Summit Hotels & Resorts appoints Shova Lama as PRO – Sikkim

April, 2026 :Strengthening its engagement with local markets and government institutions in the Northeast, Summit Hotels & Resorts has appointed Shova Lama as Public Relations Officer for Sikkim. In her new role, Shova Lama will be responsible for strengthening the brand’s relationship with various government departments and public institutions across the state. Her responsibilities include facilitating room bookings for official travel, coordinating hospitality arrangements for government events and conferences, and expanding institutional business opportunities for the group.

She will also work closely with local communities and organisations to promote Summit’s properties as venues for weddings, social gatherings, and private celebrations, thereby strengthening the brand’s presence in the regional events and social hospitality segment.

As part of her responsibilities, Shova Lama is also assisting the company with government registrations and empanelment processes, working on compliance and documentation matters. In addition, she has been tasked with supporting the company’s expansion plans in the Northeast by liaising with stakeholders across neighbouring states for potential hotel properties that could be brought into the Summit portfolio on a lease model.

Commenting on the appointment, Sumit Mitruka, CEO of Summit Hotels & Resorts, said, ““The Northeast has always been central to Summit’s journey, and Sikkim in particular remains one of our strongest operating regions. As our network of properties continues to grow across the hills, building closer relationships with government institutions, local communities, and regional stakeholders becomes increasingly important. Shova’s role will help us strengthen these connections while also supporting our expansion initiatives across the wider Northeast.”

Shova Lama’s appointment comes at a time when Summit Hotels & Resorts is actively strengthening its footprint across the Himalayan and Northeast regions, focusing on destinations where tourism demand, social events, and institutional travel continue to grow.

The Leela Gandhinagar strengthens leadership team

Gandhinagar: The Leela Gandhinagar, the luxury hospitality destination in the twin city of Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, has strengthened its leadership team by bringing on board more highly experienced and accomplished industry professionals.

Umapathy Amirtham is appointed as the Hotel Manager. Umapathy is an acknowledged hospital industry professional with 27 years of extensive domain expertise across hotel operations and management. He has a proven track record of improving operational turnaround and is known for his business acumen in managing hotels.

Umapathy has been a part of The Leela family for seven years now. Prior to joining The Leela Gandhinagar, he was associated with The Leela Ashtamudi, The Leela Palace Jaipur and The Leela Palace Chennai and was also associated with other hospitality chains such as Hyatt and ITC.

Mallika Das appointed as the Director of Finance. A Chartered Accountant by qualification, Mallika is a strategic planner with a proven ability to improve operations and maximize profits through solid financial management, cost reductions and productivity improvements. She was previously the financial controller at IHCL. In a career of over 15 years, she has a stellar experience with Accor, IHG and Hyatt.


Harshvardhan Dengwekar appointed as the PR & Marketing Manager. Harshvardhan has more than 13 years of experience in sales and marketing at premier properties in India and overseas. He is responsible for structuring all marketing and PR-related communications for The Leela Gandhinagar and Mahatma Mandir Convention and Exhibition Center. He has been a part of Accor, Hyatt, and Marriott where he fulfilled diverse roles.

Subin Venugopal appointed as the food & beverage manager. A highly result-oriented professional, Subin has worked in highly competitive environments in multiple cities in India and overseas in a career spanning more than 15 years. He was last associated with Le Meridien in Hyderabad and has also been a part of other hospitality chains like Marriott and Intercontinental in the past.

Speaking on the additions to the leadership team, Vikas Sood, General Manager of The Leela Gandhinagar, said, “I am happy to welcome the new team members to The Leela Gandhinagar. They bring with them diverse national and global experiences and positive attitudes. I am confident they will add a lot of value to The Leela Gandhinagar and contribute to offering guests a truly memorable experience with the warmth of the signature Leela hospitality.”Located atop the concourse of the Gandhinagar railway station, The Leela Gandhinagar offers 318 tastefully appointed spacious rooms. Just a short drive from Ahmedabad and away from the hustle and bustle of the city, The Leela Gandhinagar blends modern splendour with the vibrant old-world traditions of Gujarat. It has become the preferred luxury destination for leisure and business travellers.