Sarna new head of Indian Hotels

Hospitality major Indian Hotels Company Ltd Thursday announced the appointment of Rakesh K Sarna as managing director and chief executive officer.

In a statement issued here, Indian Hotels -- the company that runs the Taj group of hotels -- said Sarna will take charge Sep 1 onwards from Raymond N Bickson who will step down Aug 31 after an 11-year stint at Indian Hotels.

According to Indian Hotels, Sarna has over 30 years experience in leadership positions with Hyatt Hotels.

He was the group president of Americas and executive vice president at Hyatt Hotels Corporation with a portfolio of 146 full service, 233 select service hotels and 15 vacation ownership facilities across North America, the Caribbean and Latin America with 47,000 employees.

Sarna has had an international upbringing. He moved to Canada as a young adult and completed his Diploma in Hospitality Administration from Ottawa, the statement added.

"We're grateful to Mr. Bickson for his many years of leadership at the Taj Group. His three decades of hospitality expertise have helped to make the Taj Group and its brands some of the most respected names in the international hotel and resort industry," Cyrus P. Mistry, chairman, was quoted as saying in the statement.

"We're fortunate to have more than 20,000 dedicated employees, a strong senior management group, and an experienced Board to help us move forward into the next phase of Taj's growth."

The Indian Hotels now consists of 127 hotels spread over five continents.

"Our team has positioned Taj's four brands - Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces, Vivanta by Taj, Gateway Hotels and Ginger Hotels - as distinctive growth-oriented brands that offer the best of Indian hospitality and modern luxury to sophisticated travellers worldwide," Bickson was quoted in the statement.