United Hospitality Management India has announced the appointment of Ricardo Leal as Vice President Operations – India & Southeast Asia, further strengthening its leadership structure across key growth markets in the region.

Based in India, Ricardo will oversee operational performance across all company-managed properties in India and Southeast Asia. He will report to Deepika Arora while also taking responsibility for Southeast Asia operations under the leadership of Klaus Assmann.

The appointment comes as UHM India continues to expand its footprint across high-growth hospitality markets. The company is focusing on strengthening operational performance, improving guest experiences, and building long-term value for stakeholders as India remains a major focus market for the group.

Ricardo Leal brings more than 20 years of international hospitality leadership experience across luxury and ultra-luxury segments. Over the course of his career, he has worked across multiple global markets with expertise spanning hotel feasibility studies, design planning, pre-opening strategies, repositioning projects, and large-scale operational management.

In his new role, Ricardo will focus on driving operational consistency, improving property performance, and aligning hotel operations with the company’s long-term growth strategy across India and Southeast Asia.

Speaking about the appointment, Deepika Arora described Ricardo’s addition as an important step in the company’s next phase of expansion, highlighting his combination of global experience and operational leadership.

Commenting on his new role, Ricardo Leal shared that he is excited to join UHM during a key growth phase and looks forward to working closely with teams across the region to strengthen operational standards and guest satisfaction.

With this leadership appointment, United Hospitality Management India continues to reinforce its focus on strategic growth, operational excellence, and delivering strong hospitality experiences across its expanding regional portfolio.

Kochi Marriott Hotel has announced the appointment of Sri Ram Kumar V as its new Director of Engineering.

With more than 14 years of experience in hospitality engineering operations, Sri Ram Kumar brings expertise in hotel pre-openings, project management, preventive maintenance, energy conservation, and technical operations across luxury hospitality brands in India and the Middle East.

In his new position, he will lead all engineering and maintenance functions at Kochi Marriott Hotel. His responsibilities will include overseeing preventive maintenance systems, supporting sustainability initiatives, ensuring engineering compliance, and maintaining smooth operational support to strengthen guest experience and hotel efficiency.

He will also collaborate closely with the hotel’s Loss Prevention team on safety protocols and emergency preparedness measures.

Recognised for his technical knowledge and practical leadership approach, Sri Ram Kumar has consistently focused on improving engineering standards, enhancing energy efficiency, and ensuring reliable operational performance throughout his career.

Speaking about his appointment, Sri Ram Kumar shared that he is honoured to join Kochi Marriott Hotel and looks forward to building efficient and sustainable engineering operations while working closely with teams across departments.

With this appointment, Kochi Marriott Hotel continues to strengthen its operational leadership while focusing on reliability, sustainability, and guest-centric service standards.

Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences has announced the promotion of Sakshi Upadhyay as Director of Sales, recognising her strong contribution to business growth and strategic sales leadership within the hospitality industry.

With more than 14 years of experience, Sakshi brings extensive expertise in corporate sales, MICE business, travel partnerships, events, and revenue management. Over the course of her career, she has worked with globally recognised hospitality brands including Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, The Leela Kempinski, and ITC Sheraton.

Before stepping into her new position, she served as Associate Director of Sales at Hyatt Regency Pune & Residences, where she focused on driving corporate sales strategies across MICE, long-stay business, and key account partnerships. She worked closely with corporate travel managers and procurement teams to create tailored business solutions aligned with client requirements.

Sakshi has earned several recognitions throughout her professional journey. She was awarded Hyatt Sales Leader of the Year for 2021–2022 across Hyatt hotels in India and was also recognised as the Highest Revenue Generator during the COVID-19 period. In addition, she played an important role in securing successful RFP acquisitions and managing large-scale conferences and events. She has also been named Sales Champ of the Year 2025.

An MBA graduate from Symbiosis University, Sakshi is known for combining operational understanding with strong relationship management and strategic planning skills.

In her new role as Director of Sales, she will continue leading sales initiatives, strengthening corporate partnerships, and supporting the hotel’s market growth in the region.

The promotion reflects Hyatt Regency Pune’s continued focus on recognising internal talent and building future leadership within the organisation.