The Leela Palace Jaipur Welcomes New Leaders Across Key Roles

The Leela Palace Jaipur Welcomes New Leaders Across Key Roles

By Nishang Narayan

Published on December 12, 2024

The Leela Palace Jaipur has fortified its leadership team with four new appointments, each bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to elevate the luxury hotel's offerings and operations.

Sohil Bhargava, Director of Food and Beverage

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With over nine years of experience in the hospitality industry, Sohil Bhargava has an impressive track record working with esteemed establishments like Raffles, Grand Hyatt Gurgaon, and Andaz. Most recently, he excelled as the Senior Food and Beverage Manager at The DLF Camellias, where he implemented innovative strategies and created exceptional dining experiences. A graduate of the Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Bhargava specializes in F&B operations, business strategy, and leadership.

In his new role, Bhargava will drive the culinary vision at The Leela Palace Jaipur, focusing on elevating the food and beverage experience to create unforgettable moments for guests while contributing to the hotel's overall growth and reputation.

Varun Parashar, Executive Chef

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A seasoned culinary expert, Varun Parashar brings a rich background that includes roles at Raa Atoll, Maldives; South Male Atoll, Maldives; Trident Bandra Kurla; and The Oberoi Rajvilas. With a proven ability to enhance team performance and deliver exceptional culinary standards, Parashar is a graduate of the Oberoi Center for Learning & Development and holds a bachelor's degree from IHM Lucknow.

As the Executive Chef, Parashar will lead the culinary operations at The Leela Palace Jaipur, curating exceptional menus that celebrate regional flavors while maintaining the highest culinary standards.

Sandeep Kumar Sharma, Director of Finance

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Sandeep Kumar Sharma joins with extensive experience in financial management, having held key positions at Hilton Jaipur, The Leela Palace New Delhi, and Trident properties in Chennai and Hyderabad. Sharma’s ability to navigate complex financial landscapes and his expertise in strategic planning have been hallmarks of his career.

A commerce graduate from Rajasthan University, Sharma will oversee financial strategies at The Leela Palace Jaipur, ensuring the hotel's fiscal health and operational efficiency.

Tanuj Shokeen, Director of Sales and Marketing

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With over 15 years in the hospitality industry, Tanuj Shokeen has a proven track record in driving sales performance and engaging stakeholders across various markets. Before joining The Leela Palace Jaipur, he served as the Director of Sales at Taj - Jai Mahal Palace Jaipur. Shokeen holds a PGDM in Marketing and International Business from AIMA and a bachelor's degree in commerce from Delhi University.

In his new role, Shokeen will focus on enhancing sales strategies, revenue management, and stakeholder engagement, ensuring The Leela Palace Jaipur strengthens its position as a leader in the luxury hospitality market.

These appointments mark a significant step forward for The Leela Palace Jaipur, as the new leaders bring their expertise and passion to take the property’s guest experiences and operational excellence to new heights.


Ramee Group of Hotels Appoints Jacob Mojes Balla as General Manager – Sales

Ramee Group of Hotels Appoints Jacob Mojes Balla as General Manager – Sales

By Hariharan U

Published on August 24, 2026

Ramee Group of Hotels has appointed Jacob Mojes Balla as General Manager – Sales, strengthening its commercial leadership as the group focuses on revenue growth, market expansion and the development of its growing hotel portfolio.

With over 16 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Jacob brings expertise across sales strategy, key account management and revenue generation. In his new role, he will lead the commercial sales strategy for Ramee Group's new, existing and upcoming properties.

Jacob has previously held senior sales positions with established hospitality and real estate brands. His professional experience spans hotels, restaurants and outdoor catering, giving him a broad understanding of customer requirements and diverse business segments.

His experience across different hospitality formats is expected to support Ramee Group's efforts to strengthen market relationships, expand its commercial reach and drive business growth across its portfolio.

As General Manager – Sales, Jacob will focus on developing sales strategies, strengthening key accounts and identifying opportunities to improve revenue performance across the group's properties.

The appointment comes as Ramee Group continues to expand its presence, with a focus on building a stronger commercial foundation across its existing and upcoming properties.


Eco Hotels & Resorts Appoints Mahek B. Patel as Head of Operations

Eco Hotels & Resorts Appoints Mahek B. Patel as Head of Operations

By Hariharan U

Published on August 24, 2026

Eco Hotels & Resorts Limited has appointed Mahek B. Patel as Head of Operations, strengthening its leadership team as the company continues to expand its hospitality portfolio and scale operations across properties.

