Food and Beverage Assistant

Sayaji Hotel Pune appoints Chef Bhuvanesh Kalburgi as Executive Chef. Sayaji Hotel Pune has appointed Chef Bhuvanesh Kalburgi as Executive Chef, bringing more than 25 years of hospitality experience across culinary operations, hotel management, pre-opening projects and kitchen leadership. Chef Bhuvanesh joins Sayaji Hotel Pune from Hilton Garden Inn Hinjewadi, where he served as Executive Chef and managed culinary operations with a focus on kitchen efficiency, menu development and guest requirements. His previous experience also includes managing pre-opening projects and working across cross-functional hotel teams. At Sayaji Hotel Pune, he will oversee the property's culinary team and food and beverage operations. His responsibilities will include developing the hotel's food offerings, improving kitchen processes, introducing new dining concepts and supporting the development of culinary talent. His experience covers both property-level kitchen management and operational planning, with a focus on maintaining consistency, quality and service standards while managing large culinary teams. "Every new kitchen brings with it an opportunity to learn, create and build something meaningful. I am excited to begin this new chapter at Sayaji Hotel Pune and look forward to working with the team to create food experiences that are memorable, consistent and rooted in a genuine passion for hospitality," said Chef Bhuvanesh Kalburgi. His appointment comes as hotels continue to place greater focus on culinary leadership as part of their overall food and beverage strategy, with executive chefs increasingly responsible for menu development, operational efficiency, team building and guest experience. Stay on top - Get the daily news from Restaurant India in your inbox

Hilton appoints Jon Gersonde as Managing Director of Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. August 19, 2026 · 9:30 PM PDT Hilton announced the appointment of Jon Gersonde as managing director of Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort. Gersonde has more than 28 years of experience, Gersonde will lead the hotel with strategic oversight of all departments, with a goal of optimizing financial and commercial performance, developing high-performing teams, championing the resort's commitment to culture and sustainability, and ensuring an exceptional guest experience aligned with Hilton's standard of excellence. Most recently, Gersonde served as the General Manager of The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua. Prior to that, he held the role of Vice President & Managing Director at Turtle Bay Resort on O[[ʻ]]ahu. His career also includes executive leadership positions as Vice President of Operations, Managing Director, and General Manager at properties including 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, The Royal Hawaiian, Kapalua Bay Hotel, and The Westin Maui. "Grand Wailea is a longstanding icon of Maui hospitality and it's an honor to be trusted with its remarkable legacy and exceptional team," said Gersonde. "I look forward to building on that legacy by supporting the team that brings it to life each day, while thoughtfully guiding the resort forward into its next chapter." Grand Wailea Area Managing Director JP Oliver said, "Jon is one of the most respected luxury resort leaders in Hawai[[ʻ]]i, and his appointment to Grand Wailea represents a natural progression built on decades of exceptional leadership across the islands. From Kapalua Bay Resort and 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay on Kaua[[ʻ]]i, to Turtle Bay on O[[ʻ]]ahu's North Shore, and most recently The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, Jon has consistently demonstrated an extraordinary ability to elevate iconic destinations while fostering deep relationships within the local community and honoring the unique culture of Hawai[[ʻ]]i. His combination of operational excellence, luxury hospitality expertise, and authentic understanding of the Hawaiian spirit will ensure a seamless transition. We are incredibly excited about the future of Grand Wailea under Jon's leadership and are confident his vision, passion, and commitment to excellence will further strengthen the resort's position as Hawai[[ʻ]]i's premier luxury destination." As managing director, Gersonde will lead the resort across its 795 rooms, inclusive of 58 suites, with 50 luxury villas at Ho[[ʻ]]olei, wellness destination Kilolani Spa & Salon, and five dining venues including the island's first Nobu, seafood and steakhouse restaurant Humuhumunukunukuāpua[[ʻ]]a, chef-inspired Italian dining outlet Olivine, and Botero Lounge at the heart of the resort.

Marriott, Hilton lead YouGov's 2026 U.S. Hotel rankings. Marriott leads Hilton by the barest of margins in YouGov's new U.S. hotel rankings, but the data also shows meaningful differences in what travelers value, and which brands are gaining ground. Hotels & Accommodations Based on YouGov BrandIndex data from more than 10,000 U.S. adults, the rankings look at hotel consideration among Americans likely to book a hotel in the next 12 months, along with year-over-year movement and perceptions of value and quality. Discover more Social Sciences Residential Rentals Marriott leads with 45.3 percent of Americans likely to book a hotel in the next 12 months saying they would consider the brand for their next stay. Hilton follows at 44.9 percent, making the top of the chart a near tie between the industry's two most recognizable names. The rankings also break down consideration by business and leisure travelers, as well as year-over-year movement and perceptions of value and quality. Airbnb and Vrbo were excluded from the analysis. Courtyard by Marriott ranks third at 37.8 percent, followed by Holiday Inn at 36.7 percent and Holiday Inn Express at 36.2 percent. Hampton Inn, Hilton Garden Inn, DoubleTree by Hilton, Sheraton, and Hyatt round out the top 10 - a list drawn entirely from the portfolios of Marriott, Hilton, IHG, and Hyatt. YouGov reads the concentration as evidence of the continued pull of familiar, widely distributed brands that can flex across trip types and budgets at a moment when rising living costs have travelers scrutinizing their spending. Holiday Inn posted the strongest year-over-year gain, up 2.2 percentage points in consideration, followed by Hyatt at 1.9 points and Marriott at 1.6 points. Red Roof Inn and DoubleTree by Hilton each rose 1.2 points, Wyndham gained 1.1 points, and Motel 6, Hampton Inn, Hyatt House, and Super 8 also moved up. Marriott's appearance on both the leaders list and the improvers list gives it the rare combination of category-leading consideration and continued momentum. The business-versus-leisure breakdown is where the data gets most interesting for advisors selling into the upper end of the market. Among business travelers, Hilton takes the top spot at 46.5 percent consideration, with Marriott second at 44.6 percent. The order flips among leisure-only travelers, where Marriott leads at 39.3 percent and Hilton follows at 37.1 percent. Several luxury and upper-upscale brands skew heavily toward the business traveler. Hilton's consideration runs 9.4 percentage points higher among business travelers than leisure-only travelers, with Hyatt Place (8.0 points), Grand Hyatt (7.9 points), Four Seasons (7.4 points), Sheraton (7.2 points), and JW Marriott (7.0 points) showing similar gaps. On the leisure side, the tilt runs toward midscale and economy: Comfort Inn scores 5.0 points higher with leisure travelers, followed by Best Western (4.8 points) and La Quinta (4.2 points). Value and quality perceptions tell separate stories. Holiday Inn Express leads on value with a net score of 34.5, ahead of Holiday Inn at 30.6 and Courtyard by Marriott at 26.4, with Marriott (25.7) and Hampton Inn (25.4) close behind. Quality flips the hierarchy back toward the flagships: Hilton posts the highest quality score at 51.9, narrowly ahead of Marriott at 51.0, with Courtyard by Marriott third at 40.1. Hyatt, Sheraton, Hilton Garden Inn, DoubleTree by Hilton, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, and Holiday Inn complete the quality top 10. Taken together, the rankings sketch out distinct lanes: Hilton wins the business traveler on the strength of its quality perception, Marriott balances quality and value well enough to lead with leisure travelers, and Holiday Inn pairs its top value score with the year's biggest consideration gain - a telling combination as cost-of-living pressures reshape how Americans book. Discover more Price Comparisons Boats & Watercraft Car Rentals