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.


Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences Promotes Gaurav Bisht as Assistant Director of Food & Beverage

Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences Promotes Gaurav Bisht as Assistant Director of Food & Beverage

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 Promotes Ganesha B as Director of Human Resources

Holiday Inn Bengaluru Racecourse Promotes Ganesha B as Director of Human Resources

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on June 4, 2026

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.


The Access Group Appoints Saurabh Gupta as Head of Customer Success for APAC

The Access Group Appoints Saurabh Gupta as Head of Customer Success for APAC

By Hariharan U

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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