World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards ('WSTHA') Reveals Nominees and Opens Voting of Inaugural Programme

World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards ('WSTHA') Reveals Nominees and Opens Voting of Inaugural Programme

By Nishang Narayan

Published on June 20, 2024

The World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards (WSTHA) has unveiled the nominees and opened voting for its inaugural programme. The shortlist features a diverse range of individuals and organizations from around the world who are making significant contributions to net positive tourism.

WSTHA received hundreds of entries, which were evaluated by Sustainable Business students from Nova Business School. The shortlist was then reviewed and approved by the WSTHA Advisory Board. Selection criteria included quantitative and qualitative data, internationally-recognized standards, scalability, partnership and collaboration, relative impact, and compelling storytelling.

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Voting is open until August 2, allowing industry professionals, media, and the general public to vote for the nominees they believe are making the most impactful contributions to sustainable travel. The nominee with the most votes in each category will be declared the winner.

The 21 WSTHA categories were selected by the Advisory Board to align with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and a net positive framework encompassing People, Planet, Place, Prosperity, and Partnerships. The full list of 2024 nominees can be viewed online.

The winners will be announced at the inaugural WSTHA Gala Ceremony in Belize, the Official Host Destination, on September 27.

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Justin Cooke, Executive Vice-President of WSTHA, remarked, "We have been overwhelmed by the interest in the inaugural WSTHA programme. The calibre of entrants is exceptional, with many fascinating stories of how they are driving change in sustainable tourism. This serves as a healthy indicator of the momentum towards creating a net positive travel industry. I wish all our nominees the best of luck. And remember to cast your vote for your favourites."

Belize, the Official Host Destination, places a strong emphasis on responsible tourism and has developed projects that encourage sustainable engagement with its rainforests, reefs, and unique culture.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism & Diaspora Relations, Belize, stated, "We are incredibly excited to host the inaugural World Sustainable Travel & Hospitality Awards here in Belize. The innovative level of nominees demonstrates a shared vision for a more sustainable future in travel. We look forward to welcoming all nominees and congratulating the winners while showcasing Belize's own sustainable tourism initiatives."

The WSTHA programme is run in partnership with the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, whose members represent over 50,000 hotels, 7 million rooms globally, 270 brands, and 40+ supply chain and strategic partners.

Glenn Mandziuk, CEO of the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, said, "At the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, we are thrilled to witness so many deserving and inspiring entries. I encourage everyone to vote and recognize these extraordinary efforts. Some of these remarkable nominees will have the honour of being named inaugural WSTHA winners. Good luck to all."

WSTHA is the sister event of the World Travel Awards, currently celebrating its 31st anniversary.


Park Hyatt Chennai Appoints Vishwesh Ramesh as Director of Food & Beverage

Park Hyatt Chennai Appoints Vishwesh Ramesh as Director of Food & Beverage

By Hariharan U

Published on June 29, 2026

Park Hyatt Chennai has announced the appointment of Vishwesh Ramesh as its new Director of Food & Beverage, reinforcing the hotel’s focus on elevating guest experiences and strengthening its culinary operations.

In his new role, Vishwesh will oversee the hotel’s entire food and beverage division, with responsibilities spanning concept development, operational excellence, guest experience enhancement, and revenue optimisation across dining outlets.

He joins Park Hyatt Chennai with over 11 years of experience in luxury hospitality, having worked with globally recognised brands including JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, and Taj Mahal Palace. Known for his strong commercial acumen and operational discipline, he has built a reputation for creating impactful dining concepts and driving performance-led F&B strategies.

Prior to this appointment, Vishwesh played a key leadership role at JW Marriott Maldives Kaafu Atoll Island Resort, where he led the pre-opening and positioning of the property’s F&B operations. Under his leadership, the resort developed a diverse portfolio of seven dining outlets while achieving strong financial results and consistently high guest satisfaction scores.

Speaking on the appointment, the leadership team at Park Hyatt Chennai said Vishwesh’s experience and innovative approach will be instrumental in strengthening the hotel’s food and beverage strategy and further enhancing guest engagement across all dining experiences.

Earlier in his career, he held key positions at Mulberry Shades, A Tribute Portfolio Resort and The Ritz-Carlton, Bangalore, where he contributed to the introduction of premium dining concepts and new revenue streams aligned with evolving market expectations.

Commenting on his new role, Vishwesh Ramesh said he is honoured to join Park Hyatt Chennai and looks forward to contributing to the hotel’s continued success by creating memorable dining experiences and building high-performing teams.

His appointment comes as Park Hyatt Chennai continues to strengthen its position in the city’s luxury hospitality landscape, responding to growing demand from both business and leisure travellers.

About Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company guided by its purpose – to care for people so they can be their best. As of March 31, 2026, the company’s portfolio includes more than 1,500 hotels and all-inclusive properties across 83 countries on six continents.

About Park Hyatt Chennai

Located in the heart of the city, Park Hyatt Chennai offers a refined blend of contemporary luxury and understated elegance overlooking Guindy National Park. The hotel features 200 guestrooms and suites, award-winning dining venues including Park Brasserie, The Flying Elephant Bar, and Mr. Ong – The Flavours of Singapore, along with a spa, rooftop infinity pool, and state-of-the-art event spaces.


Hilton Bengaluru Embassy Properties Appoint Vikrant Dhingra as Cluster Director of Revenue

Hilton Bengaluru Embassy Properties Appoint Vikrant Dhingra as Cluster Director of Revenue

By Hariharan U

Published on June 29, 2026

Hilton has announced the appointment of Vikrant Dhingra as Cluster Director of Revenue for its Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park and Hilton & Hilton Garden Inn Bengaluru Embassy Tech Village properties.

In his new role, Vikrant will be responsible for overseeing revenue strategy, pricing, distribution, and demand generation across both hotel assets. His mandate includes driving commercial performance, strengthening market positioning, and ensuring sustained revenue growth across segments.

Vikrant brings over a decade of experience in hospitality revenue management, having worked with leading international and domestic hotel brands across multiple markets. Prior to joining Hilton, he held senior revenue leadership roles at Grand Hyatt Amman in Jordan and ITC Ratnadipa in Colombo, where he contributed to significant improvements in RevPAR, market share, and overall revenue performance.

His career also includes key revenue management roles with Hyatt Hotels Corporation, ITC Hotels, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Lemon Tree Hotels, where he built expertise in yield optimisation, pricing strategy, and total revenue management across diverse hospitality environments.

Speaking on his appointment, Vikrant Dhingra said he is excited to join Hilton and looks forward to contributing to the continued success of the Bengaluru properties. He emphasised his focus on building innovative revenue strategies and driving long-term business value in collaboration with the hotel teams.

Sujeet Kumar, General Manager of Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park, welcomed the appointment, noting that Vikrant’s strong commercial expertise and proven track record will play a key role in strengthening market position and supporting continued growth across both hotels.

The appointment reinforces Hilton’s focus on strengthening its commercial leadership structure in India as it continues to expand and optimise performance across key business destinations.

About Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park

Hilton is a global hospitality company with a portfolio of 27 brands and more than 9,200 properties across 144 countries and territories. The Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn Bengaluru Embassy Manyata Business Park properties were launched in 2022 and feature one of South India’s largest hotel convention spaces, spanning approximately 60,000 square feet. Strategically located near the airport and Manyata Business Park, the hotels are positioned to serve both business and MICE demand in Bengaluru


Summit Hotels & Resorts Appoints Arun Daga as General Manager of Kaziranga Property

Summit Hotels & Resorts Appoints Arun Daga as General Manager of Kaziranga Property

By Hariharan U

Published on June 27, 2026

Summit Hotels & Resorts has announced the appointment of Arun Daga as the General Manager of Summit Green Village Resort & Spa, Kaziranga, strengthening its leadership presence in one of Northeast India’s key wildlife tourism destinations.

In his new role, Arun Daga will be responsible for overseeing the overall operations of the resort, with a focus on enhancing guest experiences, improving operational efficiency, and strengthening the property’s positioning within the growing tourism ecosystem of Kaziranga.

Arun Daga brings nearly three decades of experience in the hospitality industry. A graduate of the University of Calcutta with a qualification in Hotel Management from BILAMS, he has built extensive expertise across hotel operations, guest services, team leadership, and property management over the course of his career.

Prior to this appointment, he held several leadership roles across hospitality establishments, where he contributed to operational improvements and service delivery enhancements across diverse markets.

Speaking on the appointment, Sumit Mitruka, CEO of Summit Hotels & Resorts, said Arun Daga brings valuable operational experience and a strong understanding of hospitality, and expressed confidence that his leadership will further strengthen both guest experience and operational performance at the Kaziranga property.

The appointment comes as Summit Hotels & Resorts continues to expand and strengthen its footprint across Northeast India, focusing on destination-driven hospitality experiences in emerging tourism markets.

About Summit Hotels & Resorts

Summit Hotels & Resorts is a hospitality group with a growing portfolio across India, with a strong presence in the Eastern Himalayas and Northeast region. The brand focuses on destination-led hospitality experiences across leisure, nature, and wildlife-driven locations.

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