Resorts

Conrad Bengaluru is pleased to announce the appointment of Dhruva Parate as Director of Sales, further strengthening its commercial leadership and commitment to driving strategic growth. With over a decade of diverse experience across premium consumer brands and luxury hospitality, Dhruva brings strong expertise in corporate sales, market expansion, and strategic partnerships. An alumnus of the Institute of Hotel Management, Pusa, he has spent the last seven years with Marriott International, where he held key roles managing national accounts and driving revenue growth across multiple properties. He has also been associated with The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts & Hyatt Hotels in the past. At Conrad Bengaluru, he will lead the hotel’s commercial strategy, focusing on strengthening client relationships, expanding market presence, and delivering performance-led growth. Commenting on the new role, Dhruva Parate said, “I am excited to join Conrad Bengaluru at such a dynamic phase of its growth. The hotel has built a strong reputation in the market, and I look forward to contributing to its continued success by strengthening partnerships and driving innovative sales strategies.” With this appointment, Conrad Bengaluru continues to build a strong leadership team aligned with its vision of delivering world-class hospitality and exceptional guest experiences.

Country Inn Hotels & Resorts, the flagship brand of ‘Espire Hospitality Limited’, one of India’s fastest-growing hospitality companies, has announced the opening of three new hotels in Uttarakhand – ‘Country Inn, Dehradun’, ‘Country Inn, Rishikesh’ and ‘Country Inn Smart Stays, Rishikesh’, marking a significant step in their expansion journey and launch of a new brand ‘Country Inn Smart Stays’ that offers a fresh, youthful take on modern travel. With these additions, the brand has strengthened its footprint across key destinations in Uttarakhand, with an existing presence in Mussoorie, Bhimtal, and Jim Corbett, reinforcing its expansion across both urban centres and leisure destinations. The opening of 53-key Country Inn, Dehradun, introduces a contemporary stay in the capital city of Uttarakhand. Strategically located on Saharanpur Road, along the corridor of the newly operational Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, the hotel has an advantage of the reduced travel time of just 2.5 hours now. Designed for both business and leisure travellers, as well as those heading further into the hills, the hotel offers a well-connected base with the most spacious rooms in the city, a multi-cuisine restaurant, Sutra, and expansive banqueting facilities. The hotel features large-format event venues including the Crystal Ballroom and Aura Hall, making it a strong destination for weddings, conferences, and social gatherings. In Rishikesh, the brand has introduced two distinct formats catering to different travellers. Country Inn, Rishikesh, located in Tapovan, offers contemporary accommodation in close proximity to key spiritual landmarks such as Lakshman Jhula and Parmarth Niketan Ashram. With 28 rooms including the Suites offering Ganga views, a casual dining restaurant, and an intimate event space overlooking the Ganges, the hotel is designed for travellers seeking a comfortable and well-connected stay in the city.  Further strengthening its presence in the destination, the group has also introduced Country Inn Smart Stays, Rishikesh, marking the launch of a new brand format under the Country Inn portfolio. Designed for younger, experience-led travellers, Country Inn Smart Stays focuses on smart spaces, warm hospitality, and ease of use. Located at a walking distance from Lakshman Jhula, the hotel offers 31 well designed rooms, rooftop swimming pool and dining, BOHO Café and a lively recreation zone. Speaking about the expansion, Mr. Akhil Arora, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Espire Hospitality Group, said, “Uttarakhand continues to be a strong focus market for us, given its growing appeal across leisure, spiritual, and experiential travel. With the opening of three new Country Inn properties and one more coming very soon across Dehradun and Rishikesh, we are strengthening our presence across the state while catering to a diverse mix of travellers. From urban stays in Dehradun to multiple formats in Rishikesh, this expansion reflects our intent to be present across key destinations with offerings for diverse travellers” These additions will play an integral role in our overall growth strategy. With over 30 signed hotels and a plan to add at least 1,000 keys every year, we are on track to achieve the milestone of 45 hotels by the end of FY27.”

New Delhi,31st March 2026: Holiday Inn Express, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts, is pleased to announce the appointments of Chakradhar Chadaram as General Manager of Holiday Inn Express Yeshwanthpur and Sumit Sehgal as General Manager of Holiday Inn Express Greater Noida. Chakradhar Chadaram brings over 17 years of extensive experience across leading international hospitality brands. Most recently serving as Director of Services at Radisson Blu Resort, Visakhapatnam, he also officiated as General Manager, demonstrating strong hands-on leadership across day-to-day operations, financial performance, and brand compliance. Throughout his career, Chakradhar has overseen comprehensive Rooms Division functions including Front Office, Housekeeping, Guest Services, Revenue Management, Engineering, and Spa & Recreation. Known for driving operational efficiency, maintaining high brand audit scores, and delivering consistent guest satisfaction, he has successfully balanced owner expectations with brand standards in competitive markets. His earlier tenure with brands such as The Leela, The Zuri, Crowne Plaza and InterContinental further strengthens his operational depth. Notably, this appointment also marks his return to the IHG family. Commenting on his appointment, Chakradhar Chadaram said, “I am honoured to rejoin IHG and take on the role of General Manager at Holiday Inn Express Yeshwanthpur. The brand’s focus on delivering smart, seamless stays for today’s travellers strongly resonates with my own operational philosophy. I look forward to working with the team to enhance service standards and drive sustained performance.” Sumit Sehgal joins Holiday Inn Express Greater Noida with over 17 years of diverse experience spanning hospitality operations, sales & marketing, and business leadership. Most recently serving as Business Head at Cloudnine Group of Hospitals, he led overall operations, business development, and financial performance, successfully driving revenue growth and operational optimisation. Prior to this, Sumit held key leadership roles with prominent hospitality brands including Radisson Blu Hotel Greater Noida and Radisson Hotel Sector 29, Gurugram. With strong expertise in revenue management, strategic sales planning, budgeting, forecasting, and guest service excellence, he has consistently delivered strong market performance indicators, improved guest satisfaction scores, and strengthened corporate partnerships. His ability to combine commercial acumen with operational oversight positions him well to lead the Greater Noida property in a dynamic business environment. Sharing his thoughts on the new role, Sumit Sehgal said, “I am delighted to join Holiday Inn Express Greater Noida at an exciting phase of growth. The brand’s commitment to efficiency, comfort, and reliability aligns perfectly with the needs of business and transit travellers in the region. I look forward to building high-performing teams and further strengthening the hotel’s market position.” With these appointments, Holiday Inn Express aims to further enhance guest experience, operational discipline, and commercial performance across both properties. Yeshwanthpur and Greater Noida continue to serve as important hubs within their respective markets, catering to business, industrial, and transit travellers.