Apr 2021 – Present · 5 yrs 1 mo

• Key Achievements:
• Led the successful renovation of Radisson Blu GRT Chennai, positioning it as one of the premier luxury hotels in India.
• Expanded the GRT Hotels portfolio, launching three new properties during the pandemic, showcasing resilience and operational excellence.
• Developed and implemented a comprehensive ESG policy focused on sustainability, gender diversity, and community engagement, reducing the carbon footprint by 30%.
• Fostered innovation by introducing automated guest services, digital check-ins, and AI-driven guest personalization across GRT properties.
• Drove record revenue growth, increasing occupancy rates by 15% year-over-year despite market challenges.
• Thought Leadership Contributions:
• Regular keynote speaker at industry conferences like the Tamil Nadu Travel Expo and CII Southern Council, sharing insights on sustainability in hospitality, redefining luxury, and the future of travel.
• Active advocate for gender diversity and employee well-being, launching internal programs that increased women’s representation in our workforce by 25%.
• Speaker – United Nations ESCAP International Youth Forum, Bangkok (2025)
• Invited by the United Nations to deliver a keynote on “From Footprint to Fingerprint: The Role of Hospitality in Sustainable Futures”, addressing ambassadors and youth leaders from 60+ countries.

Oct 2014 – Apr 2021 · 6 yrs 6 mos

• Key Achievements:
• Operational Efficiency & Profitability: Spearheaded a company-wide efficiency drive that led to a 20% reduction in operational costs while improving overall guest satisfaction scores by 15%. Introduced streamlined processes across departments, including F&B, housekeeping, and front office operations, enhancing productivity without compromising service quality.
• Expansion & Growth: Led the strategic expansion of GRT Hotels from 15 to 23 properties in under five years, focusing on new market penetration, including tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Successfully implemented market entry strategies that led to a 30% growth in revenues from new properties within the first 18 months of operation.
• Crisis Management: During the Chennai floods and COVID-19 pandemic, managed crisis operations that minimized financial losses and maintained 90% of workforce employment. Ensured smooth renovation and re-opening of properties under challenging conditions, completing the Radisson Blu GRT Chennai renovation ahead of schedule.
• Guest Experience & Technology Integration: Introduced cutting-edge guest experience innovations, including AI-driven personalization, keyless entry systems, and seamless digital check-ins, which resulted in a 25% increase in repeat customer visits. Led the adoption of smart room technology and IoT devices to elevate the luxury experience while optimizing resource use.
• Team Leadership & Engagement: Developed and launched a leadership development program for middle management, increasing internal promotions by 35% and improving employee retention rates across all levels by 20%. Established a performance-driven culture, aligning individual KPIs with company goals to boost overall team performance.
• Sales & Marketing Strategy: Played a key role in redesigning GRT Hotels’ sales and marketing strategy, leveraging digital marketing, influencer partnerships, and targeted campaigns that increased direct bookings by 40%.

Oct 2013 – Oct 2014 · 1 yr

• Radisson hotels worldwide is one of the most popular full service hotel brands in the World .
• I had Multi-unit operations responsibility for Radisson Blu GRT Chennai & Radisson Blu Resort Templebay Mamallapuram. ( franchised hotels of Radisson owned by GRT Hotels) Additional responsibility of new hotel projects of GRT Hotels heading a team of 70 project professionals.
• Achieved unprecedented revenue growth for the hotels - 30 % YOY growth - by applying winning market strategies and grew the profitability of the hotels in a competitive market. The hotels won many Awards and recognitions including the Carlson Presidents Awards for 4 years consecutively.
• Initiated employee engagement interventions which were lauded by the industry and even benchmarked in the Asian Business case study paper of the Cornell-Nanyang University , Singapore
• Was responsable in acquisition of land parcels adjoining the hotel to initiate the expansion of the Radisson GRT Hotel to add rooms and facilities
• Additional responsibility of heading the Projects division of GRT Hotels and Resorts with new green field hotels in Bangalore, Kakinada, Hyderabad, Thirunalveli , Kodaikanal & Coimbatore and renovation projects of existing 3 hotels of GRT Hotels in Chennai

Sep 2010 – Oct 2013 · 3 yrs 1 mo

• Operational leadership to the hotels. During this tenure the Radisson Blu Hotel GRT and the Radisson Blu Resort Templebay had exceptional growth in business .
• Set comprehensive goals for performance and growth
• Expense management and profitability focus in the hotels resulted in bottom line results exceeding budgets which allowed the management to allocate reserves to add facilities to the hotels to increase revenue streams .

Jan 2007 – Sep 2010 · 3 yrs 8 mos

• Provided operations expertise and asset mamangement to the executive teams of Radisson Hotel GRT Chennai and Radisson Resort Templebay Mamallapuram to achieve business goals and objectives.
• Provided leadership and culture orientation to the organisations to excel in a changing environment. Developed and nutured talent for the future hotel projects
• Won several international awards and recognitions for the hotels

Jan 2004 – Jan 2007 · 3 yrs

• Overall business head providing leadership to the executive team to achieve business goals and build an organisation with a positive culture of guest focus.
• The hotel was repositioned and re-launched with a complete makeover as a luxury lifestyle boutique hotel.
• Implemented sales strategy that led to the hotels being market leaders in occupancy and rate. Initiated e-commerce strategies leading to increase in revenues and online reservations over 100%.
• The hotel won several awards including the Carlson Hotel Presidents award for 3 consecutive years .

Jan 2001 – Jan 2004 · 3 yrs

• Atria Hotels is a popular 5 star hotel in the central business district of Bengaluru - known for its IT and gardens !
• # Head of operations of the business hotel on strategic and tactical levels.
• # Grew business to unprecedented peaks for the hotel enjoying high GOP and Guest satisfaction scores,
• # Set standards in the operations and hotel facilities to match International Brand standards.

Jan 1999 – Jan 2001 · 2 yrs · Chennai Area, India

• Operated independently to spear head the F&B operation as a primary responsibility and overall Hotel operations assisting the VP Operations

Jan 1997 – Jan 1999 · 2 yrs · All India

• Pizza Corner was the first International style Pizza Chain in Chennai with Dine in , take -away and delivery
• Brought the FIRST PIZZA into Chennai and the First PIZZA delivery in Chennai !! Head of Corporate Operations and Expansion of Pizzerias as a quick service restaurant concept and delivery concept in the South India. Opened several dine -in and delivery outlets in the 3 southern states to high success.

Jan 1995 – Jan 1997 · 2 yrs · India

• Day Inns of America is a pioneering mid segment brand from USA within franchise hotels all over the world and part of the large conglomerate - Cendant hotels
• Business development of the franchise brand and operational support to franchised hotels

Jul 1992 – Dec 1995 · 3 yrs 5 mos · Biyadoo and Villi Varu Island resorts , Republic of Maldives

• Maldives is a beautiful country with a collection many thousands of Islands and known for water sports , diving and holiday resorts .
• I Was deputed from Oriental Hotels ( Taj Group ) to work in Biyadhoo as the Sales and Front Office Manager and later promoted to Asst Resort Manager . Handled the renovation of the property and also promoted the property in different travel marts