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By Manu Vardhan Kannan
Published on May 15, 2026
The Access Group, one of the leading global providers of business management software, has announced the appointment of Shashikant Shimpi (Shashi) as Managing Director, India, for its Hospitality Division. The move marks an important step in the company’s APAC growth plans, with India being seen as a key market for both business expansion and technology development.
Shashi joined the company in May 2026 and will oversee The Access Group’s India operations. His role will focus on strengthening growth opportunities for STAAH, an Access company and one of the region’s hospitality technology platforms, while also supporting wider technology and innovation goals across APAC.
Bringing over 25 years of experience, Shashi has built a strong career in digital transformation, business growth, and client success. Over the years, he has established three Global Capability Centres from the ground up, scaling each to teams of more than a thousand professionals across multiple locations. Before joining The Access Group, he served as Global COO at RunDTC and also held leadership roles at Dentsu, Isobar, and Tata group companies.
Known for driving large-scale growth and creating long-term value, Shashi has experience in strategic planning, P&L management, and expanding businesses through both organic and inorganic growth. He was also recognised as Business Leader of the Year by the World Leadership Congress.
India continues to emerge as one of the fastest-growing travel and tourism markets globally. With both independent and chain hotels increasingly adopting modern technology to improve revenue management, distribution, and guest experiences, the company sees significant opportunity in the market. Through STAAH, The Access Group already has an established presence among hoteliers in India and plans to build further on that foundation with broader technology offerings.
Apart from market growth, India’s strong technology ecosystem and increasing expertise in AI-related fields make it an important location for future capability building. As part of his role, Shashi will also focus on developing strong talent that contributes to the division’s product and technology goals.
“India is an exciting near term growth market for us in the accommodation software space. Through STAAH, an Access company, we already have a substantial footprint with hoteliers across the country, and as we prepare to bring Access Evo to India, our AI-powered platform that empowers hospitality businesses to focus on what truly matters, from answering the biggest strategic questions to completing everyday tasks, having world-class leadership on the ground is critical. Shashi is exactly the right person to lead The Access Group in India," said Louise Daley, Head of Hospitality APAC, The Access Group.
Commenting on his appointment, Shashikant Shimpi, Managing Director, India, The Access Group, said, "Joining The Access Group at this point in its India journey is a tremendous opportunity. We have a strong foundation through STAAH, an Access company, and the broader Access platform opens up possibilities that support even greater options for our customers to grow their businesses and support their employees to do more. My priority will be to build a team that is deeply connected to The Access Group's mission, bring in the best talent India has to offer, and ensure our customers across the region have a technology partner they can genuinely rely on."
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By Hariharan U
Published on June 4, 2026
Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences has announced the promotion of Gaurav Bisht as Assistant Director of Food & Beverage, recognizing his contributions to the property’s dining operations and guest experience initiatives over the years.
In his new role, Gaurav will oversee food and beverage operations across the hotel, including guest experience programmes, revenue generation strategies, dining outlet performance, event services, and team development initiatives.
With more than a decade of experience in the hospitality industry, Gaurav has built a strong track record in operational leadership, customer engagement, and strategic planning. His promotion reflects the hotel’s confidence in his ability to drive operational excellence while enhancing the overall dining experience for guests.
Prior to his elevation, Gaurav served as Food & Beverage Manager at Hyatt Regency Pune, where he played an instrumental role in improving guest satisfaction, introducing innovative dining concepts, and supporting revenue growth through successful promotional campaigns and events.
His journey with the property has included several key leadership positions, including Assistant Food & Beverage Manager and Restaurant & Bar Manager. Throughout these roles, he led numerous initiatives focused on staff development, sales strategy implementation, operational efficiency, cost optimisation, and service excellence.
Known for his hands-on leadership approach, Gaurav has consistently balanced operational performance with a strong focus on guest-centric hospitality. His efforts have contributed significantly to the continued growth and reputation of Hyatt Regency Pune’s food and beverage division.
Before joining Hyatt Regency Pune, Gaurav gained valuable industry experience with leading hospitality brands, including Marriott International’s The Westin Gurgaon and The Grand, New Delhi. These assignments provided him with exposure to luxury hospitality operations, large-scale event management, and premium guest service standards.
Over the course of his career, Gaurav has received multiple “Best Employee” recognitions and has successfully managed large-scale hospitality events serving more than 500 guests during peak meal periods. His achievements highlight his expertise in operational planning, team leadership, and guest engagement.
