Sun Siyam Resorts promotes Ahmed Naufal to group director of business development

Sun Siyam Resorts promotes Ahmed Naufal to group director of business development

By Author

Published on March 10, 2025

Sun Siyam Resorts has announced the promotion of Ahmed Naufal to Group Director of Business Development, effective immediately. Having previously served as the Group Director of Sales & Marketing, Naufal’s outstanding performance and strategic leadership have earned him this expanded role. In his new position, he will spearhead key initiatives aimed at fostering long-term growth and strengthening Sun Siyam Resorts’ market presence. Working closely with cross-functional teams, Naufal will develop innovative strategies, enhance operational efficiencies, and support the company’s expansion into new markets while reinforcing the brand’s presence across its luxury properties in the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

Deepak Booneady, CEO of Sun Siyam Resorts, expressed his confidence in Naufal’s leadership, stating, "We are proud to promote Naufal, whose passion and strategic vision have significantly contributed to the success of our resorts. His leadership and deep understanding of the hospitality industry make him the perfect fit to guide us through the next phase of our growth. We are excited about the future under his actions, and confident his expertise will continue to take Sun Siyam Resorts to new heights."

Naufal began his journey with Sun Siyam Resorts in 2021 as Director of Sales & Marketing at Sun Siyam Olhuveli, where he quickly demonstrated his ability to drive business success. His exceptional contributions led to his promotion as Cluster Director of Sales & Marketing in 2023, overseeing sales activities across multiple key resorts. By early 2024, he advanced to Group Director of Sales & Marketing, managing the sales strategy for Sun Siyam Resorts’ six properties in the Maldives and Sri Lanka. His 18-year career in the hospitality industry includes leadership roles at prestigious resorts such as One&Only Kanuhura, Baros Maldives, and Raffles Maldives Meradhoo.

A seasoned professional, Naufal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Tourism Management from the Maldives National University and has further honed his expertise with courses in Business Strategy and Revenue Management from Cornell University.

Since launching its first resort, Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, in 1998, Sun Siyam Resorts has expanded its portfolio to include six private-island properties, with its latest addition, Siyam World, opening in October 2021. The collection features one four-star resort, Sun Siyam Olhuveli, and four five-star properties in the Maldives—Sun Siyam Iru Fushi, Sun Siyam Iru Veli, Sun Siyam Vilu Reef, and Siyam World—along with a boutique beach retreat in Sri Lanka, Sun Siyam Pasikudah. Each resort embodies the warmth of Maldivian hospitality, offering bespoke island and underwater experiences, from international chef residencies to ocean adventures. Sun Siyam Resorts is owned and managed by the Sun Siyam Group, a privately-owned company founded in 1990 by visionary entrepreneur Ahmed Siyam Mohamed.

For more information, visit www.sunsiyam.com or follow Sun Siyam Resorts on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.


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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