Tourism Breaking News
Cygnett Hotels & Resorts announces key additions to its senior leadership team as the fast-growing hospitality chain prepares for its next phase of expansion across India.
As India’s mid-market and upscale hospitality segment becomes increasingly competitive, hotel companies are strengthening functional leadership to drive performance and operational consistency. Cygnett Hotels & Resorts’ latest appointments reflect this shift, with the company bringing in three seasoned professionals across culinary, learning and development, and technology. For the trade, the move signals Cygnett’s intention to reinforce its talent pool as the brand accelerates its national footprint.
Chef Rahul Rana becomes Director–Culinary
Cygnett Hotels & Resorts appoints Chef Rahul Rana as Director–Culinary, expanding its senior leadership bench with an experienced global hospitality professional. With 22 years of international experience, Chef Rana holds an advanced diploma in hospitality, tourism and culinary studies from Switzerland.
His career spans leading hotel chains including Accor, Marriott, Hyatt, InterContinental and Sarova Hotels across the United Kingdom, Caribbean, Maldives, Indonesia, Kenya and India. Known for his expertise in modern culinary techniques and large-scale buffet presentations, he has also launched several standalone speciality restaurants, including Thai Chi (modern Pan-Asian), Peruvian concepts and Kenyan cuisine formats.
Sanjit Kumar Thakur takes on the role of Corporate Learning and Development Manager
Cygnett names Sanjit Kumar Thakur as Corporate Learning and Development Manager. Thakur brings nearly 15 years of experience, combining operational knowledge with strategic capability in people development.
An alumnus of IHM Kolkata with an MBA in human resources management, he has worked with leading hospitality brands including Taj, Oberoi, Radisson, Sarovar and Accor. He currently oversees the L&D function at Cygnett, strengthening training systems and talent development frameworks.
Ravvinder Bhola joins as General Manager – Information Technology
The company further strengthens its technical leadership by appointing Ravvinder Bhola as General Manager – Information Technology. With more than two decades of experience across Starwood, Taj and Marriott in India and overseas markets, Bhola brings expertise in IT operations, digital transformation and large-scale system deployments.
His capabilities span cybersecurity, IT governance, risk management and compliance — critical functions as hotels adopt advanced technology platforms and guest-facing digital systems.
Leadership perspective on the new appointments
Commenting on the appointments, Sarbendra Sarkar, Founder and Managing Director, Cygnett Hotels & Resorts, says: “As a key hospitality chain, we are committed to strengthening our leadership team with experienced professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to their roles. As we continue to grow our footprints across the country, we are hoping that their unique combination of skills, passion and commitment will help to maintain our service standards and support our expansion plans.”
