Vaibhav Verma Appointed CEO of Udman Hotels & Resorts

Vaibhav Verma Appointed CEO of Udman Hotels & Resorts

By Nishang Narayan

Published on September 12, 2024

Udman Hotels & Resorts is excited to announce the appointment of Vaibhav Verma as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Verma, with a distinguished career spanning over 28 years in the hospitality sector, brings a wealth of experience and insight that aligns perfectly with Udman’s vision for growth and excellence.

In his new role, Verma will be instrumental in driving the brand’s strategic growth, which includes an ambitious plan to expand its portfolio from 7 boutique and luxury hotels to 50 over the next five years. His extensive background in managing and leading teams, coupled with his expertise in operational excellence and business development, positions him ideally to navigate Udman through this transformative period.

Verma’s career includes notable roles with prominent brands such as Best Western, Business World Magazine, Accor Hotels, ITC Fortune Hotels, JHM Interstate Hotels, Taiping Carpets, and Jaypee Hotels. His experience includes pre-opening and operational roles in launching properties like Four Points by Sheraton in Jaipur, Pune, and Vishakhapatnam, and Khyber in Gulmarg. Most recently, he served as Chief Revenue Officer at juSTA Hotels and Resorts.

Vikaas Gutgutia, Founder and Managing Director of Ferns N Petals, expressed his enthusiasm about Verma’s appointment, stating, “We are delighted to welcome Vaibhav to the Udman family. His extensive experience and ability to blend strategic thinking with hands-on leadership will be crucial as we embark on this exciting new chapter. I am confident that his leadership will help us remain at the forefront of innovation and growth in the hospitality industry.”

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On his appointment, Verma shared, “I am thrilled to join Udman at such a pivotal time in its journey. The opportunity to contribute to a brand that values both luxury and individuality is truly exciting. I look forward to working closely with the talented team here to further enhance our offerings, ensuring that each guest experience is as memorable and enriching as the next.”

With Verma at the helm, Udman Hotels & Resorts is poised to continue its legacy of luxury and personalized service while pursuing its ambitious expansion goals.


voco Amritsar by IHG Appoints Manish Kumar Yadav as General Manager

voco Amritsar by IHG Appoints Manish Kumar Yadav as General Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on November 29, 2025

voco Amritsar by IHG has announced the appointment of Mr. Manish Kumar Yadav as its General Manager, Yadav brings over 17 years of hospitality leadership across luxury, upscale, and mid-scale hotel brands. In his new role, he will lead the hotel’s pre-opening efforts, along with overseeing operations, commercial strategy, guest experience, and service excellence.

Before joining voco Amritsar by IHG, he served as Multi-Property General Manager for DoubleTree by Hilton and Wyndham Chandigarh, where he played a key role in elevating operational performance and strengthening brand delivery. He is also a two-time National Best General Manager Award winner, recognised by BW Hotelier and HVS.

Known for building strong operational frameworks, enhancing guest experience systems, and developing high-performance teams, Yadav brings a blend of strategic insight and hands-on leadership. His financial expertise and deep pre-opening experience position him to establish voco Amritsar by IHG as a standout premium hotel in the region.


Grand Hyatt Mumbai Elevates Anirban Sarkar to Food and Beverage Manager

Grand Hyatt Mumbai Elevates Anirban Sarkar to Food and Beverage Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on November 28, 2025

Grand Hyatt Mumbai has announced the promotion of Anirban Sarkar as its new food and beverage manager, recognising his contribution to the hotel’s food & beverage operations since he joined in August 2024.

Sarkar has built a strong reputation at the hotel through his focus on precision, teamwork, and consistent service delivery. Over the past year, he has helped strengthen the food & beverage department by improving operational efficiency, enhancing overall experience standards, and motivating teams to perform at their best.

With his new responsibility, Sarkar will now shape the hotel’s food & beverage strategy. His role will span restaurants, bars, banqueting operations, guest experience programs, and learning and development for colleagues. A key part of his focus will be elevating presentation standards, tightening quality control processes, and introducing fresh dining ideas that match the hotel’s vision and growing guest expectations.

He will continue working closely with both the culinary and operations teams to keep concept, execution, and service in sync, ensuring that every interaction reflects the hotel’s commitment to excellence.

Sharing his gratitude for the trust placed in him, Sarkar thanked the executive committee, general manager Robert Dallimore, and the entire food & beverage team for their constant support. Reflecting on his journey, he said, “I am honoured to step into this role at Grand Hyatt Mumbai, a property that continues to set new benchmarks in innovation and guest experience. What inspires me deeply is our collective commitment to crafting thoughtful, memorable and future-forward dining journeys for our guests. This environment empowers leaders like me to challenge conventions, elevate standards and create experiences that truly resonate. I am excited to contribute to our shared vision of shaping Grand Hyatt as the destination for exceptional hospitality in India.”


Rahul Chaudhary Takes Over as Director of F&B at The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake & Lakeside Chalet

Rahul Chaudhary Takes Over as Director of F&B at The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake & Lakeside Chalet

By Hariharan U

Published on November 28, 2025

The Westin Mumbai Powai Lake and Lakeside Chalet, Marriott Executive Apartments, have appointed Rahul Chaudhary as the new director of food & beverage, bringing in more than 17 years of experience from the hospitality industry.

Known for his balanced mix of creativity and structure, Chaudhary has built a career around strong operations, people-first leadership, and memorable guest experiences. He moves into this role after serving as the director of food & beverage at Conrad Pune, where he made a significant impact through his thoughtful approach to management and service delivery.

At his new posting, Chaudhary will head the food & beverage operations across both properties. His responsibilities include shaping fresh dining concepts, supervising multiple outlets, strengthening day-to-day performance, and guiding his team to consistently elevate the overall guest experience.

His leadership mantra, Empower the Team, Elevate the Experience, aligns naturally with the brand’s service philosophy. Sharing his approach, he says, "Consistency builds trust, and I believe in the power of People, Product, and Process to create a culture of excellence."

Chaudhary is also known for nurturing talent and building high-performing teams. His ability to encourage collaboration and maintain a positive work environment has been a constant throughout his journey across notable properties such as Conrad Pune, Park Hyatt Hyderabad, and Grand Hyatt Goa.

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