Novotel Goa Candolim and Novotel Goa Resort & Spa Appoint Rhythm K. Gandhi as Marketing & Communications Manager

National, September 2025 – Novotel Goa Candolim and Novotel Goa Resort & Spa proudly announce the appointment of Rhythm K. Gandhi as Marketing & Communications Manager. This strategic move underscores the resorts’ commitment to strengthening guest engagement and enhancing brand presence across Goa’s dynamic hospitality landscape.

Rhythm joins the team with extensive experience in marketing and communications. Most recently, she served as Assistant Manager – Marketing & Communications at Courtyard by Marriott Bengaluru Hebbal, where she spearheaded marketing campaigns, creative content development, social media strategy, and online reputation management. Her professional journey also includes contributing to national campaigns and community initiatives with Impresario Handmade Restaurants, Dehradun. and At Hyatt Regency Dehradun Resort & Spa, she played a key role in executing the Perfectly Yours - Hyatt India Wedding Campaign at the property and contributed significantly to the hotel’s repositioning as a resort property. Rhythm was instrumental in the launch of Beyul, the rooftop bar and lounge, overseeing its planning, PR initiatives, and photoshoots. In addition, she managed creative marketing strategies, content creation, and agency coordination to strengthen the brand presence. Her efforts enhanced both the hotel’s visibility and guest engagement across digital and traditional platforms

A graduate in Hospitality Management from IMS Unison University, Dehradun (2022), Rhythm completed her schooling at Doon International School, Dehradun, and Convent of Jesus and Mary, Waverley, Mussoorie. She brings with her a strong skill set in influencer marketing, PR, event management, social media strategy, and creative direction, coupled with proven communication and problem-solving expertise.

“We are delighted to welcome Rhythm to the Novotel Goa family,” said the General Manager, Mr. Sachin Maheshwari, Novotel Goa Candolim and Novotel Goa Resort & Spa. “Her dynamic experience and creative approach will add immense value to our marketing initiatives and further amplify our brand outreach.”

An artist at heart, she explores creativity through paints, shares her culinary discoveries as a food blogger, and pens down her thoughts in poetry. A passionate traveler, she finds inspiration in every journey.

Novotel Goa Resort & Spa appoints Biswajith Mal as F&B Manager

National,  May 2025:  Novotel Goa Resort & Spa, a landmark property in the heart of Goa, is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Biswajit Mal as Food & Beverage Manager. This move reflects the hotel's continued commitment to delivering elevated dining experiences and driving innovation within its culinary offerings.

A seasoned hospitality professional, Biswajit brings with him over nine years of robust experience in the food and beverage industry, along with an unwavering passion for culinary excellence and guest-centric service. Prior to this role, Biswajit held key leadership positions in Marriott, Ibis, and The Westin. Across these roles, he consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of operational excellence, innovative dining concepts, and seamless service delivery.

In his new capacity, Biswajit will spearhead the F&B operations at Novotel Goa Resort and Spa, driving initiatives that enhance dining experiences, elevate service standards, and reinforce the hotel's culinary distinction in the region’s vibrant hospitality landscape. He will also focus on driving operational synergy across departments, nurturing performance driven teams, and delivering distinctive culinary experiences that resonate with the brand ethos.

Commenting on his appointment, Biswajit said, “I’m truly honoured to join Novotel Goa as the Food & Beverage Manager. With Goa’s vibrant culinary scene, I look forward to building strong teams, refining service standards, and creating dining spaces that guests genuinely enjoy and remember. It’s an exciting opportunity to contribute to the growth of this iconic property and bring fresh energy to their F&B identity.”. 

“With a winning attitude and a flair for creating memorable dining experiences, Biswajit’s leadership is set to further elevate Novotel Goa’s positioning as a leading destination for exceptional food and beverage offerings. We are confident that his fresh perspective will bring new energy to our dining concepts. As we continue to evolve and innovate, this appointment will play a key role in shaping our F&B narrative in the proporty”,said Sachin Maheshwary, General Manager, Novotel Goa Resorts & Spa and Novotel Goa Candolim 

Novotel is set to elevate its culinary offerings and craft a distinctive F&B identity within Goa’s vibrant hospitality sector.

