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.


IHCL Appoints Aejaz Shaikh as Hotel Manager for Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage

IHCL Appoints Aejaz Shaikh as Hotel Manager for Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage

By Hariharan U

Published on May 20, 2026

Indian Hotels Company Limited has announced the appointment of hospitality professional Aejaz Shaikh as Hotel Manager of Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage.

With over 20 years of experience in luxury hospitality, Shaikh brings strong expertise in hotel operations, commercial strategy, and brand development. His career has been marked by consistent business performance, market share growth, and enhanced guest experience delivery across competitive hospitality environments.

Prior to this appointment, he served as Director of Sales & Marketing for both Taj Cidade de Goa Horizon and Taj Cidade de Goa Heritage, where he led integrated commercial strategies spanning rooms, food and beverage, events, and ancillary revenue streams.

During his tenure, the properties witnessed strong growth across key segments including MICE, weddings, and leisure travel, alongside improved brand visibility in both domestic and international markets.

An alumnus of the University of Madras and the University of Mumbai, Shaikh holds multiple qualifications in business management, marketing, and hospitality.

Commenting on the appointment, Vivek Batra said that Shaikh’s strong commercial acumen and deep understanding of the Goa market make him well suited to lead the property, adding that his leadership is expected to further strengthen positioning and guest experience excellence.

The appointment reinforces IHCL’s continued focus on strengthening leadership across its luxury portfolio in Goa, a key market in India’s premium hospitality landscape.


Taj North Goa Appoints Reekshit Siddhanta as Deputy General Manager

Taj North Goa Appoints Reekshit Siddhanta as Deputy General Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on May 20, 2026

Indian Hotels Company Limited has announced the appointment of hospitality veteran Reekshit Siddhanta as Deputy General Manager for two of its flagship North Goa properties - Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa and Taj Holiday Village Resort & Spa.

With over 24 years of experience in luxury hospitality, Siddhanta brings extensive expertise across operations, guest experience management, and leadership roles in some of India’s and the UAE’s most recognised luxury hotels.

His journey with the Taj brand began in 2002 as a Management Trainee in Housekeeping, after which he held several key positions across the group. His career highlights include leadership roles such as Executive Housekeeper at Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace, participation in the pre-opening team of Taj Falaknuma Palace, and senior Rooms Division leadership roles including Director of Rooms at Fairmont Jaipur, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Goa, and Taj Dubai.

Prior to his current appointment, he served as Hotel Manager at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Goa, further strengthening his operational leadership experience within the region.

Commenting on his new role, Siddhanta said that contributing to the legacy of Goa’s iconic heritage resorts is a “dream come true,” adding that his vision is to elevate the hospitality experience through world-class service rooted in the essence of “Tajness.”

Cluster General Manager for North Goa, Javed Deshmukh, noted that Siddhanta’s operational expertise and passion for service excellence will further strengthen the leadership team and enhance guest experiences across the properties.

The leadership appointment reinforces the long-standing legacy of Taj’s North Goa resorts, which continue to be among India’s most iconic luxury hospitality destinations, known for their immersive experiences, heritage charm, and personalised service.


Holiday Inn Gurugram Sector 90 Promotes Bharrat Bhutani to Associate Director of Revenue

Holiday Inn Gurugram Sector 90 Promotes Bharrat Bhutani to Associate Director of Revenue

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on May 20, 2026

Holiday Inn Gurugram Sector 90 has announced the promotion of Bharrat Bhutani to the position of Associate Director of Revenue, strengthening its commercial leadership team.

In his new role, Bharrat will be responsible for shaping the hotel’s overall revenue strategy, including pricing, forecasting, distribution, and market positioning. He will also oversee performance across rooms, food and beverage, and events, while focusing on improving direct bookings and aligning commercial efforts with IHG Hotels & Resorts standards.

Bharrat brings over ten years of experience in hospitality revenue management and commercial operations. Before this promotion, he served as Revenue Manager at the same property, where he contributed significantly to improving average daily rate (ADR), refining pricing strategies, and consistently achieving revenue targets.

His earlier experience includes working with well-known hospitality brands such as Radisson Blu Plaza Delhi Airport, Radisson Hotel Group, Holiday Inn Kolkata Airport, and Radisson Blu Udaipur Palace Resort & Spa. His expertise covers revenue optimisation, forecasting, budgeting, distribution management, and market analysis, along with cross-functional commercial planning.

Academically, Bharrat holds a Post-Graduation Program in Revenue Management from Vedatya Institute and a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management from Amity School of Hospitality. He is also certified by IHG Hotels & Resorts in Revenue Management Essential and Advanced courses.

Outside his professional responsibilities, Bharrat enjoys listening to music and exploring different cuisines during his free time.

Commenting on the promotion, Rishabh Jain, General Manager of Holiday Inn Gurugram Sector 90, said,

“Bharrat has consistently demonstrated strong commercial acumen, strategic thinking and leadership capabilities. His contribution towards driving revenue performance and strengthening the hotel's market positioning has been commendable and we are delighted to see him step into this expanded leadership role.”

Speaking on his new role, Bharrat Bhutani said, “I am honoured to take on this new role at Holiday Inn Gurugram Sector 90. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the team to drive sustainable revenue growth, enhance guest value and contribute to the hotel's ongoing success.”

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