The Leela Gandhinagar Welcomes Ashish Thakre as Executive Sous Chef

The Leela Gandhinagar Welcomes Ashish Thakre as Executive Sous Chef

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on April 21, 2025

The Leela Gandhinagar, known as the symbol of true Indian luxury in the twin cities of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, has announced the appointment of seasoned culinary expert Ashish Thakre as Executive Sous Chef.

With a distinguished career spanning several prestigious hospitality brands, including Accor, Taj, Marriott International, and Hyatt, Ashish Thakre brings a wealth of experience to his new role. Having worked at multiple national and international destinations, he is recognized for his innovative culinary approach, strategic kitchen management, and operational excellence. Throughout his career, he has consistently delivered memorable dining experiences, making him a valuable addition to The Leela Gandhinagar team.

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Welcoming Ashish to the team, Vikas Sood, General Manager of The Leela Gandhinagar and Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre managed by The Leela, shared, "His extensive experience, combined with his passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences, will play a key role in enhancing our F&B experiences and strengthening the complex’s position as the true Indian luxury."

Ashish Thakre’s expertise spans across food and beverage quality assurance, banquet planning, team development, and maintaining high standards of kitchen hygiene. His leadership is expected to bring fresh energy and creativity to the culinary operations at the property.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Ashish Thakre said, "It is an honour to join The Leela Gandhinagar and Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Centre. I look forward to working with the team to further enhance our culinary journey and create memorable dining experiences for our guests."

Beyond the kitchen, Ashish Thakre enjoys playing cricket, reading, and exploring new destinations through his travels.


Courtyard by Marriott Pune Hinjewadi Appoints Mayur S. Modak as Chief Engineer

Courtyard by Marriott Pune Hinjewadi Appoints Mayur S. Modak as Chief Engineer

By Hariharan U

Published on March 9, 2026

Courtyard by Marriott Pune Hinjewadi has announced the appointment of Mayur S. Modak as its new Chief Engineer, a seasoned professional with over 15 years of hands-on experience spanning hospitality, infrastructure, malls, and the chemical industry.

In his new role, Mayur will take charge of the hotel's full engineering operations, from mechanical and electrical systems to HVAC, fire safety, and water treatment. His focus will span preventive maintenance, energy conservation, sustainability initiatives, regulatory compliance, and keeping the property's safety and operational standards firmly in place.

Mayur comes with a rich and varied career behind him. Most recently, he served as Chief Engineer at Fariyas Hotel Lonavala, and before that held the same position at Courtyard by Marriott Ahmedabad. His earlier stints include key engineering leadership roles at some well-regarded names in the industry, The Orchid Hotel Pune, Renaissance Lucknow Hotel, JW Marriott Hotel Pune, Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, and JW Marriott Mumbai Juhu. It's a career that spans cities, countries, and a wide range of property types, giving him a well-rounded perspective that's hard to replicate.

Over the course of his career, Mayur has led pre-opening projects, driven cost-optimisation strategies, strengthened preventive maintenance programmes, and pushed through meaningful energy-saving initiatives, all while keeping guest satisfaction and team development at the centre of his work. His approach aligns naturally with Marriott International's brand standards, making him a fitting addition to the Courtyard Pune Hinjewadi team.

The hotel looks forward to the expertise and energy Mayur brings to the role, and the contributions he'll make to keeping the property running at its very best


Pincode Bungalow Brings Chef Kunal Kapur’s UAE-Acclaimed Format Home to India

Pincode Bungalow Brings Chef Kunal Kapur’s UAE-Acclaimed Format Home to India

By Hariharan U

Published on March 4, 2026

After establishing a strong presence in the UAE, Pincode now marks its India debut with the launch of Pincode Bungalow, the brand’s first Indian flagship by Kunal Kapur. Choosing Vagator for its layered cultural character and design-forward appeal, the chef-led concept brings its geographically inspired dining philosophy back home.

At the heart of Pincode lies a menu structured around India’s postal codes, tracing flavours from Indore’s Sarafa Bazaar and Old Delhi’s Dilli-6 to Kolkata’s cabin cafés, Champaran’s sealed-handis and coastal Tamil kitchens. Alongside crowd favourites, the kitchen spotlights dishes such as Dubki Aloo with Bedmi Poori, Nizami Handi, Nadru Kofta and Champaran Meat, using techniques like dum cooking, dhungar smoking, charcoal grilling and fermentation. Personal family recipes from Chef Kunal and Corporate Chef Sadiya Khan add a layer of memory to the mapped culinary narrative.

Set within a restored Portuguese bungalow, the space unfolds in three distinct zones. Indiroom revisits Indian breakfast traditions in collaboration with Caarabi Coffee Roasters, while Baar-Bar, developed with mixologist Mukesh Patwal, presents nostalgic cocktails paired with a dedicated chakhna menu. The design preserves the home’s original character, blending whitewashed walls and timber rafters with subtle contemporary detailing.

With Pincode Bungalow, we wanted to create a flagship that truly belongs… Three moods, one home,” said Chef Kunal Kapur, Founder & Chef.


DoubleTree by Hilton Bengaluru Airport Appoints Sanu Sadanandan as General Manager

DoubleTree by Hilton Bengaluru Airport Appoints Sanu Sadanandan as General Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on February 28, 2026

DoubleTree by Hilton Bengaluru Airport has announced the appointment of Sanu Sadanandan as General Manager, bringing more than two decades of operational and commercial leadership experience to the property. As India’s largest DoubleTree by Hilton, the hotel plays a strategic role within the brand’s national portfolio.

In his new capacity, Sadanandan will steer overall strategy and daily operations, focusing on business expansion while safeguarding the brand’s globally recognised service benchmarks. His mandate spans complete operational oversight, enhancing guest experiences, strengthening revenue performance, leading sales and marketing initiatives, and cultivating a results-driven team culture.

A seasoned hospitality professional, he brings extensive expertise in hotel operations, revenue optimisation, business development and talent management. Under his leadership, the hotel aims to reinforce its positioning as a preferred airport address by introducing innovative food and beverage offerings and advancing sustainable operating practices, while continuing to deliver DoubleTree’s signature warm hospitality.

Commenting on his appointment, Sadanandan said, “It’s an honour to lead the team at DoubleTree by Hilton Bengaluru Airport, a landmark property in Hilton’s India portfolio. We’ll prioritize seamless operations for business and transit travelers, leveraging our prime airport connectivity to boost occupancy, revenue streams, and guest satisfaction through efficient service and strategic partnerships.”

Prior to this role, he served as Head of MICE Sales at ITC Hotels in Gurugram and as General Manager at Renaissance Hotel Lucknow. His earlier assignments include Director of Operations at Le Méridien Gurugram and leadership roles across Marriott International.

With this leadership transition, DoubleTree by Hilton Bengaluru Airport reinforces its focus on operational excellence, commercial performance and guest-centric service in one of India’s key aviation hubs.

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