Bhubaneswar-based Mayfair Hotels & Resorts has appointed Bjorn DeNiese as Vice President, Business Development. In his new role, he will be responsible for spearheading the group’s future plans as it aims to deploy a new sub-brand into the market.
The new vertical will initially keep the focus on the East India, and subsequently look to make headway to central and North East India. With the group primarily owning and operating all its 10 hotels, the upcoming projects include Raipur (early 2019), Siliguri and Kolkata (2020). The new vertical will be responsible for the further development and expansion of the group which will establish itself through lease, management and franchise models under a yet to be named brand. The aim is to add on another 100 rooms to the current portfolio of 515 rooms by the end of this financial year and double the number of rooms within three years.
DeNiese, who played a significant role in the group’s growth story post 2007, headed the sales, marketing and revenue for the group with key contributions in the set-up of central reservation, restructuring of the sales network and various other technological developments, including the soon to be rolled out one touch virtual assistant app enabling bookings, a loyalty programme for guests, corporate entities and agents and an integrated guest feedback system.
