rahul believes that empowered teams and thoughtful execution form the foundation of great hospitality, an approach influenced by his upbringing in Rajasthan and a family background rooted in education and agriculture.

With this appointment, Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty continues to invest in experienced leadership as it builds on its reputation for elevated service, distinctive dining and large-format events in Kerala’s growing luxury hospitality market.

Varel Singapore, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel has announced the appointment of Andy Tan as General Manager as the design-led lifestyle property prepares for its opening in April 2026 in the Selegie–Mount Sophia precinct. The 128-room boutique hotel, positioned as the Southeast Asia flagship of Tribute Portfolio by Marriott International, marks a significant milestone for the brand in the region.

Andy brings more than three decades of hospitality and travel experience, combining operational leadership with commercial strategy. He will oversee the hotel’s pre-opening phase, including team building, service culture development, brand alignment and go-to-market planning across key segments and distribution channels, with a strong emphasis on people development and guest experience delivery.

Conceived as an “urban oasis” rooted in neighbourhood connection and creative energy, Varel Singapore aims to establish a distinctive presence within Singapore’s boutique hospitality landscape. Under Andy’s leadership, the hotel will focus on disciplined commercial execution while delivering experiences aligned with Tribute Portfolio’s “Stay with Character” ethos and Sincere Service philosophy.

Over the course of his career, Andy has held senior regional and global roles across Asia Pacific and Europe with leading hospitality groups such as Millennium Hotels & Resorts, Pan Pacific Hotels Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. His expertise spans hotels, serviced residences, lifestyle concepts, food and beverage operations, strategic partnerships and B2B and B2C distribution. Most recently, he served in a senior leadership role at Millennium Hotels & Resorts, supporting commercial performance and operational alignment across its global portfolio.

Beyond his executive responsibilities, Andy serves on the Board of Directors of the Employment and Employability Institute and contributes to the Sustainability and Technical Committees of the Singapore Hotel Association, advancing workforce development and operational excellence across the sector. He holds a Master’s degree in International Hospitality & Service Management from Glion Institute of Higher Education and is fluent in English, Mandarin, Thai, Malay and several Chinese dialects.

“I am honoured to join Varel Singapore at such an exciting stage of its journey. This is a unique opportunity to build a distinctive, people-centred hotel that celebrates design, culture, community and authentic hospitality. I look forward to working with the team to create a destination that resonates with both local and international guests,” said Andy.

Located at 189 Selegie Road, the hotel will be within walking distance of Little India, Rochor, Bencoolen and Dhoby Ghaut MRT stations, reinforcing its connectivity within the city.

India’s organised retail landscape is steadily moving beyond transactional shopping towards experience-driven destinations where dining, entertainment and social engagement take centre stage. In 2025, retail leasing across major cities touched approximately 8.9 million sq. ft., among the strongest performances in recent years. While fashion brands accounted for nearly 48% of leasing demand, food and beverage made up about 13% and entertainment close to 8%, underlining the growing weight of experiential formats. Across north India, several prominent malls and high streets reflect this transition.

Ambience Mall, located on NH-48 along the Delhi–Gurugram border, remains one of NCR’s largest retail destinations. Opened in 2007 and spanning nearly 1.8 million sq. ft., it houses over 200 outlets alongside multiplex and dining options, positioning itself as a combined retail and leisure hub. Similarly, Ambience Mall continues to anchor organised retail in south Delhi with its expansive brand mix, entertainment zones and established food offerings.

In west Delhi, Vegas Mall caters to a catchment of over one million residents, blending fashion retail with gaming zones and a multiplex to drive longer visits. Gurugram’s Reach 3Roads adopts an open-air, pedestrian-friendly high street design along the fast-growing SPR corridor, prioritising community interaction over enclosed formats.

Beyond NCR, CP67 integrates retail, office and entertainment in a mixed-use layout along Airport Road, reflecting tier-two market ambitions. In new residential belts of Gurugram, Felix Plaza is planned with over 150 outlets and leisure zones, while SPJ Vedatam introduces organised retail infrastructure into the dense Old Gurugram neighbourhood.

Collectively, these projects underline how India’s malls are increasingly designed as lifestyle ecosystems where visitors come not only to shop, but to dine, socialise and spend time