Varel Singapore, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel Appoints Andy Tan as General Manager

Varel Singapore, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel Appoints Andy Tan as General Manager

By Hariharan U

Published on February 27, 2026

Varel Singapore, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel has announced the appointment of Andy Tan as General Manager as the design-led lifestyle property prepares for its opening in April 2026 in the Selegie–Mount Sophia precinct. The 128-room boutique hotel, positioned as the Southeast Asia flagship of Tribute Portfolio by Marriott International, marks a significant milestone for the brand in the region.

Andy brings more than three decades of hospitality and travel experience, combining operational leadership with commercial strategy. He will oversee the hotel’s pre-opening phase, including team building, service culture development, brand alignment and go-to-market planning across key segments and distribution channels, with a strong emphasis on people development and guest experience delivery.

Conceived as an “urban oasis” rooted in neighbourhood connection and creative energy, Varel Singapore aims to establish a distinctive presence within Singapore’s boutique hospitality landscape. Under Andy’s leadership, the hotel will focus on disciplined commercial execution while delivering experiences aligned with Tribute Portfolio’s “Stay with Character” ethos and Sincere Service philosophy.

Over the course of his career, Andy has held senior regional and global roles across Asia Pacific and Europe with leading hospitality groups such as Millennium Hotels & Resorts, Pan Pacific Hotels Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. His expertise spans hotels, serviced residences, lifestyle concepts, food and beverage operations, strategic partnerships and B2B and B2C distribution. Most recently, he served in a senior leadership role at Millennium Hotels & Resorts, supporting commercial performance and operational alignment across its global portfolio.

Beyond his executive responsibilities, Andy serves on the Board of Directors of the Employment and Employability Institute and contributes to the Sustainability and Technical Committees of the Singapore Hotel Association, advancing workforce development and operational excellence across the sector. He holds a Master’s degree in International Hospitality & Service Management from Glion Institute of Higher Education and is fluent in English, Mandarin, Thai, Malay and several Chinese dialects.

“I am honoured to join Varel Singapore at such an exciting stage of its journey. This is a unique opportunity to build a distinctive, people-centred hotel that celebrates design, culture, community and authentic hospitality. I look forward to working with the team to create a destination that resonates with both local and international guests,” said Andy.

Located at 189 Selegie Road, the hotel will be within walking distance of Little India, Rochor, Bencoolen and Dhoby Ghaut MRT stations, reinforcing its connectivity within the city.


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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