Nestled along the scenic coastline of South India, the newly reimagined InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort has announced a series of strategic leadership appointments across its executive team. Bringing together accomplished professionals across operations, culinary, sales and marketing, finance, human resources and guest services, these appointments reflect the resort’s continued commitment to elevating guest experiences, driving innovation, and strengthening its position as one of the region’s leading luxury hospitality destinations.
Mr. Anand Nair, General Manager
Anand Nair, General Manager at InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort, is a seasoned hospitality professional with over three decades of distinguished experience in luxury hotel operations and leadership. Known for his strategic mindset, operational excellence, and people-centric leadership style, Anand has consistently delivered impactful results across premier hospitality brands in India and international markets.
Anand began his career in 1995 as a Management Trainee with The Leela Hotels, Palaces & Resorts at The Leela Kempinski, Mumbai, where he spent over five years building a strong foundation in luxury hospitality and guest experience. He then strengthened his expertise with The Taj Group of Hotels, undertaking diverse assignments across Sri Lanka, Nashik, Taj Gateway, and Taj Residency Bangalore, gaining valuable exposure to varied markets and operational environments.
He later joined Sarovar Hotels in Kerala as General Manager, where he successfully led the launch of an award-winning backwater resort, positioning it as a premier destination. Over the course of his impactful eight-year tenure, Anand played a pivotal role in strengthening operations, elevating brand visibility, and curating exceptional guest experiences. In recognition of his exemplary leadership, he was a two-time recipient of the General Manager of the Year Award at Sarovar Hotels.
Anand’s journey with IHG Hotels & Resorts began with his appointment as General Manager of InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort. During the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, he demonstrated exceptional leadership by successfully overseeing both InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort and Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park. He subsequently served as General Manager of Crowne Plaza Chennai Adyar Park for four years, further strengthening its market position and driving operational excellence. Anand is also a three-time recipient of the prestigious IHG Owners Impact Award for General Manager of the Year, recognised across the India, Middle East, and Africa region.
He returned to InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort to spearhead a comprehensive multi-million-dollar renovation project. Under his leadership, the resort has been successfully transformed and relaunched as a premier luxury destination, reflecting elevated design, enhanced guest experiences, and renewed brand positioning. His recognition as the recipient of the esteemed BW Hotelier General Manager of the Year – Resort Award 2025 is a testament to his deep understanding of luxury hospitality. Coupled with his unwavering commitment to innovation and exceptional guest satisfaction, his leadership continues to elevate the resort’s standing within IHG’s global portfolio.
Mr. Suchir Jindal, Associate Director of Marketing
As Associate Director of Marketing at InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort, Suchir Jindal brings over a decade of experience in marketing analytics, digital strategy, and integrated marketing communications within the hospitality sector. He leads the resort’s marketing and communications function with a strong focus on brand positioning, revenue alignment, and enhancing guest engagement across digital, PR, and traditional platforms.
Suchir’s career spans leading hospitality brands including Marriott Fiji portfolio, AccorHotels, Sarovar Hotels & Resorts, Sayaji Hotels Ltd, and Fariyas Hotels & Resorts, where he has built over a decade of diverse experience in hospitality marketing. Over the course of his career, he has spent six years working with corporate brand teams, managing marketing mandates for over 100 properties, alongside three years in on-property marketing leadership roles and a year of international experience in Fiji, where he oversaw marketing initiatives for five resort properties. His expertise lies in performance marketing, content strategy, social media planning, and driving direct revenue through an optimised digital presence and cohesive brand storytelling.
An alumnus of Delhi University with a master’s degree in advertising and marketing communications, Suchir is recognised for his creative thinking, leadership approach, and ability to translate marketing strategies into meaningful business outcomes. He believes in collaborative teamwork and continuous innovation to deliver impactful and measurable marketing success.
Mr.Deepak Dua, Director of Food & Beverages
Deepak Dua serves as the Director of Food & Beverages at InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort, bringing with him over 18 years of extensive experience in luxury hospitality and food and beverage operations across leading international hotel brands. Known for his strong operational expertise and strategic leadership, Deepak has built a distinguished career centred around delivering exceptional dining experiences while driving commercial growth.
Before joining InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort, he held senior leadership positions with renowned hospitality brands including Atmosphere Kanifushi Maldives, Crowne Plaza New Delhi Okhla, The Lalit Golf & Spa Resort Goa, and Crowne Plaza Muscat OCEC. His career journey has equipped him with deep expertise in managing large-scale F&B operations, revenue growth strategies, concept development, team leadership and maintaining world-class service standards across luxury resorts and hotels.
An alumnus of the Institute of Hotel Management, Chandigarh, Deepak is recognised for his ability to build high-performing teams, mentor future hospitality leaders and create guest experiences that balance innovation with operational excellence. His strong business acumen, focus on quality and passion for service continue to play a pivotal role in elevating the resort’s culinary and dining offerings.
Mr. Sam Williams, Director of Catering Sales
Sam William, Director of Catering Sales at InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort, brings nearly two decades of rich experience across sales, events, marketing and hospitality operations. With a strong foundation in banqueting and catering sales, Sam has built his career through progressive leadership roles with some of Chennai’s most respected hospitality and retail brands.
Prior to this role, he served as Associate Director of Events at Park Hyatt Chennai, where he drove record event revenues, strengthened industry partnerships, and mentored high-performing teams. His professional journey also includes key tenures with Taj Connemara, The Westin Chennai Velachery and Phoenix Marketcity, equipping him with deep expertise in relationship management, strategic planning, budgeting and large-scale event execution.
A graduate in Hotel Management & Catering Science from Madurai Kamaraj University, Sam combines operational knowledge with a strong commercial outlook. Known for his calm leadership style, client-centric approach and ability to align teams towards common goals, he consistently delivers results that enhance both revenue performance and guest satisfaction. His understanding of sales tools, marketing strategy and event management enables him to craft meaningful experiences while strengthening brand presence.
Mr. Meril Anthony Aricatt, Executive Chef
Prior to joining the InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort, Chef Meril Antony Aricatt built an illustrious culinary career spanning over three decades with leading hospitality brands across IHCL and IHG. A gold medallist in Hotel Management from Mangalore University and a Physics graduate from Calicut University, he combines academic excellence with deep culinary expertise.
He has held leadership roles at noted properties including Taj Malabar Resort & Spa, Taj Fisherman’s Cove Resort & Spa, Vivanta Chennai OMR, Taj Connemara and Gateway Hotel Vijayawada, with recognised expertise in pre-openings, large-scale kitchen management and menu engineering. Chef Meril was awarded the Best Chef of the Year (2009-2010) by National Tourism Department of India. Internationally, he has led food festivals across Europe and the Middle East and served as Asian Chef aboard the Queen Elizabeth 2.
Chef Meril has curated menus for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping, among other dignitaries. A recipient of the ‘Best Chef of the Year’ award and recognised by Hotelier India in 2024, he is also an author, certified food safety auditor and a strong mentor who champions discipline and teamwork in the kitchen.