Mahek brings extensive experience in hotel operations, having worked with established hospitality brands including Bloom Hotel, Lemon Tree Premier, and The Resort Hotel. His professional experience spans property operations, SOP implementation, guest experience management, team leadership, quality control and cost optimisation.

In his new role, Mahek will focus on strengthening operational consistency and service standards across Eco Hotels & Resorts' properties. His responsibilities will include working closely with property teams and department heads to implement and monitor SOPs, enhance guest experiences, improve operational efficiencies and develop hospitality teams.

He will also contribute to effective budget management and cost optimisation across the portfolio, supporting the company's efforts to build a more consistent and efficient operational framework as it grows.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Vinod K. Tripathi, Executive Chairman, Eco Hotels & Resorts Limited, said, “We are pleased to welcome Mahek B. Patel to Eco Hotels & Resorts. As we continue to expand our presence and scale our portfolio, strong leadership across our properties will be critical to maintaining consistency and delivering an exceptional guest experience.”

He added that Mahek's experience in hotel operations and understanding of service delivery would contribute to strengthening the company's operational framework and supporting its next phase of growth.

Speaking on his appointment, Mahek B. Patel, Head of Operations, Eco Hotels & Resorts Limited, said, “I am delighted to join Eco Hotels & Resorts at an exciting stage of its growth journey. The opportunity to contribute to the company's expanding portfolio and strengthen Operations standards across properties is both challenging and rewarding.”

He added that his focus would be on building efficient processes, delivering consistent guest experiences and creating a strong operational foundation to support the company's long-term growth.

Mahek's appointment comes as Eco Hotels & Resorts continues to strengthen its portfolio and operational capabilities. With a focus on service quality, team development and efficient resource management, his leadership is expected to support the company's efforts to deliver consistent hospitality experiences across its expanding presence.


The Ritz-Carlton, Pune Appoints Dirham Haque as Director of Culinary

The Ritz-Carlton, Pune Appoints Dirham Haque as Director of Culinary

By Hariharan U

Published on August 22, 2026

The Ritz-Carlton, Pune has appointed Dirham Haque as Director of Culinary, strengthening its culinary leadership team with a hospitality professional who brings more than 15 years of experience across India and the Middle East.

Haque has built his career across leading luxury hospitality brands including ITC Hotels, The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and JW Marriott. His experience spans luxury hotels, specialty restaurants, banqueting operations and pre-opening projects, with a focus on culinary innovation and operational excellence.

Prior to joining The Ritz-Carlton, Pune, Haque served as Director of Culinary at JW Marriott Hotel Kolkata, where he oversaw seven restaurants and bars as well as extensive banqueting operations.

Earlier in his career, he was part of the pre-opening team at Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru at Embassy ONE, contributing to the launch of six restaurants and bars before taking on the role of Executive Chef.

Haque began his culinary journey at ITC Maurya, New Delhi, where he was part of the acclaimed Dum Pukht team. His professional experience also includes pre-opening responsibilities at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai, leadership roles at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray in Dubai, and exposure at Al Mahara at Burj Al Arab.

During his tenure with The Oberoi Hotels & Resorts in Gurgaon and Dubai, Haque played a key role in the operations of Ananta at The Oberoi, Dubai, which earned three Black Hats, a prestigious regional culinary accolade.

In his new role at The Ritz-Carlton, Pune, Haque will oversee the hotel's culinary operations while focusing on strengthening its dining experiences, culinary innovation and gastronomic offerings.

Speaking about his appointment, Dirham Haque said, “Joining The Ritz-Carlton, Pune is an exciting milestone. I look forward to working with the excellent team here to curate memorable dining experiences, win more accolades and uphold the brand’s iconic gold standards of service.”

His appointment comes as The Ritz-Carlton, Pune continues to strengthen its position as a luxury hospitality destination in the city. Haque's experience across Indian and international luxury hospitality, specialty dining and large-scale culinary operations is expected to further support the hotel's focus on distinctive dining experiences.

With experience spanning multiple luxury brands and diverse culinary environments, Haque brings a combination of operational expertise, international exposure and culinary leadership to his new position at The Ritz-Carlton, Pune.

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