The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas has announced the appointment of Vivek Pandey as its new Director of Food & Beverage. With over 15 years of experience across leading luxury hospitality brands in India, Pandey brings deep expertise in restaurant leadership, large-scale events, and guest-focused food and beverage operations.

Pandey began his hospitality journey at Hyatt Regency Kolkata, where he spent nearly a decade building a strong foundation across events and operational roles. He later expanded his culinary and service leadership experience at Park Hyatt Goa and Grand Hyatt Mumbai, before taking on larger responsibilities as Event Operations Manager at Hyatt Regency Dehradun. His career further progressed at JW Marriott Mumbai, where he served as Banquet Manager, overseeing high-profile events and complex banquet operations.

Most recently, Pandey held the position of Assistant Director of Food & Beverage at Hyatt Regency Dehradun, where he played a key role in driving culinary innovation, service excellence, and team development. His experience across both leisure and business destinations has shaped a leadership style that balances operational rigour with experiential creativity.

In his new role at The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas, Pandey will focus on elevating the resort’s Unique Dining Experiences (UDEs) through refined concepts, compelling storytelling, and thoughtfully curated guest journeys. A key priority will be strengthening the non-resident dining strategy, positioning the resort’s restaurants and bars as preferred destinations for local and regional patrons, while also fostering a workplace culture centred on associate wellbeing, engagement, and long-term growth.

Commenting on his appointment, Vivek Pandey said, “The Westin Himalayas is a truly distinctive destination that brings together wellness, nature, and elevated hospitality. I am excited to join a property that has already set strong benchmarks in experiential luxury and look forward to enhancing our culinary offerings and creating meaningful dining experiences.”

Welcoming him to the leadership team, Chinmaya Chikkamath, General Manager, The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas, said, “Food and beverage is a core pillar of the guest journey at The Westin Himalayas. Vivek’s depth of experience, creative vision, and people-focused leadership make him a valuable addition to our team. His understanding of destination dining and commitment to innovation will further strengthen our culinary offerings and elevate the overall resort experience.”

The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas has announced the appointment of Vivek Pandey as its new director of food and beverage, further strengthening the resort’s leadership team. With more than 15 years of experience in luxury hospitality, Pandey brings a strong background in restaurant management, large-scale events, and guest-centric food and beverage operations.

Pandey began his hospitality journey at Hyatt Regency Kolkata, where he spent close to a decade building his expertise across operations and events. He later expanded his experience at Park Hyatt Goa and Grand Hyatt Mumbai, gaining deeper exposure to premium dining and service standards. His career progression continued at Hyatt Regency Dehradun, where he handled larger responsibilities as event operations manager, before moving to JW Marriott Mumbai as banquet manager, overseeing high-profile events and complex banquet functions.

Most recently, Pandey served as assistant director of food and beverage at Hyatt Regency Dehradun. In this role, he was closely involved in driving culinary innovation, improving service delivery, and nurturing team development, contributing to overall operational growth.

In his new role at The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas, Pandey will focus on enhancing the resort’s Unique Dining Experiences (UDEs) through refined concepts, compelling storytelling, and carefully curated guest journeys. He will also work on building a strong non-resident dining strategy, positioning the resort’s restaurants and bars as preferred choices for local diners, while encouraging a work culture that supports associate wellbeing, engagement, and long-term growth.

Commenting on his appointment, Pandey said, “The Westin Himalayas is a truly distinctive destination, seamlessly blending wellness, nature, and elevated hospitality. I am excited to be part of a property that has already set strong benchmarks in experiential luxury. I look forward to working closely with the team to further enhance our culinary offerings, create meaningful dining experiences, and contribute to the resort’s continued evolution as a leading destination for wellbeing-driven hospitality.”

Welcoming the appointment, Chinmaya Chikkamath, general manager, The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas, said, “Food and beverage is a core pillar of the guest journey at The Westin Himalayas, and Vivek’s depth of experience, creative vision, and people-focused leadership make him a valuable addition to our leadership team. His strong understanding of destination dining, combined with his commitment to innovation and team wellbeing, will play a key role in further strengthening our culinary offerings and elevating the overall resort experience.”

Yas Island Abu Dhabi has stepped up its engagement with Indian travellers through the #MyYasVibes campaign, an immersive, creator-led initiative developed in partnership with travel-tech brand Holiday Tribe. The campaign aims to highlight how one destination can offer multiple ways to travel, unwind, and explore, depending on each traveller’s interests and pace.

As part of the campaign, 12 macro influencers from India travelled to Yas Island to experience its world-class attractions. Their journeys covered Ferrari World™ Yas Island, Warner Bros. World™ Yas Island, SeaWorld® Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, and Yas Waterworld, Yas Island, capturing a mix of adventure, entertainment, leisure, and family-friendly experiences through authentic travel narratives shared across digital platforms.

The collaboration brought together Yas Island’s award-winning theme parks, diverse dining options, and world-class hotels with Holiday Tribe’s focus on customised leisure travel. From record-breaking rides and high-adrenaline coasters at Ferrari World™ to immersive storytelling at Warner Bros. World™ and marine encounters at SeaWorld® Yas Island, the creators showcased the destination’s broad appeal. Yas Waterworld, with over 60 rides and attractions, added a splash-filled dimension to the experience.

Commenting on the initiative, Liam Findlay, CEO, Miral Destinations, said, “India remains one of our most important source markets. Through this collaboration, we aim to showcase Yas Island as a destination that truly offers something for every traveller, from award-winning theme parks and attractions to waterfront leisure, dining, and family-friendly experiences.”

Chirag Goyal, Founder, Holiday Tribe, added, “Yas Island naturally lends itself to personalised travel experiences. Our collaboration focused on bringing different facets of the destination to life through varied travel perspectives, allowing travellers to see how the island can be explored in ways that feel personal, meaningful, and memorable.”

Holiday Tribe continues to curate tailored travel options for Yas Island, offering flexible combinations of theme park access, accommodation, and add-ons. Through the #MyYasVibes campaign, Yas Island reinforces its position as a must-visit leisure destination for Indian travellers looking for variety, flexibility, and memorable experiences, all in one place.