The Fern Hotels & Resorts, Series by Marriott appoints Manish Deolekar as General Manager – Business Development

The appointment comes as the brand expands its Series by Marriott portfolio across India.

The Fern Hotels & Resorts, Series by Marriott has appointed Manish Deolekar as General Manager – Business Development, strengthening its leadership team as the brand enters its next phase of growth and expansion across India.

Expanding the Series by Marriott portfolio

Since the strategic tie up with Marriott International last November, The Fern Hotels & Resorts, Series by Marriott has witnessed significant momentum, with 62 hotels now under its Series by Marriott portfolio across major Metros and Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets in India.The growing footprint reflects the brand’s expanding presence across diverse hospitality markets and its continued focus on identifying high-potential destinations that offer sustainable opportunities for growth.

Driving business development and expansion

In his new role, Manish Deolekar will spearhead the brand’s business development mandate, with a focus on driving expansion across India, identifying new markets, strengthening relationships with hotel owners, developers and evaluating opportunities through robust feasibility assessments. His appointment comes at an important stage in The Fern Hotels & Resort’s growth journey, as the brand continues to build scale while maintaining a disciplined approach to new hotel development.

With over 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Manish brings extensive expertise across hotel operations, revenue management, strategic leadership and team development. A dual-degree holder in Hospitality Management and Business Administration, he combines a strong operational foundation with a business-oriented approach to hotel development and growth.

From Taj Hotels to The Fern Hotels & Resorts

Manish began his hospitality career as a Management Trainee with The Taj Hotels, where he developed a strong foundation in service excellence and hotel operations. He subsequently moved to New Zealand to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, while gaining international exposure with Starwood Hotels, where he developed an understanding of global hospitality standards and operating practices.

His association with The Fern Hotels & Resorts dates back to 2011, during which he has progressed through roles of increasing responsibility, from Sales Manager to General Manager of a hotel and subsequently Regional General Manager – Operations, overseeing multiple properties across Maharashtra. In these roles, he has been closely involved in hotel operations, pre-openings, feasibility studies and working with owners to conceptualise, position and launch new properties.

Manish Deolekar on his new role

Commenting on his new role, Manish Deolekar, General Manager – Business Development, The Fern Hotels & Resorts, Series by Marriott, said, “My priority in this expanded role is to accelerate The Fern Hotel & Resort’s footprint across India by identifying high-potential markets, building strong owner and developer partnerships and ensuring every new project is grounded in rigorous feasibility and a clear path to financial viability. Having spent over a decade with the brand from unit-level operations to regional oversight I bring both an owner’s-eye view of what makes a hotel succeed and an operator’s discipline in execution. As we scale nationally, I remain committed to the same principle that has guided my career: a passion for excellence, in every market we enter.