Novotel Goa Resort & Spa and Novotel Goa Candolim Appoints Amit Baranwal as Director of Finance

National | July 2024: Novotel Goa Resort & Spa and Novotel Goa Candolim are delighted to announce the appointment of Amit Baranwal as the new Director of Finance. Amit brings with him a wealth of experience of over 12 years in the hospitality industry. 

Amit's key priorities as Director of Finance will be to ensure financial stability, optimise profitability, and enhance operational efficiency with specific tailored initiatives to elevate the hotel's overall performance. He will also play a pivotal role in the implementation of financial forecasting, technology integration, sustainability initiatives, risk management, and revenue diversification.

A qualified Chartered Accountant with a flair for numbers, it is no surprise that Amit’s future professional path was already paved. His stint as Financial Controller at Hyatt Regency Kolkata catapulted his experience further making him in charge of overseeing financial reporting, cost saving measures and optimisation of cash flow.

"We are delighted to welcome Amit to the Novotel Goa team." said Mr. Sachin Maheshwary, General Manager, Novotel Goa Resort & Spa and Novotel Goa Candolim. "Amit's extensive experience and proven track record in the hospitality industry make him an invaluable addition to our team. His expertise will undoubtedly enhance our financial stability and operational efficiency. We are confident that under his leadership, both our properties will reach new heights in profitability and performance."

"I am thrilled to be joining the Novotel Goa team and share my expertise. I am committed to applying my financial expertise and leadership skills to drive strategic financial initiatives for both properties." said Amit on his appointment. "Working closely with the team, I am eager to collaborate with stakeholders across the organisation and contribute to a culture of excellence and innovation in finance."

Outside of work and when not dabbling with numbers and statistics, Amit takes a keen interest in amping up his culinary skills and travelling around the world

Novotel Goa Resort & Spa and Novotel Goa Candolim Appoints Udayan Damodharan as Director of Talent and Culture

June 2024, National: Novotel Goa Resort & Spa and Novotel Goa Candolim have appointed Udayan Damodharan as the new Director of Talent and Culture. With over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry and 14 years across Accor makes Damodharan the astute leader in the category to enable and further elevate talent acquisition, employee engagement, and leadership development for both the properties.

In his new role, Udayan will focus on creating a more positive and inclusive work environment. He’ll be appointing and retaining top talent, and developing training platforms to ensure that employees have the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. He will bring to the forefront initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for the workforce of the property. With employee engagement as his priority, he plans to create an environment where staff can flourish and actively participate in Accor's development programs. Under Accor’s great vision for inclusive workforce, he will create a diverse manpower ecosystem across the society strata. Udayan plans to focus on collaborating with training institutions, establishing formal partnerships with hotel schools, and leveraging social media for active recruitment as well.

Udayan's experience encompasses pre-opening and successful launches of several properties across India, including Accor properties like Grand Mercure Bangalore and Novotel Kolkata. He is also committed to social responsibility and aims to actively engage hotel staff in CSR initiatives for both properties.

“I am thrilled to be joining Novotel Goa Resort & Spa and Novotel Goa Candolim.” said Mr. Udayan Damodharan on his appointment. “Goa's hospitality sector is experiencing a surge in manpower recruitment, and Novotel is perfectly positioned to capitalise on this trend. Both the properties are going through a leadership transformation, and I am confident that my experience and expertise will be significant in helping the team achieve its goals. I am particularly passionate about creating a work environment where employees feel valued and empowered to grow their careers. This will be crucial to attracting and retaining top talent in Goa's dynamic hospitality market."

“I'm delighted to welcome Udayan to the Novotel Goa team.” exclaimed Mr. Sachin Maheshwary, General Manager, Novotel Goa Resort & Spa and Novotel Goa Candolim. “His passion for hospitality and proven track record with Accor properties, particularly in pre-openings, make him a perfect fit. Udayan's commitment to employee development aligns perfectly with our focus on creating a thriving workplace culture. I have no doubt he'll play a key role in attracting and retaining the best talent, allowing our team to continue exceeding guest expectations.”

Udayan has always loved a good challenge. After getting his diploma in Personnel Management, he jumped right into the hospitality industry, even though he didn't know much about it at first. He found the fast-paced world of hotels exciting, and he's been there ever since! A great team player who focuses on giving guests the best possible service without cutting corners, Udayan’s interests go beyond business. He understands the ins and outs of hotels and cares a lot about his employees, wanting to help them grow in their careers.