Hilton appoints Sharad Kumar Upadhyay as Cluster General Manager in Gurugram

With over 25 years of international hospitality experience, Upadhyay will oversee operations and commercial performance at Hilton Gurugram Baani City Centre and DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square.

Hilton has appointed Sharad Kumar Upadhyay as Cluster General Manager of Hilton Gurugram Baani City Centre and DoubleTree by Hilton Gurugram Baani Square. In his new role, he will oversee operations, commercial performance and guest experience across both properties.

Upadhyay brings more than 25 years of international hospitality experience across India, China, Nepal and Thailand, having held leadership positions in Beijing, Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Kathmandu, Pattaya and Bangkok.

A 25-year career with IHG Hotels & Resorts

Upadhyay joins Hilton from IHG Hotels & Resorts, where he spent nearly 25 years, most recently serving as general manager of Crowne Plaza Greater Noida, the largest Crowne Plaza in South West Asia.

His career with IHG began in 2002 at Crowne Plaza North Beijing. He subsequently held leadership positions at Crowne Plaza Kathmandu and across Delhi NCR, including director of food and beverage. He also served as executive assistant manager in Thailand before taking on general manager roles in Mumbai and Greater Noida.

During his career, he has led hotels through ownership transitions and post-pandemic recovery, with a focus on revenue growth, guest satisfaction and team performance.

Leadership recognition and executive education

Upadhyay’s contributions have been recognised through honours including the IHG Journey to Tomorrow Award, the IHG IMEA Leadership Award and the IHG Exceptional General Manager Award.

His executive education includes the General Management Program at Cornell University, the Global Advanced Management Programme offered by the Indian School of Business and NUS, and Harvard University’s Professional Development Programme in Design Thinking.

Hilton highlights operational and commercial expertise

Ranjan Malakar, Senior Regional Director – Operations, India, Hilton, said: “Sharad’s depth of experience across markets, and his track record of driving performance through disciplined operations and strong stakeholder relationships, make him an outstanding addition to our leadership team in Gurugram. We look forward to his contributions as he leads both hotels into their next phase of growth.”

Upadhyay said: “I am delighted to join Hilton and lead two hotels that are so well placed in Gurugram’s business and leisure landscape. My focus will be on building strong, diverse teams, delivering memorable guest experiences, and growing the hotels’ performance in close partnership with our owners and stakeholders.

Summit Hotels & Resorts appoints Deepak Bothra as Corporate General Manager

Strengthening its operational leadership as it expands across the Eastern Himalayan region, Summit Hotels & Resorts has appointed Deepak Bothra as Corporate General Manager. With close to three decades of experience in hospitality, Deepak Bothra brings deep expertise across hotel operations, pre-opening projects, quality control, and revenue management. Over the years, he has worked with leading international and regional brands, holding senior leadership roles and contributing to the successful launch and turnaround of multiple properties.

In his new role, Deepak Bothra will oversee operational strategy, service standards, and performance optimisation across Summit’s growing portfolio. His focus will be on strengthening quality benchmarks, streamlining systems, and ensuring consistency across properties as the brand continues to scale its presence in Sikkim, Darjeeling, and the wider Northeast.

Commenting on the appointment, Sumit Mitruka, CEO, Summit Hotels & Resorts, said, “Deepak brings a rare combination of operational depth and quality-driven thinking. As we continue to expand our network across the Northeast, strengthening internal systems and service standards becomes critical. His experience in building and refining hotel operations will play a key role in driving consistency and long-term performance across our portfolio.”

Lords Hotels & Resorts Appoints New Corporate General Manager

Lords Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the appointment of Sahil Bhargava as the new Corporate General Manager. 

Bhargava is a seasoned hospitality professional with over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. He has held leadership roles with renowned hotel chains. He has expertise in Sales, Operations, and Pre-openings, business development and operational excellence. With a strong background in managing diverse portfolios and delivering exceptional guest experiences, he brings a wealth of knowledge and strategic insight to the group. In his current role will be overseeing the pre-opening projects, growth and expansion plans in the western and central India.

Speaking on the appointment, Sudhir Jena, Corporate Vice President commented, “We are delighted to welcome Bhargava to the Lords family. His proven track record and deep understanding of the hospitality landscape will further strengthen our brand and help us scale new heights.”

Bhargava expressed enthusiasm about joining Lords Hotels & Resorts, stating, “It is an honour to be part of such a reputable and rapidly growing hospitality group. I look forward to contributing to its legacy of excellence and innovation.”