Gaurav holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality and Hotel Administration from the Delhi Institute of Hotel Management. In his new role, he aims to further strengthen the hotel’s food and beverage offerings while continuing to cultivate a culture of service excellence, innovation, and guest satisfaction.
The promotion reinforces Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences’ commitment to nurturing internal talent and empowering hospitality professionals to take on leadership roles within the organisation
Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, has announced the promotion of Ganesha B as Director of Human Resources. The appointment highlights the hotel’s commitment to developing talent from within and fostering long-term career growth opportunities for its team members.
Having built his career steadily within the property, Ganesha’s promotion reflects his valuable contributions towards creating a people-focused workplace culture centred on employee engagement, inclusion, and professional development.
Prior to this role, Ganesha served as Human Resources Manager at the hotel, where he played a key role in leading employee engagement programmes, supporting team member wellbeing initiatives, and promoting an inclusive work environment. His expertise in statutory compliance and human resource operations has also seen him contribute to HR initiatives across other IHG hotels in the region.
Commenting on the promotion, Shiv Bose, General Manager, Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse, said, “Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse is focused on creating a culture where individuals are encouraged to learn and grow. Ganesha’s elevation reinforces this commitment that dedication and perseverance is valued. We look forward to seeing him grow with IHG and achieve the yardstick of success.”
Sharing his thoughts on the new role, Ganesha B, Director of Human Resources, Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse, said, “I am excited to take on this new role and continue my professional journey with Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work alongside incredible teams, and I look forward to further fostering an inclusive, supportive, and motivating environment where individuals can grow and succeed together.”
With this promotion, Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse continues to strengthen its focus on recognising internal talent and building a workplace culture where employees are encouraged to develop their skills, take on leadership responsibilities, and grow within the organisation.
Published on June 3, 2026
The Access Group has announced the appointment of Saurabh Gupta as Head of Customer Success, APAC, marking a strategic move to strengthen its customer experience and post-sales leadership across the Asia-Pacific region. Based in Mumbai, he joined the company in May 2026 and will oversee end-to-end customer success operations for its expanding hospitality technology portfolio.
In his new role, Gupta will lead key functions including Professional Services, Onboarding, Support, and Customer Success across APAC, ensuring alignment between regional execution and the company’s global customer success strategy. His mandate focuses on helping hospitality businesses derive maximum value from The Access Group’s technology ecosystem while enabling scalable growth across markets.
Saurabh Gupta brings over 20 years of global experience in customer success and post-sales leadership. Prior to joining The Access Group, he served at BrowserStack, where he led global Customer Success, Support, Renewals, and Channel Programs across the US, Europe, and APAC. His work there focused on improving customer experience through data-driven engagement models and operational efficiency for enterprise and SMB customers.
Before BrowserStack, he spent several years at Salesforce, where he played a key role in building and scaling the India Customer Success organisation across multiple customer segments, including SMB, mid-market, and enterprise. His contributions included strengthening retention strategies and establishing scalable post-sales frameworks for the region.
Commenting on the appointment, Louise Daley, Head of Hospitality APAC at The Access Group, said Gupta’s leadership reflects the company’s commitment to customer success as a core growth driver. She highlighted his belief in customer success as a strategic engine rather than a support function, aligning with the company’s long-term vision in the region.
Saurabh Gupta, speaking on his new role, said he is excited to join The Access Group at a pivotal stage of its APAC expansion. He emphasized his focus on building proactive, knowledgeable, and customer-centric teams that not only resolve issues but actively support business growth and long-term success.
The appointment comes as hospitality businesses across India and Asia-Pacific increasingly adopt cloud-based and AI-powered solutions. The Access Group, through its hospitality platform STAAH and AI-powered Access Evo ecosystem, supports more than 30,000 properties across 90 countries, offering tools spanning channel management, booking engines, revenue management, and reputation management.
The company’s focus on strengthening customer success capabilities reflects its broader commitment to ensuring that clients receive not only advanced technology solutions but also the expertise and partnership required to drive measurable business outcomes.
About The Access Group:The Access Group is a UK-headquartered business management software provider serving over 160,000 small and mid-sized organisations across Europe, the USA, and APAC. With more than 9,700 employees, the company delivers cloud and AI-powered solutions designed to improve productivity, streamline operations, and enhance customer experience across industries.
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