Bhubaneswar, September 2026: Lyfe Hotels Bhubaneswar has elevated Shailesh Shekhar to Cluster Executive Chef, after more than three years with the property. Shekhar joined Lyfe Hotels as Executive Chef in June 2023 and will now take on a broader culinary mandate across the cluster, overseeing menu development, food safety, cost management, culinary training and guest experience.

With 27 years in hospitality, Shekhar has worked across some of India’s leading luxury hotels, including The Taj Lake Palace Udaipur, Devi Garh, Devi Ratn, Sheraton and Radisson Blu. He has also worked across India, the UK and the US in food and beverage leadership roles. Before joining Lyfe Hotels, Shekhar was Head of Food & Beverage at Cadila, overseeing operations across three countries. His career has also spanned Indian, Asian and Mediterranean cuisines, as well as hotel pre-openings, kitchen design and the development of culinary teams.

“Chef Shailesh has been part of the Lyfe family for quite some time and has been associated with Lyfe Hotels & Resorts since the pre-opening stage. He has played an important role in establishing and maintaining the culinary standards at Lyfe Bhubaneswar and brings a rare combination of culinary depth, operational experience and a deep understanding of our ethos. We are pleased to see him take on this wider role as Lyfe Hotels continues to evolve its food and beverage offering. His expertise in culinary innovation, combined with his understanding of our operations, will bring fresh perspective and momentum to our growing restaurant portfolio.”

Sonal Sahoo, Co-founder, Lyfe Hotels and Resorts, Bhubaneshwar

“Taking on this wider role at Lyfe Hotels is a meaningful responsibility. What makes it particularly interesting is the range of culinary experiences we have across the portfolio, from the all-day dining at Lyfe’s Kitchen and the Thai-inspired menu at Sweet Basil, to the lively atmosphere of Mojo and the Mediterranean character of Hi Lyfe. Each restaurant has its own identity, giving us room to experiment while staying true to the spirit of Lyfe. I look forward to overseeing the culinary operations across our current properties. Being an integral part of shaping the culinary direction of our upcoming properties as we expand is something I am also looking forward to . I hope to bring fresh thinking to the table while continuing to build teams that are curious, capable and passionate about food.”

Chef Shailesh

Shekhar has been featured among the Top Chefs of India by Express Hospitality and has received recognition for his work at The Taj Lake Palace Udaipur.